I've been to Costa Rica more than 30 times. These are the rookie mistakes that can turn a dream vacation into a headache.

I've made more than 30 trips to Costa Rica, so I've had plenty of chances to make my share of mistakes, from under-budgeting and over-scheduling to wasting precious luggage space on the wrong gear. I've also booked subpar accommodations to save some money, only to end up spending more on a last-minute place to stay.

Of course, part of the joy of travel is the lessons you learn along the way. Some mistakes are minor, laughable and fixable — and might even lead to new experiences or friendships. But some mistakes could cost you time and money, put off local people or even put your safety at risk. Read on for my list of the most common first-timer mistakes.

Costa Rica is not the only place with a San José airport. If your dream destination is Costa Rica, not Silicon Valley, double-check that your flight is headed to SJO (the airport code for Juan Santamaría International Airport near San José), not SJC (the San José Mineta International Airport in San José, California), before you book.

Also, when searching for flights, don't forget that Costa Rica has another international airport in Guanacaste: the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, also known as the Liberia International Airport (LIR) or the Guanacaste Airport. Depending on your itinerary, flying into LIR could shorten your journey, particularly if you're visiting Guanacaste or the northern Pacific coast.

Costa Rica doesn't look that big on a map, so you might assume you can cover the whole country in your one or two-week visit. But varying topography, winding (and sometimes narrow and rough) roads and changing weather conditions mean drives tend to take longer than they look on a map.

Cattle and wildlife (the rumor is true: Traffic stops to let sloths cross!), road repairs and accidents can also cause delays. On a recent trip, we sat in the same spot for an hour, just minutes away from reaching our hotel, because part of the road was being repaired and there wasn't enough room to pass. A car ride we thought would take under an hour took twice as long.

Avoid over-scheduling your itinerary, build in a buffer time and assume drives will take longer than the GPS says. If you've only got one week in Costa Rica, pick just one or two regions to visit. Otherwise, you'll spend more of your vacation in the car than at the beach or in the rainforest.

So you checked the weather forecast for your travel dates and it's showing rain every day. Now, you're panicking. While it may indeed rain every day, depending on when and where you're going, there's a good chance it won't rain all day, every day.

Costa Rica's tropical climate and multiple microclimates across the country mean it does rain often, but not everywhere all the time. You'll generally get a mix of sun and showers — and that may not match what the forecast shows.

It's smart to keep an eye on the news and weather, especially during the rainy season , when storms can cause flooding and road closures. But don't obsess over it. If you want to experience Costa Rica, part of that is experiencing it in all types of weather — and being able to roll with it. If you've got your rain jacket, a positive, flexible attitude and a backup plan (hot springs are heavenly in the rain, but there are plenty of indoor activities, like cooking classes too), you're going to have a great time, rain and shine.

Speaking of the weather, a lot of travelers avoid the rainy season (May through November), also known as the green season. But it can be a good time to visit Costa Rica if you're into cooler temperatures, greener landscapes, fewer crowds, coastal hikes and surfing. Also, the Caribbean side tends to have a bit less rain in September and October, which are the wettest months on the Pacific side.

As mentioned above, the weather in Costa Rica can be tricky to pin down. It might still rain during your dry season trip, and it could be sunny if you visit during the green season. When I was living in Guanacaste, we got hit with several rainstorms during the dry season months. And on a different trip to Costa Rica in the middle of the green season, I hiked under clear blue skies.

One of my friends who visited Costa Rica recently told me she didn't see much wildlife. I was shocked, but then realized why: She never hired a guide during her trip. The forests in Costa Rica are dense, and if you don't know what you're looking for or where to look, you can easily miss some incredible creatures. Trained guides have the keen eye, knowledge and equipment needed to find even the teeniest and most elusive species.

Some of my most vivid memories of Costa Rica over the years have been moments when a guide spotted something I would have never noticed on my own, including the time a guide found a tiny emerald toucanet, camouflaged by the foliage in Mistico Park , and another instance when a guide suddenly stopped the car to show us a little bitty eyelash viper on a fence alongside the road that we were whizzing by.

Letting your fears limit your experience

Costa Rica is home to an abundance of wildlife, and for some people, that can be intimidating. Yes, there are snakes, lizards, spiders and many other creatures here. But rather than trying to avoid them completely, consider learning about them instead.

I had a pretty sizable fear of snakes before spending time in Costa Rica. But I seemed to encounter them regularly (one time, I was joking with a guide at Braulio Carrillo National Park about snakes showing up wherever I go in the world, and one crossed the trail between us at that exact moment!).

I decided I'd better accept my snake magnetism and get more comfortable with them. So I started replacing my fear with curiosity; I asked guides more questions about snake identification and their roles in the ecosystem, and I joined snake identification groups where people share photos, videos and distinct features and behaviors. I can't say I'm completely fearless now, but I am better informed, which has made me more comfortable traveling in Costa Rica.

Not packing closed-toe shoes and warm layers

Sandals and swimsuits are great for the beach. But if you're planning to visit the mountainous regions and do any hiking, ziplining, ATV-ing, horseback riding or other outdoor adventures, you'll need more coverage.

Some outdoor activities require closed-toe shoes for safety, and areas at higher elevations, such as the cloud forests of Monteverde , can get chilly at night. Skip the cotton and denim and go for quick-dry materials. You might not imagine needing wool socks or a sweater on your Costa Rica vacation, but wool is moisture-wicking and odor-resistant — two things you want in your hiking gear.

Sometimes when we leave home, our brains switch to vacation mode too. Costa Rica has all the ingredients of a tropical paradise, but there are also common risks, and it's wise to keep your wits about you.

Leave valuables at home; always lock your accommodations and car (even if you're only running into the store for a moment); don't be flashy with money or jewelry; and pay attention to your surroundings rather than being distracted by your phone. Some short-term rentals have been targeted by burglars, so I personally recommend sticking to vetted hotels and other properties with robust security.

Bring your common sense along on your outdoor adventures too. Always heed the guide's instructions, stay away from rivers during and after rainstorms (flash flooding can be sudden and dangerous) and watch where you step, lean and sit. Most creatures in Costa Rica aren't aggressive, but they don't take kindly to being startled and may sting or bite.

I keep two memories front of mind to keep me from leaning or sitting willy-nilly without looking: I picture the bullet ants (who pack a painful punch if they sting you) crossing a log I almost sat on, and a tiny green viper that was curled up, napping on a leaf right next to a trail. Had guides not pointed these out on my early trips to Costa Rica, I likely wouldn't have seen them and could have unintentionally disturbed them — and suffered the consequences.

Expecting things to be as they are where you're from

The quickest way to wear out your welcome? Expecting everything in Costa Rica to be the same as where you're from. Things tend to be more laid-back here, and the official language is Spanish, so not everyone will be perfectly punctual or speak English. Learn at least a few Spanish phrases and get on board with leaning into a looser schedule.