What Food & Drinks to Bring on a Boat Trip in Rio (BYO Guide)

Want to enjoy your boat trip your way — with the drinks you like, the food your group prefers, and without paying for the full catering service? The BYO (Bring Your Own) model is the right choice. All WeBoat boats allow you to board with your own food and drinks at no extra charge.

But Rio's coastal waters have their particularities: the sun beats down hard, wind tips over glasses, and heat speeds up ice melting. This complete guide answers everything: what to bring, what to avoid, how to calculate the right quantity, how to keep things cold efficiently, and even how to impress with regional products that make any trip extra special.

BYO or WeBoat Service: When Does Each Make Sense?

Before packing your bags, it's worth understanding when BYO makes more sense — and when booking WeBoat's catering services is the better value.

BYO is ideal when:

• The group is small (2 to 6 people) and costs need to be controlled
• Someone in the group has dietary restrictions or very specific preferences
• The trip is more laid-back, without the formality of a full event
• You want to completely customize the menu — artisanal cachaça, homemade appetizers, your favorite wine

WeBoat's service is worth it when:

• The group has 10 or more people and the logistics of buying and transporting everything would be stressful
• It's a special event (bachelorette party, birthday, corporate outing) where the complete experience matters
• Nobody wants to worry about anything — just enjoy while the grill master and bartender handle everything

See our details on BBQ on board and open bar options if you're considering the packages. For BYO, read on.

Practical Foods: What Works Best on Board

The boat moves, space is limited, and there's no kitchen. The ideal menu is one that doesn't need cutlery, doesn't get soggy in the heat, doesn't release strong smells, and can be eaten standing or seated with ease.

Category A: The On-Board Champions

• Dry snacks and appetizers: crackers, cheese puffs, mixed nuts, peanuts, chips. Easy to eat, don't melt, and hold up in the heat
• Wraps and compact sandwiches: prepare ahead of time, wrap tightly in parchment paper, and store in a closed container in the cooler. Avoid excess mayonnaise — it spoils quickly
• Fresh cut fruit: watermelon, melon, mango, pineapple, and grapes are refreshing, hydrating, and please everyone. Cut at home, place in an airtight container in the cooler
• Cheese and charcuterie board: mozzarella, cubed parmesan, salami, ham, pepperoni. Serve with water crackers — elevates snack time without any effort
• Artisan breads: ciabatta, sliced baguette, or wrapped garlic bread. Pair well with cold cuts and don't need refrigeration for a few hours
• Hard-boiled eggs: practical protein, nature's own packaging. Cook beforehand, peel, and bring in a container with a pinch of salt

Regional Tip: Brazilian Products That Impress

Want to turn the snack time into a conversation starter and give the trip that extra special touch? Go for regional products from Rio de Janeiro:

• Artisanal cachaça from Paraty: Paraty is famous for its award-winning cachaças. Bring a bottle (with a screw top!) and serve neat or in a homemade caipirinha
• Brazilian sweets: individually wrapped brigadeiro, coconut candy (cocada), beijinho — classics that travel well and appeal to any palate
• Minas cheese with guava paste: the classic "Romeo and Juliet" combination in appetizer format is irresistible and easy to serve on board
• Carioca craft beer: breweries like Carioca Brewing Co. and Invicta make perfect labels for a summer day at sea

Foods to Avoid: What Not to Bring on the Boat

Some choices that seem obvious on land become headaches at sea. Avoid:

• Strong-smelling foods: canned tuna, sardines, scrambled eggs, certain aged cheeses. The wind spreads the smell throughout the boat and can bother everyone on board
• Ice cream and popsicles: they melt within minutes, make a mess everywhere, and turn into a liquid puddle in the cooler
• Dishes requiring fork and knife: pasta, rice, chicken on a plate. Rocking and eating with cutlery is a risky combination. Stick to finger food
• Foods without rigid packaging: unprotected cakes, open tarts, anything that will crumble in the wind or disintegrate in the cooler
• Drinks in uncapped glass bottles: glass cups break, open glass bottles spill. More on this in the drinks section
• Heavy foods: stews, fatty meats, hot fried food. Sun + sea + full stomach is a recipe for discomfort. Prioritize lightness

Drinks: How to Keep Cold, Transport, and Serve on Board

Hydration is critical under Rio's sun. A 5-hour trip on a Brazilian summer day consumes far more liquid than you'd expect. The golden rule:

Count on 1 to 1.5 cold drinks per hour per person, plus mineral water separately. For 5 hours and 10 people: 50 to 75 alcoholic or soft drink units, plus at least 10 bottles of 500ml water.

What Drinks to Bring

• Beer in cans: the ideal packaging. Chills quickly, takes up little space, doesn't break, and is easy to drink in any position. Prefer 350ml cans to control individual temperature
• Mineral water in PET bottles: essential. Bring more than you think you need — the sun is deceptive and dehydration at sea is fast
• Soft drinks in cans: same logic as beer. Cola, guaraná, and tonic water are versatile for non-drinkers and for mixing
• Wine in a screw-cap bottle: or better yet, in a tetra pak or wine bag — practical, lightweight, and unbreakable
• Pre-mixed drinks in PET or capped bottles: lime caipirinha, gin and tonic, Moscow mule — make them at home, bring them well chilled, and serve from the cooler. No cocktail shakers on board
• Natural juice in a closed bottle: passion fruit, orange, pineapple — refreshing and excellent for non-drinkers

What to Avoid in Drinks

• Wine glasses and glass cups: one sudden boat movement, one wave, and the glass hits the floor. Use sturdy plastic cups or stainless steel cups with lids
• Open glass bottles: they tip over with the boat's movement. If you bring wine in a glass bottle, transfer it to a closed PET bottle or pour directly from the cooler
• Warm drinks: warm beer in Rio's heat is a waste. Chilling drinks 12 to 24 hours in advance makes all the difference

Ice: The Key to Everything (and Why WeBoat Doesn't Include It)

All WeBoat boats have coolers on board included in the trip. What is not included is ice — and there's a practical reason: the ideal amount varies greatly depending on the group size, the menu, and the temperature of the day.

Our recommendation:

• Buy block ice or cube ice before leaving home: near Marina da Glória there are convenience stores and distributors where you can easily find ice
• Quantity: plan for 1 kg of ice per person for a 5-hour summer trip. For 10 people, 10 kg is a safe minimum
• Block ice vs cube ice: block ice lasts longer and takes up less space. Cube or crushed ice chills faster but melts in 2 to 3 hours in the heat. Combine both types
• Pre-chill your drinks: drinks that go into the cooler already cold use far less ice than room-temperature drinks. Chilling the night before is the most valuable tip in this guide

If you'd rather skip this logistics, message us on WhatsApp — we can guide you on where to get ice near the boarding point or arrange ice service on request.

How Much to Calculate: Quantity Table per Person

To make planning easier, use this reference for a 5-hour trip:

• Beers/drinks in cans (350ml): 5 to 8 units per person who drinks
• Mineral water (500ml): at least 2 bottles per person (more in summer)
• Soft drinks/juice: 2 to 3 cans/small bottles per non-drinker
• Dry snacks (chips, nuts): 80 to 120g per person
• Fruit: 200 to 300g per person (already cut)
• Cold cuts and cheeses: 80 to 100g per person
• Breads and wraps: 1 to 2 units per person as the main meal
• Ice: 1 kg per person (minimum, summer)

Multiply by the number of people and add a 20% buffer — the sea opens the appetite and the fun always lasts a little longer than planned.

Storage on Board: Where to Put Everything

WeBoat boats have well-distributed spaces to accommodate the group's belongings. Here's how to make the most of them:

• Boat coolers: use for cold drinks and foods that need refrigeration. Always close the lid to preserve the ice
• Deck area or countertop: ideal for dry snacks in closed containers, accessible to everyone
• Interior cabin: on boats with a cabin, the space under the seats works for bags and supplies that don't need refrigeration
• Extra personal cooler (optional): for groups over 15 people, an additional cooler makes a difference. Ask us about available space on each boat

For space details and specifications of each vessel, see our full fleet.

Trash on Board: Group Responsibility

The sea belongs to everyone. One of the golden rules of boat trips in Rio is to disembark with all trash generated. WeBoat provides trash bags on board, but organization is the group's responsibility.

Practical tips:

• Bring 2 extra sturdy plastic bags beyond those provided — one for dry waste (cans, packaging) and one for wet waste (fruit scraps, wet paper)
• Cap all drink cans before discarding — prevents remaining liquid from leaking into the bag
• Never discard anything in the sea — besides being illegal, it destroys the ecosystem of the beaches and islands we visit
• When disembarking, deposit trash in the collectors at Marina da Glória

Cost Comparison: BYO vs WeBoat Service

What do you actually spend? See the comparison for a group of 10 people on a 5-hour trip:

BYO — Estimate for 10 people

• 50 canned beers (pack): R$120 to R$180 (~USD 22–33)
• Mineral water (case of 24 bottles): R$40 (~USD 7)
• Assorted snacks (nuts, crackers, chips): R$80 to R$120
• Fruit and cold cuts: R$80 to R$120
• Breads, wraps and condiments: R$60 to R$100
• Ice (10 kg): R$30 to R$50
• Total estimate: R$410 to R$610 for the group — R$41 to R$61 per person (~USD 7–11)

WeBoat Service — All Inclusive Basic

• Package per person: from R$205/person (~USD 37)
• Grill fee: R$250 to R$400
• Includes: professional grill master, full menu (meats, sides, dessert), bartender, unlimited drinks (beer, soda, water, caipirinha)
• Total estimate for 10 people: R$2,300 to R$2,450 — R$230 to R$245 per person (~USD 42–45)

The difference is real: BYO can cost 4 times less per person. But the full service eliminates all logistics and elevates the experience to a whole other level. The choice depends on your budget and the type of trip you want to provide. Learn more at how it works and check our FAQ page.

Final BYO Checklist: Don't Forget Anything

Before leaving home, confirm:

• Cold drinks (chill 12 to 24 hours in advance)
• Block or cube ice (1 kg per person)
• Snacks and food in closed containers
• Sturdy plastic cups or stainless steel cups with lids
• 2 plastic bags for trash
• Extra napkins and paper towels
• Corkscrew (if bringing wine) or bottle opener
• Condiment sachets (salt, mustard, ketchup) for wraps and breads

Want the complete list of everything to bring on a boat trip beyond food and drinks? See our complete first-time boat trip checklist.