Shoes for Costa Rics

[Kbrush]

Hi!
We are off to Costa Rica next month and I am worrying about shoes. Do we need real hiking boots or would sneakers with some ankle protection be fine? I hate to buy and try breaking in heavy leather hiking boots. I know my daughter will not want to wear them and thus won't get them properly broken in. But tales of biting ants and possible snake bite worry me just a little. What shoes have other people packed?

Also, for water shoes are closed toe but openings on sides ok! My daughter has Keenes which are good sturdy water/wLking shoes but again, ants?

 

[Bobo912]

I don't think you need any hiking boots. I wore sneakers most of the time and Keens for the rafting and beach. I didn't see any ants when I was there. But maybe they are only active at a certain time of the year or something like that. We were there in July.

 

[tufbuf]

Sneakers are fine. You don't need heavy duty hiking shoes. We went there in August and it was turtle nesting season so we walked to the beach at night. Im not sure what activity they will replace it with during the dry season. Keens for water shoes are fine. That's what we used. Don't worry about the ants. The ones we saw were leaf cutter ants, easily visible. We did not encounter snakes at all. It's the mosquitoes you need to worry about but then again, dry season (up to March, I believe) not sure if they are as plentiful as during the rainy season. It's also an extremely humid area so if that bothers you, be prepared.