Beach picnic on Réunion Island: the checklist to plan it all

A great beach picnic on Réunion Island comes down to three things: keeping food cool until lunchtime, having shade and water for everyone, and taking your rubbish home with you. The rest is about organising your bags well.

Here is our checklist, to adapt whether you are going with family or friends.

Before you leave: prepare the cold

This is the key to a successful picnic under the island sun.

• The night before, put ice packs and one or two bottles of water in the freezer. They will be your cold blocks in the morning and cool water in the afternoon.
• In the morning, take dishes out of the fridge at the last minute.
• Pack the insulated bag full: ice packs at the bottom and along the sides, the most delicate food closest to the cold, fruit and bread on top.
• Do not leave the bag in the sun while you load the car.

Which bags to bring

For a beach picnic, the easiest approach is to split your things between two or three bags.

The insulated bag for the meal

For a group or a family, the XL insulated bag (€42 in the shop) works as a soft cool box. It comes in designs such as Pink Monstera, Kori, Nguzi and Paille-en-queue.

For a picnic for two, an insulated lunch bag is often enough: the S (€24) comes in Bora and Kori, the M (€27) in Pink Monstera and Paille-en-queue.

Every size is in the Insulated bags range, and our guide to insulated bags on Réunion Island helps you choose.

The tote for your things

Towels, mats, sunscreen, spare swimwear: a large XL classic tote takes care of it. Our tips for choosing one are in our post on beach totes.

The bottle sleeve

The insulated bottle bag 1.5 L (€16), in Kori or Pink Monstera, helps keep water cool, instead of leaving the bottle to heat up on the sand.

The beach picnic checklist

To eat and drink

• easy-to-share dishes, already cut up;
• seasonal fruit;
• bread;
• plenty of water, plus a few other drinks;
• reusable cutlery and cups;
• a tea towel or cloth napkins;
• a board and knife if you slice food on site.

For comfort

• mats or towels;
• a parasol or something for shade if the beach lacks it;
• sunscreen, hats, sunglasses;
• dry clothes for everyone.

To leave the beach clean

• a bag for rubbish;
• a small bag for recyclable packaging;
• water to rinse your hands.

During the picnic

• Settle in the shade when you can, and put the insulated bag in the shade too, not next to you in full sun.
• Take food out when you are ready to eat, then put it away straight after.
• Keep a cool bottle within reach in its insulated sleeve, so you do not open the big bag every time someone is thirsty.
• Start with the most delicate dishes and keep fruit and cakes for the end.

After the picnic: leave nothing behind

A clean beach is everyone’s business. Take all your rubbish home, including small bits of packaging and cigarette ends, and sort it when you get back. With reusable bags and washable cutlery, the amount of waste already shrinks on its own.

And when you get home

• Empty and shake out the bags to remove sand.
• Wipe the inside of the insulated bag with a damp cloth.
• Leave the bags open to air-dry before putting them away.

FAQ

How do I keep food cool all day at the beach?

With a well-filled insulated bag, ice packs, food that is already cold when you leave, and a bag kept in the shade and opened as little as possible. How long it lasts depends on the heat and sun exposure.

Which insulated bag for a family picnic?

An XL insulated bag for the meal, plus one bottle sleeve per person if needed.

Do I need a rigid cool box?

Not necessarily. A soft insulated bag is lighter, goes over your shoulder and takes up little room when empty.