If you're renting a villa near Jacó and want to set it up without blowing the budget, Pequeño Mundo is the spot locals go. It's one of Costa Rica's best-known discount variety stores — think a big, affordable department store where you can find almost anything for the home — and there's a location right in Herradura, just a few minutes north of Jacó Beach. As your local private chef, I send guests here all the time to kit out a kitchen, grab party decor, or pick up beach gear for the week.
What is Pequeño Mundo?
Pequeño Mundo has been a Costa Rican shopping staple for more than 35 years — a homegrown discount chain known for low prices and a huge, mixed selection. It's the kind of store where one trip covers the whole list: kitchen and tableware, home and bath, cleaning supplies, storage, party and holiday decor, toys, beach gear and plenty more. If you're used to a big-box variety store back home, that's the vibe: wide aisles, low prices, a little bit of everything.
What to grab for a villa stay
For anyone settling into a rental for a week or more, it's the easiest way to round out whatever the villa doesn't already have:
- Kitchen & tableware — extra pots, pans, knives, serving platters, glassware, coolers and pitchers for a big group.
- Party & celebration — balloons, banners, decorations, disposable tableware and serving pieces for a birthday, bachelor/bachelorette night or a welcome dinner.
- Beach & outdoor — towels, umbrellas, floats, coolers and beach toys for the kids.
- Home comforts — extra towels, storage bins, fans, and the little odds and ends that make a long stay feel easy.
Good to know
Where: Herradura, just a few minutes north of Jacó Beach, Costa Rica — an easy stop on the way to or from Playa Herradura and Los Sueños, and right by the Auto Mercado in Herradura for groceries on the same run. Hours: open daily (Monday–Sunday), 9 a.m.–8 p.m. What it is: a big discount variety store — kitchenware, home goods, party and beach supplies, clothing, decor and more at budget prices. Stock and prices change, so treat these as a guide.
Shop the deals — let us handle the cooking
Here's where we come in. Stocking the villa is the fun part; cooking three meals a day for a big group on vacation is not. So make the Pequeño Mundo run for the extras you want, and let us take dinner off your plate: as your private chef in Jacó, we bring the groceries, cook a fresh meal right at your rental and clean up after — you just enjoy it. Planning a bigger event? See our Jacó wedding planning guide and our villa party decorations guide, and for more local tips check out POPS Ice Cream in Herradura and the grocery & bar stocking guide.