Costa Rica Insect Life

[doistayordoigo]

I'm considering a trip to Costa Rica, not until 2024 at least, but I like to look early! It's been on my list of places to visit for a while, but I'm a bit worried about the insect life. I know it's a nature holiday and seeing the wildlife is kind of the point, but I'm worried about a couple of things specifically.

Firstly, I'm really scared of spiders, and I understand there are some big ones...how easy would they be to avoid?

Secondly, DH has in the past had bad reactions to insect bites, gets big blisters and swells a fair bit. We're not sure which insects exactly, I suspect ants, but if you've been to CR how much of a problem do you think this would be?

Would we be completely mad to go, or in your experience is it doable? I really want to visit, it looks amazing, but not sure whether it's sensible!

How is your planning going OP? I'm also thinking about insects for a very theoretical trip next year too.

It was put on hold as we booked a big trip to Jordan for this year instead, so Costa Rica is still on the back burner.

We both got bitten by mozzies at the Dead Sea and both had quite strong reactions so I think we need to try out some different repellents on our next trip to Greece.

I had some hypnotherapy to try to get over the fear of spiders but it didn't really work!

Big spiders you have to go looking for really, they are naturally shy.

Butterflies everywhere. You may see the occasional cockroach. Bitey things depend on where and when you go, pretty unavoidable in the rainforest but use repellent and cover up if you go for nature walks. I am very tasty to mozzies and only got the odd bite there with no reactions

@Peccary That's good to know...not bothered by anything other than spiders, love butterflies, although my mum was terrified of them so that would have been her idea of hell.

What time of year did you go, if mozzie activity was low?

Some big spiders in CR. For me, when I went it was mosquitoes that were the issue - I react horribly. But in fact it wasn't too bad, though I did spray liberally. I think to avoid insects you ought go somewhere dry if you're looking for an 'exotic' holiday. We had very few in Namibia in the dry season. Ditto Oman.

A friend went and I think their biggest concern was bullet ants

I spent a month in Costa Rica and didn't see any spiders apart from on a nighttime rainforest walk (also saw glow in the dark scorpions, which was super cool!).

I did get dengue fever though.

We went a few years ago . So many bugs, spidars and the biggest Cricket I have ever seen . It was the size of my forearm and ended up clinging on to my hair for a good few minutes (seemed like hours) . I was so shocked & shaken we left the area the next morning . I'm not particularly fazed by insects or bugs but will never go back to CR

If you mean in hotels and at tourist attractions, you only see what you look for, as in, on a tour in the national parks.

I didnt see any spiders, anywhere. But i wasnt looking! Regular insect repellant is fine. We got a few mozzie bites, nothing more than on a holiday in Europe!

I'm guessing you aren't going solo into the wilds or anything....it really is very developed!

Gosh I saw a massive white spider in our room. It wasn't the size; it was the colour that alarmed me.
And after a lovely meal out my husband showed me what had been sitting on the wall just behind me throughout the meal - the most massive cricket thing. As big as a starling!
I'm actually ok with that kind of thing tho, so am unsure why he didn't tell me sooner!

I also saw a platoon of ants murder and eat a cockroach under the table in a soda (café) in Montezuma.

I think if your dh wears deet will be OK and cover up legs later on or in rainforest. Spiders can't really avoid but there's so many weird and wonderful insects and creatures you will love them by the end of the holiday. It can be exposure therapy. It's the most wonderful place, one of best holidays ever with sloths, gecko, toucan, monkeys, raccoons, coati, ziplines, jungle, hot springs etc and beautiful tropical gardens, kayaking in ocean, active volcanoes, etc

I found I was bitten much worse in Thailand than I was in Costa Rica. Didn't have any horrifying insect encounters.
I get bitten a lot generally but had a lot of success using a mosquito repellent after sun on bare skin for most of the day and just adding the foul deet spray at sunset.

Thanks for all the replies, interesting that some say they saw no spiders at all and others saw loads! I think the problem if you have a phobia is you subconsciously look for them. I don't mind if they stay outside but would freak out if they were in my room.

I don't think the other bug life would bother me...I was once hit in the head by a moth so big it felt like a bird 😁and have happily slept with (normal sized) crickets in the room.

And yes we could go somewhere drier to avoid the mozzies, but I'd rather see Costa Rica....just need to manage the reactions if/when we get bit.

One question....I've heard you should use mosquito repellent in the day, but what do you put on first, repellent or sun screen?

i'd put sunscreen on first then spray on the repellent. Or buy a sunscreen which has inbuilt repellent. Soltan do a good one.

Also only saw a spider on a wildlife tour where the guide had to poke a stick in a hole for it to come out.

Didn’t get bitten once in the cloud forest or jungle but got loads of bites on the Caribbean coast….I may have got complacent with repellent but that stage though!

Being honest, we did some big spiders, and got bitten to death by mozzies. But it was still, but far, the most amazing holiday we've ever been on.