Relaxing on Copacabana Beach is a must-do for anyone visiting Rio de Janeiro, and it can be all too easy to let the hours whizz by as you sit sipping a cold beer or a caipirinha, taking in the splendid mountain backdrop and the array of tanned and toned beach bodies that saunter past.

Let the vendors come to you — Photo courtesy of Sailor Coruscant

Should you have a nagging feeling that vital shopping duties are being overlooked at the same time as your skin is getting nicely bronzed, relax. Copacabana beachfront is the point of sale for vendors hawking everything from teeny weeny bikinis to sarongs, sunhats, hammocks and replica Christ statues, so don´t be too quick to dismiss what they have to offer.

While beach vendors will often start off at a high price, they are usually willing to strike a bargain, especially if you are interested in buying more than one item. If you don´t like the first price, let them know, and they will usually drop it to something more affordable. While there´s no doubt that vendors see foreign sunbathers as rich pickings, it is actually possible to find bargains on swimwear, beach clothing and keepsakes. And hey, even if you do pay a little more, it´s a small price to pay for shopping without the least physical effort.