What should I pack for San José?

The single biggest packing mistake for San José is assuming tropical heat. The city sits in the Central Valley at roughly 1,150 meters, and that altitude changes everything. Daytime temperatures hover around 20–26°C year-round — pleasant, sometimes even cool when clouds roll in. Evenings regularly dip to 15°C or lower, and if you're heading to places like Poás Volcano at 2,700 meters, you'll want a proper fleece. Pack two or three light long-sleeve shirts, one warm mid-layer, and a rain shell. The cotton t-shirt and flip-flop crowd from the Pacific coast hotels stand out immediately on Avenida Central — and they're shivering by 7 PM.

Rain in San José isn't like rain elsewhere. From May through November — the green season — mornings tend to be clear and warm, then the sky darkens around 2 PM and dumps hard for an hour or two. The streets flood briefly. Storm drains overflow. A packable rain jacket beats an umbrella here because you'll need both hands free to deal with the sidewalks, which are a proper hazard: cracked concrete, missing tiles, unexpected drop-offs of 15–20 centimeters where a section has simply collapsed. Closed-toe shoes with decent grip are not optional. Sandals will get you a twisted ankle somewhere between the Mercado Central and Barrio Amón. Worth noting: the rain is warm, around 20°C, so you won't be chilled — just soaked if you're caught without a shell.

Costa Rica uses Type A and B plugs at 120V — if you're coming from the US or Canada, your chargers work without any adapter at all. That's one less thing. What you should bring instead: a slim crossbody bag or money belt. San José has petty theft issues, and the safety guidance is blunt — visible phones, dangling cameras, and open backpacks draw attention on crowded streets near the Mercado Central and along Avenida 2. A bag that sits flat against your body, under a jacket, lets you carry your phone and cards without advertising them. Leave expensive jewelry at home entirely. Mind you, violent crime targeting tourists is rare in the city center — it's opportunistic pickpocketing you're guarding against, not anything worse.

Sunscreen, bug spray, and basic toiletries are cheaper at any Farmacia Fischel or AutoMercado than what you'd pay at a CVS or Boots. A bottle of SPF 50 runs about 4,500 colones, roughly $8–9 USD. Umbrellas are sold by street vendors outside Mercado Central for 2,000–3,000 colones the moment the sky opens — and it will. The smell of fresh-roasted beans at the market stalls might tempt you to buy coffee early; do it. Costa Rican coffee bought at the source is better than anything packed from abroad. If you forgot a warm layer, Multiplaza Escazú has Zara and H&M where you can grab a hoodie for under $25. One thing you can't easily find locally: deodorant brands familiar to North Americans and Europeans. Toss that in your bag before you leave.