Many beaches in Costa Rica are fairly remote and not close to grocery stores, however most times you will have decent shopping options close to where you end up. It’s a good idea to be prepared with a cooler full of drinks, snacks or a meal to ensure a happy family on any day trip!You can also save money at the beach by bringing along your own food and drinks. Be prepared with enough food to feed everyone, and drinks so that no one gets dehydrated. Take lots of napkins and preferably foods that don’t require cutlery. Remember your plastic cutlery and disposable plates, or invest in a portable picnic kit with everything included. Bring along a bag for garbage.
When heading out on your next beach excursion use this list of suggestions to base your shopping list on:
1. Sandwiches – ham, peanut butter, cream cheese, egg, salmon, vegetable or any other fun alternatives can be kept in your cooler till lunch time
2. Bread rolls, buns, crackers, pita bread and slices of bread can be brought along to accompany a main course or help to create one
3. Chips, pretzels, tortilla chips, corn chips
4. Homemade trail or snack mix – combine nuts, seeds, cereal, dried fruits or chocolate chips
5. Fruit that travels well – apples, oranges, watermelon, pineapple, grapes or nectarines
6. Pasta Salad and other salads can be made at home and kept in the cooler
7. Hot dogs, sausages or other items to be cooked on the BBQ or fire
8. Premade casseroles and one dish meals can be cooked ahead and kept with tinfoil or eaten without being reheated
9. Cut up vegetables – celery, carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and radishes
10. Cake or cupcakes
11. Brownies, bar cookies or cookies
12. Water bottles, juice, and sports drinks can all be frozen the night before to keep them well chilled, along with the items in the cooler
We would love to hear more ideas from you about family-friendly living in Costa Rica. Share, Learn, Ask and Tell - Check out Costa Rica Parents. Let us know if you have any beach friendly recipes or food ideas by emailing us.
