It was a very lovely trip, and more importantly, a very successful packing job. I have been killing it lately in the packing department, and am happy to share my success and lessons learned with you.
Overall philosophy:
Our goal for the trip was to be able to easily transport our stuff via bus, shuttle, foot, water taxi, etc. We decided in the end to use duffel bags and not backpacks to avoid "looking like tourists" (fat chance). Josh thought non-luggagey bags were less likely to be targets for theft. And, I love him, so overall I packed:
1. Cheap-o backpack (like the kind you'd wear to grade school)
2. Messenger bag purse (inside backpack for the flight and my "purse" on land)
3. Medium duffel carry-on
Josh brought a larger duffel that we checked, and the waist pack from his hiker's backpack.
Our trip was 10 days in early February, Costa Rica's "summer."
I took inspiration from Yes and Yes the definitive what to pack list (my inspiration for the black travel dress and the black tank, most of which scored MVP status), and from Mighty Girl, who's been providing packing envy and inspiration for years.
Weather & Required Attire:
We were told we wouldn't need jeans/sweatshirt in Montezuma, but I get cold on planes (and everywhere). Complicating the packing was the fact that our retreat included two yoga sessions *per day*, plus hiking and adventuring and whatnot in-between. I got comfortable with the fact that I'd be working out in clothes multiple times, and we brought a laundry bar to hand wash clothes as needed. I decided that on a trip like this one, rarely do you hear a person say "I wish I'd brought more clothes." Over-packing can really kill a good time, and under-packing just means you can shop more.
Gadgets:
We left our phones at home, but I brought a digital camera and a laptop. I might have skipped the laptop, but it's a tiny thinkpad leftover from an old job (it's so old they didn't even want it back) and I didn't care if it got lost or damaged. It was great to have internet access when we needed it, and it enabled us to connect with Josh's friend in San Jose. I also brought my Kindle for reading. I understand that the new e-readers can also connect to email and the Internet, which might eliminate the need to bring a laptop. Definitely a consideration for future trips.
OH and I brought my iPod mini from forever ago, and headphones. Totally saved the night in Jaco at a noisy hostel.
Packing List:
On the plane:
-Jeans
-T-shirt
-Nice sandals that can handle some walking (Clarks Indigo)
-Light hoodie
-Summer scarf
-Watch with alarm
-Simple jewelry
Backpack:
-Laptop & cord
-Notepad & pen/pencil
-Sunglasses (I took a free pair from last year's art car parade so I wouldn't be annoyed when they broke or I lost them... which I did)
-Travel alarm
-Cipro, Tums, ibuprofen, Pepto
-Travel money belt
-Gadgets bag (see above)
-Hive
-Snacks (mango and ginger slices, granola bars)
-Moon guide to Costa Rica
-Lonely Planet - Costa Rican Spanish
-3 New Yorkers
-Passport & Itinerary w/confirmation #s & schedule
-2 credit cards (with no foreign transaction fees), debit card, health insurance card, 1-year-chip
Clothes (in Duffel):
-10 tops -- mostly cotton/poly short sleeve shirts for yoga but a few nicer; 1 long-sleeve & 1 short sleeve button-down (good swimsuit cover-up)
-4 dresses (one black travel dress, 1 short sundress, 1 long sundress, 1 "fancy" dress)
-4 yoga pants/shorts
-3 sports bras & 1 yoga top
-2 swimsuits
-2 pair of shorts (1 khaki, 1 sporty)
-1 skirt
-8 pair of undies
Shoes:
-Tevas
-Flip flops
-Vibrams
(Wore nicer sandals)
Etc.:
-basic toiletries including extra contacts & glasses
-1 travel yoga mat & yoga socks
-1 hat
-an extra big summer scarf
-travel towel
-headlamp
-sunscreen
-bug spray (40% deet)
-twine & laundry bar
Packing Tips:
-I could have brought half as many dresses and about 4 fewer t-shirts, most notably I'd leave behind the "nicer," more fussy dress. People just don't "dress up" at night in Montezuma. Lipstick was the only cosmetic I could deal with, and even then only at night, so I made it a bright one. Black dress, bright lipstick, let your beachy hair down -- go to dinner and eat fish on the beach, you beautiful thing!
-I didn't quite nail the shoes. I'm not a huge Tevas fan (and they are soooo ugly), although mine served me ok for the hiking we did. They weren't great with sand or rocks. I think a pair of these aqua-hiking-shoes would be more versatile. I didn't do any beach running in the Vibrams, though that was the idea (I was too busy with two yoga classes a day!)
-MVP was this big-ass summer scarf! I actually changed into swimsuit bottoms under this on a river hike. Terrific cover-up, sunburn-protector, extra layer for warmth, makeshift towel, etc. The grey dress I'm wearing here is another comfy, versatile piece I practically lived in.
-A solid black tank top with thicker straps got a lot of play when I realized I could wear it for yoga without a bra (scandalous, I know). Most of my active wear clothes are designed for cardio and running. The yoga we practiced didn't require quite so much support, and I felt most comfortable in clothes that hugged and covered (even upside-down) but did not squeeze.
-Despite modest efforts, every part of me got sunburnt except my face. I credit this hat. Thanks, hat! It was a gift from the Houston Area Women's Center because I donated and am running in a 5k in two weeks. If you'd like to help HAWC provide support for women and families in Houston, you can donate through my run page, here. Saving faces (and lives) is basically what they do, and it's run by some of the best folks in town, so I'm happy to endorse them at home and abroad.
You Come, Too!
And that was it! I may write more about the trip later, but it accomplished my main goal for Josh and I to "get our feet wet" traveling outside the United States together. I had a lot of fears about language, transportation, connection, etc., and while we *definitely* had our challenging moments, we were brainstorming ideas for future trips on the plane ride home.
I bought our flights using frequent flier miles attained through credit cards and other methods I learned about via the website Art of Non-Conformity. Chris also runs a site called the Travel Hacking Cartel and you can sign up for a free trial to see if it might work for you, too. If you do, please use this referral link. He's visited every country in the world minus one, so dude is the real deal.
The yoga retreat was led by our friend Banyan, who is a traveler, a teacher, and a clown. Both Josh and I started off with the attitude of "we're going on this trip... oh and there's yoga too" and it wound up being deeply affecting for both of us. He's just beginning to teach these retreats on a regular basis, so you can learn more and snag a spot for 2014 now! Do it. Get bendy with Banyan.
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