Central America’s Gringo Trail isn’t short of a party or two. But heading into Nicaragua, one party in particular seemed to proliferate the most stories – Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur. Naturally, I had to check out Central America’s biggest pool party myself to see if it lived up to its wild reputation!
This guide covers my personal experience at Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur. Plus I’ll share all the information, tips and lessons learned to make sure you have an unforgettable time (depending on how much you drink).
Sunday Funday Overview
What is Sunday Funday?
Sunday Funday is an all-day pool crawl, spread across four bars and three pools, in San Juan del Sur. Attracting up to 500 people from around the world every single week; party-goers don their swimsuits, embrace the carefree spirit, and get their drink on!
I’ll be honest, Sunday Funday isn’t an activity to soak in the local Nicaraguan culture (but more to soak in the Nicaraguan alcohol)! However, it does offer a unique opportunity to experience the town’s vibrant nightlife while soaking up the sun!
Where is Sunday Funday?
Sunday Funday takes place in San Juan Del Sur on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. In recent years, the town has gained popularity for its surfing and nightlife scene (both are pretty wavey 😉)!
The town is easily accessible from elsewhere in Nicaragua. You can take a bus to Rivas (the nearest major city), then catch a local bus or taxi to San Juan del Sur which is a 30-minute drive.
Since San Juan del Sur is close to the border with Costa Rica, many travellers also visit from there. As before, you’ll need to catch a bus to Rivas and then take transport from there. Unless you want to pay for a taxi directly to SJDS.
When is Sunday Funday?
As the name suggests, Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur takes place on Sundays.
In fact, it takes place every single Sunday and has been going since June 2013!
The pool crawl starts at midday and goes on until the early hours of the morning (or whenever you run out of energy).
How much is Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur?
Tickets
Tickets for Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur cost $25. Prices vary depending on events and time of year.
This is somewhat expensive by Nicaraguan standards, however, it includes shots, a shirt, and shuttles! If you don’t want to pay full price for your ticket, you can stay at Pachamama for discounted tickets or enter their beerpong tournament to win free tickets.
Drinks
Most drinks (beer or mixers) are around $2 USD (70 Cordobas) across each of the bars. The final bar is slightly more expensive.
Does Sunday Funday Sell Out?
Online tickets for Sunday Funday sell out in advance. However, if you don’t manage to secure your spot at Sunday Funday online, you can usually buy tickets on the morning of the pool crawl at Pachamama Hostel.
I’m unsure how many additional tickets are available on the day, but there were A LOT of people queueing for them. I suspect that the event sells out during high season (December-April), but you should be fine securing wristbands on the day as long as you turn up on time.
What to Expect at Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur
In short, you should expect alcohol, sun and a whole lot of debauchery at Sunday Funday in SJDS!
Sunday Funday Timeline
When I say Sunday Funday is an all-day event, I mean it. This timeline should cover what to expect in terms of music, venue and atmosphere at each venue throughout the pool crawl.
NOTE: Timings are approximate. Imagine trying to herd several hundred drunk backpackers from one bar to another (it skews the timings)!
Ticket pickup (10:30am)
If you haven’t secured tickets online, you can buy tickets on the day of the event.
Wristband collection takes place at 10:30 from Pachamama Hostel. It is advisable to arrive slightly early for this as they are sold on a first-come first-serve basis. We arrived at 10:30 and there was already a long queue.
Once you’ve secured your wristbands and vest, it’s time to prepare for the crawl! For some, this means necking a shower beer and getting dressed. Instead, I grabbed some lunch and a coffee at one of San Juan del Sur’s beachfront cafes. Once fueled up, I was ready to party!
Pachamama Hostel (12:00-16:00)
The pool crawl starts at the infamous Pachamama Hostel in the main town of San Juan del Sur.
This venue, which is actually the hostel’s outdoor social area, features plenty to do including a bustling bar on one side; beer pong in the middle; a temporary tattoo station in the corner; and a small pool tucked away at the back. They even have mist sprinklers to keep everyone cool in the heat of the day!
This first stop is all about getting the party started: chugging drinks; making new friends; doing beerbongs, playing beer pong, and getting temporary tattoos. After any initial social slowness that you’d expect at the start of any party, once people get a few drinks in them the lively atmosphere kicks in and sets the tone for the day’s festivities.
The party officially starts at 12:00, but you can turn up whenever you are ready. Our group aimed for 13:00 to catch the girls’ free drinks hour (13:00-14:00).
In hindsight, I would’ve arrived later as the first bar was my least favourite. It was super busy; super hot in the heat of the day; and the music was very sporadic playing a real mix of genres.
When it’s time to leave, the masses will flood out onto the street and walk around the corner to the second bar.
Hotel Anamar (16:00-18:00)
The second bar (and my favourite) was Hotel Anamar.
We were greeted with shots on arrival and a brief bag search.
This open-air bar is set on the beach at San Juan del Sur. It’s far more spacious than Pachamama and had a massive pool, perfect for cooling down in. Of all the stops, Hotel Anamar is where the most pool action takes place with lots of people jumping in and splashing around!
If you don’t want to go in the pool, there’s space to mingle and drink around the pool as well as to dance!
The live DJ was pretty good, playing upbeat techno and house music which created a really nice vibe as the sun started to set. It didn’t matter whether you were lounging by the pool, getting lost in the music, or chatting to fellow backpackers.
Food is available at this stop. I had a burger which was surprisingly good!
The Space or Naked Tiger Hostel (18:00-20:00)
The third bar on the crawl varies from week to week.
When I went, the third bar was The Space on the outskirts of San Juan del Sur. We piled into buses outside Hotel Anamar and after a rowdy 10/15 minute drive were dropped off outside.
Once again we were greeted with free shots and a brief bag search.
At this point of the bar crawl, my descriptions begin to get a bit more vague! Either The Space was pretty big or I kept going around in circles! There were two bars, food options, a pool, and a designated dancefloor. Most importantly, there was another proper DJ here playing more techno! Which meant (for me at least) that the main focus was dancing away to some thumping tunes!
Naked Tiger Hostel offers a similar experience. The pool is more prominent here and you are able to watch the sunset as day transitions into the night!
Shuttles are laid on to return everyone back to San Juan del Sur and to the final bar.
Whilst people are meant to arrive at Arribas bar from 20:00, we ended up staying at The Space until more like 21:00.
Arribas bar (20:00 onwards)
Arribas Bar is Sunday Funday’s final stop. Drink and dance here until you can’t anymore!
The venue is another beachfront bar but is more like a club leading out onto the beach. The music in Arribas is loud and varied, with a mix of mainstream and dance being pumped out of the speakers. Its large dancefloor fills with people, particularly as non-Sunday Fundayers join the mix.
As the end of Sunday Funday nears, you will see people beginning to pair off. Or at least searching the sea of people for someone to pair off with! If you’re not one of those people, you can continue your late-night beach boogie until it’s time to head home! If you are one of those people, well your wild sendoff has just added to Sunday Funday’s notorious reputation!
What to wear for Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur?
There is no dress code for Sunday Funday. You can get away with wearing practically anything you want!
Since it’s a pool party, you should wear your best swimsuits; outrageous party shirts; and funky sunglasses. Be prepared for anything you wear to get wet.
The most appropriate footwear would be sandals (preferably ones that won’t fly off)! If you’re worried about this, trainers are also fine.
What else to bring to Sunday Funday?
Besides the clothes you’re wearing, the only things you need to bring are your phone and cash. There are no bar tabs, so everything is paid in cash.
I recommend bringing a bumbag to hold everything so you should have space for any other belongings (suncream, tissues, medication).
Only bring what you need, and don’t bring anything valuable! You’ll probably lose it in the chaos!
Also, don’t bring outside alcohol or drugs (unless you are good at hiding them).
Survival Tips for Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur
Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur is a heavy one, so here are some of the best tips to survive!
- Don’t go too hard the night before. It’s tempting to go out on a Saturday night. Particularly in SJDS where there are so many options to drink cheaply. But doing Sunday Funday whilst hangover isn’t so fun.
- Use suncream! There isn’t much shade in Pachamama nor in Hotel Anamar.
- Stay hydrated! Drinking and dancing in the heat will dehydrate you. Drink plenty of water (this will help with the hangover too).
- Eat! Fuel up before Sunday Funday and don’t forget to eat during the day too! You need something to soak up the copious amounts of alcohol you’re consuming.
- Pack a lighter. Lighters are a handy tool for starting conversations with strangers!
- Commit to the cause! People go to Sunday Funday in San Juan del Sur to let loose and go a little crazy. Whilst you can have a good time by having a couple of drinks and tapping out early, it’s not meant to be a tame affair! By committing to having a good time, you will make it through the night and the stories will write themselves!
- Pace yourself. Whilst you should commit to having a good time, there’s no need to drink faster than your body can cope with. Better to enjoy yourself throughout the day rather than buying 15 drinks at the start and passing out before 5pm!
- Go home as a group. Ideally in a taxi. Though Sunday Funday in San Juan Del Sur is full of tourists and may feel safe, you shouldn’t forget where you are. Leaving any club drunk in a foreign country can be dangerous, so stick together and make sure you get home safely. Assign a designated meeting point in case you get separated.
- Use protection. I’m not going to deny that Sunday Funday is a hotspot for unprotected sex. But that doesn’t mean you should be reckless.
- Respect local culture. While having fun, remember to respect the local community and their customs. Be mindful of your actions and keep the beach and streets clean.
- Have travel insurance. You never know what could happen on a night out in Nicaragua so it’s best to be prepared. I usually use WorldNomads.
For the most up-to-date information about Sunday Funday, check their Instagram or ask your hostel.
Where to stay in San Juan del Sur for Sunday Funday
Picking your accommodation in and around San Juan del Sur often relies on which beaches you want to check out. However, for Sunday Funday, here are the best options:
Best for partying: Pachamama Hostel
As the home of Sunday Funday, staying here will mean you’ll be in the centre of the action! Plus staying at Pachamama means you get discounted tickets to the pool crawl. Besides this obvious benefit, it’s a great place to party, meet people before the pool crawl and hopefully win free tickets!
NOTE: Rooms sell out here in advance so you need to be prepared.
Best overall: Hola Ola Hostel:
The highest-rated hostel in San Juan del Sur, Hola Ola is a lovely hostel with a social atmosphere. It’s still within walking distance of the start of Sunday Funday.
Interesting Alternative: The Space
This option is a strong alternative if you want to join the pool crawl late. The Space is a modern, boutique-style hostel with good facilities. The only pitfall is that it’s located in no-mans land near the jungle on the outskirts of San Juan del Sur.
Best Value Hotel: Hotel Alcazar
This hotel is located in the main town of San Juan del Sur, right on the beachfront. They offer clean and spacious rooms if you are looking to avoid hostels.
Before you go
Thank you for reading my guide to Sunday Funday in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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