Photography Packing List for Costa Rica: What to Bring

Packing for Costa Rica as a photographer is less about taking everything and more about taking the right things — tools that are reliable, versatile, and suited to a rainforest environment that shifts dramatically between sun, rain, and shadow. The country’s ecosystems are demanding: humid cloud forests, remote jungle trails, quick-moving wildlife, and variable lighting from dawn to dusk. Whether you’re photographing toucans in flight, frogs at night, or misty ridgelines at altitude, what you carry directly shapes what you’re able to shoot.

This blog is focused on practical, field-tested gear advice for photographers joining a Costa Rica photo tour — what deserves space in your bag, what to leave behind, and what often-overlooked items make a real difference when out in the field.

Core Camera Gear

• Main Camera Body: Bring your most reliable and weather-resistant body. A full-frame mirrorless or DSLR is ideal for dynamic range and high ISO performance, but crop-sensor bodies are more than capable.
  Recommended: One main body, plus a second (lighter) body if you’re shooting wildlife and landscapes concurrently or want backup in humid/rainy conditions.
• Lenses: Each ecosystem favors a different focal range. Here’s a breakdown by purpose:
• Telephoto (100–400mm or 500mm): Essential for wildlife, especially birds and mammals in dense forest or high canopy.
• Mid-range zoom (24–70mm or 24–105mm): Great for handheld landscapes, portraits, and environmental wildlife shots.
• Macro (90mm–105mm): Ideal for frogs, insects, and rainforest textures.
  Wide-angle (16–35mm): Useful in cloud forest scenes or when shooting forest interiors with strong composition.

Zooms vs. Primes: What to Bring?

Adi’s Advice (Costa Rica Photography Guide):

In general, zoom lenses offer more versatility in the field, especially for wildlife photography where subjects can appear or move unpredictably. A 70–200mm or 100–400mm zoom can be incredibly handy when you’re trying to adapt quickly to changing scenes or distances. That said, don’t count primes out too quickly. While primes are less flexible in terms of focal length, they usually offer wider maximum apertures (like f/2.8 or f/4), which allow more light into your camera—a major advantage in the low-light conditions under Costa Rica’s dense forest canopies. Wider apertures also help your autofocus system perform faster and more accurately in dim environments. Some photographers opt for a two-body setup to strike a balance: for example, carrying one camera with a 500mm f/4 and another with a 70–200mm f/2.8. This gives you reach and speed, while avoiding the need to constantly switch lenses in the field.

In my experience, there were only a couple of moments where I could have benefited from a zoom’s flexibility—for instance, when a peccary appeared suddenly while I was photographing small birds in thick brush, or when a Trogon flew in and perched low above our group. In both cases, a shorter focal length would have helped, but only if it also offered a wide enough aperture to maintain good light and fast focus.

Bottom line: Don’t ditch your primes unless you have a clear reason to. Instead, consider your shooting style and how you like to work in the field. For many, a mix of one prime and one zoom—ideally with wide apertures—strikes the right balance for Costa Rica’s unique shooting conditions.

Stabilization and Support

• Tripod or Monopod: A lightweight tripod with decent height and strong legs is valuable for macro, landscapes, and long exposures. A monopod is an excellent alternative for more mobile wildlife shooting.
  Note: Avoid heavy, oversized tripods — trail access often involves steep, muddy terrain. Carbon fiber is preferred.
• Ball Head or Gimbal Head: If you’re shooting birds or fast wildlife, a gimbal head is worth the added weight. For general use, a compact ball head with a good tension lock does the job.

Light Management and Accessories

• Flash or LED Panel: For macro work and fill light in the under-canopy gloom, a diffused flash or adjustable LED panel is extremely helpful. Consider a small softbox or diffuser to avoid harsh shadows.
• Remote Shutter Release: Useful for tripod-based shots, long exposures, or macro work where even a small vibration can soften the image.
• Lens Hood and Rain Covers: Rainforest weather is unpredictable. A rain cover for your camera and lens is a must. A lens hood helps keep moisture off the glass and reduces flare in bright jungle light.

Power, Storage & Backups

Extra Batteries (and a Way to Charge Them); High humidity and long shooting days will drain batteries faster than expected. Pack more than you think you’ll need — especially for mirrorless systems. You might also want to bring multi-port USB chargers, and a compact surge protector or travel adapter (Costa Rica uses 110V Type A/B outlets)

Carry enough cards to avoid deleting in the field. Opt for fast UHS-II or CFexpress cards if shooting bursts or video. And bring an SSD with an SD card reader or a wireless backup system (e.g., GNARBOX, WD My Passport Wireless) is a smart insurance policy in case of theft or card failure.

Personal Essentials for Photographers

• Dry Bags or Waterproof Packing Cubes: Ideal for keeping gear dry and organized, especially when moving between locations or caught in afternoon rain.
• Microfiber Cloths and Silica Gel Packs: Humidity can fog lenses quickly. Have cloths in every pocket and use silica gel in your camera bag and lens cases to combat moisture buildup.
• Quick-Dry Clothing: Lightweight, moisture-wicking, and quick to dry. You’ll sweat, get rained on, and maybe sit in the mud!

What to Leave Behind

Excessive Gear: Too many lenses or specialty items will weigh you down and often go unused. Prioritize versatility.

Large, Hard Cases: Pelican-style cases are great for flights but are cumbersome in the field. Use them for transit and switch to a lightweight backpack or sling once on-site.

Drone (Most Cases): Costa Rica has strict drone regulations in national parks and many reserves. Unless you’ve secured permits in advance, your drone may spend the whole trip in your bag.

Studio Equipment: No need for full-sized reflectors, umbrellas, or strobes — the environment doesn’t support them, and you won’t have time to set them up in dynamic wildlife situations.

Final Thoughts

Costa Rica’s rainforest is a rewarding but often challenging place to shoot. It favors adaptability over bulk, and readiness over perfection. Pack light, pack smart, and give yourself room — mentally and physically — to respond to the moment, not just the plan. The goal isn’t to bring everything you might need. It’s to bring what you know how to use — and what allows you to focus on the experience, not the gear.

For a deeper dive into specific photographic details once you’re in the field, check out:

→ Rainforest Light: How to Master Low-Light Photography in Costa Rica

→ Costa Rica Through a Macro Lens: Tiny Creatures, Big Impact