The essential list for a boat trip is short: ID document, water-resistant sunscreen, swimwear, towel, sunglasses with strap, hat, water and snacks. For a full day, add a windbreaker, deck shoes and a waterproof pouch for your phone. In 2025, the principle is: bring the essentials in waterproof bags and leave the superfluous at home.
Table of Contents
- The essential list in a table
- Reserve for each trip type
- What stays home
- Organization on board: waterproof bags and accessibility
- Food and hydration on board
- FAQ
The essential list in a table
| Item | Why | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| ID document | Required at boarding (RG, driver's license or passport) | One document per adult; children on the passenger list |
| High-SPF, water-resistant sunscreen | The water reflection increases exposure | Reapply every 2h and after each swim |
| Swimwear | Swimming stops are the heart of the route | Bring two if the day is long |
| Towel | To dry off and protect from wind | Microfiber: dries fast and takes little space |
| Sunglasses with UV protection | Reflected light on the water is intense | A strap avoids losing them at sea |
| Hat or cap | High sun on the open deck | Wide brim protects the face |
| Water (1.5-2L per person) | Dehydration at sea arrives silently | Freeze some bottles the day before |
| Light snacks | Keep energy between stops | Fruits, sandwiches; no melted chocolate |
| Windbreaker or extra layer | Sea wind cools even in summer | Store in a waterproof bag |
| Deck shoes (no heels) | Safety during maneuvers and on wet surfaces | Flip-flops with non-slip sole |
| Waterproof pouch for phone | Water and salt don't mix with electronics | Test the seal before boarding |
| Cash or card | Island fees (e.g.: Ilha dos Frades ~R$ 25/person) and purchases | Small notes help |
This is the universal base — with it, any full-day trip is covered.
Reserve for each trip type
The base list adapts to the trip format. For a shared schooner trip (ranges of R$ 80-150 per person in Paraty, May 2025): the operator provides life jackets and, in many cases, fruits and music — bring only water, sunscreen and personal essentials, since the deck space is shared. For a private speedboat: the full list applies, and it's worth adding a cooler if the operator allows it (confirm the drinks and meals policy). For overnight or full-day trips with a beach stop: add a flashlight, portable charger, insect repellent and a change of dry clothes — the comfort of the return is what you don't see in the photos.
For trips in destinations with trails, like Ilha Grande and Paraty (beaches such as Lopes Mendes and Mamanguá require walking from the sand): closed shoes and snacks — see our guide what to bring on a boat trip in Ilha Grande for the complete version.
What stays home
What you don't bring is as important as what you bring:
- Valuables and electronics. Salt corrodes and the gunwale is generous: professional cameras and jewelry stay home or in the safe. The phone goes in a waterproof pouch or stays stored.
- Handbags, large wallets. What fits in a small pouch or a waterproof bag is enough. Space on private vessels is generous, but wet surfaces and an open bag don't mix.
- Unnecessary original documents. Bring your ID — not the whole passport or contracts.
- Feather-heavy beach towels. Microfiber towels work better: they dry fast, take little space and don't weigh on the way back.
Organization on board: waterproof bags and accessibility
Organization is half the trip. The method that works:
- One small waterproof bag per category: documents together (with cash for fees), electronics (phone, earphones), wet clothes after swimming.
- Dry area and wet area separated. After the first swim, everyone has wet clothes: reserve a corner of the deck or use separate bags for wet items. This preserves the dry clothes for the return.
- Frequently used items within reach. Sunscreen, water and glasses: where you're sitting. No digging through bags while the boat is moving.
- Single footwear. At boarding and disembarkation, non-slip, heel-free shoes — in the water, flip-flops; on the deck, the same. Fewer items, less risk.
The goal is spending at most 5 minutes to find anything on board — not an excavation while the boat navigates.
Food and hydration on board
Water is the most underestimated item of the trip: at sea, with wind and sun, dehydration arrives before hunger. The practical reference is 1.5 to 2 liters per person on a full day — freezing some bottles the day before keeps the cooler cold and guarantees cold water on the way back.
For food, the balance between practicality and heat resistance: fruits (watermelon, grapes, apples), simple sandwiches, salty snacks. Avoid chocolates, creams and foods that melt or take up fragile containers. Many private speedboat operators accept your own cooler with drinks — confirming the policy beforehand — and some include fruits and on-board service (a common standard on shared schooners in Paraty and Salvador). The meal on land, at the stop, closes the day when the route provides it.
FAQ
What's essential to bring on a boat trip?
ID document, water-resistant sunscreen (high SPF, reapply every 2h), swimwear, microfiber towel, sunglasses with strap, hat, water (1.5-2L per person), light snacks and a waterproof pouch for your phone. For a full day, add a windbreaker and non-slip footwear. Life jackets and safety structure are provided by the operator.
Do I need to bring a life jacket?
No — life jackets are provided by the operator, one per occupant, including children's sizes. What you do is confirm the quantity and sizes at booking, especially with kids in the group. If you prefer, no rule prevents bringing your own certified jacket — but it's not necessary, and the operator is responsible for having them on board.
Can I bring food and drinks on a boat trip?
It depends on the operator's policy: many private speedboats accept your own cooler with drinks and snacks; shared schooners usually include fruits and, in some cases, on-board service. The rule: confirm beforehand. Water, in any scenario, always bring your own — 1.5 to 2 liters per person for a full day. On party trips, drinks for the group fit each vessel's policy.
Which documents do I need to bring?
A photo ID for each adult: RG, driver's license or passport. Foreigners use their passport or a document from their country of origin. Children go on the passenger list informed at booking. No nautical license is needed when the trip sails with a skipper included — an ID document is enough. Cash helps for local fees not included, such as islands and parks.
What happens if it rains on the trip day?
Many routes continue with light rain — the sea can even get calmer — but heavy rain changes the plan and, in common market practice, rescheduling is handled with the operator, converting the deposit to a new date. Bring a windbreaker and a thin rain shell even on sunny days: wind and quick rain arrive without warning at sea. Confirm the rescheduling policy before closing.
How do I protect my phone on the trip?
A waterproof pouch is the practical solution: it also usually works for underwater photos. Test the seal before boarding — an old pouch with a worn seal is a guaranteed loss. A portable charger inside the pouch, in the dry section, solves the day. Avoid taking the phone out with wet hands and prefer selfies with the boat stopped. Valuables stay home.
How many liters of water per person?
1.5 to 2 liters per person for a full-day trip is the practical reference — wind and sun at sea speed up dehydration, which arrives before hunger. Freeze some bottles the day before: they keep the cooler cold and guarantee cold water on the return. If the route has a kiosk or restaurant stop, still bring your extra water.
What's the difference between packing for a shared and a private trip?
On shared trips (schooner, traineira), bring only personal essentials — water, sunscreen, glasses — because deck space is shared, life jackets and structure are the operator's and many routes include fruits and music. On private trips, the full list fits, plus the cooler (if allowed), extra towels and organization by waterproof bags. Overnight requires a change of dry clothes, a flashlight and a charger.
CTA
Want to bring the right things and not fall short? Talk to the Voguer team via WhatsApp: we confirm the operator's policy (cooler, children's life jackets, island fees) for your exact route.
Related posts: essential items checklist, protecting skin and clothes at sea and what to bring for boat season. For the route: boat rental in Rio de Janeiro, boat rental in Angra dos Reis, boat rental in Búzios and boat rental in Florianópolis.
