5 Best Party Hostels in Central America

Let’s be real, backpacking and partying are synonymous. There is nothing better than lighting up the night and letting your free spirit soar while traveling the world. There’s something so care-free about a hostel party in Central America. You know, a bunch of people who have relinquished there at home responsibilities to travel the world at a low cost, with little to no inhibitions. It’s a good time and I don’t want you to miss out on any of the fun so I have gone ahead, and found the best party Hostels in Central America.

Central America, with its warm weather, beautiful beaches and low cost is conducive to some of the biggest and best traveler parties out there. High class festivities, bikini ragers and jungle bashes are in abundance. Here are the top 5 party Hostels in Central America:

5. Big Foot Hostel in Leon, Nicaragua

A little about Leon

Leon is major stop on the Central American backpacking trail. This is the destination you can access volcano boarding from. Yes, thats right, you can slide down a scree volcano at 90km/hour on a wooden board.

Beyond volcano barding, Leon is a charming colonial down with quaint cobblestone streets and colourful buildings. There’s an incredible white church in the city which you can enjoy an outstanding view from its roof top. There is also ocean access and the surf is not bad. There are plenty of reasons to visit Leon, one of them being to stay at the Bigfoot Hostel, a famous party hostel in Central America.

Bigfoot Hostel, Leons Party Hostel

Bigfoot Hostel in Leon, Nicaragua is famous for their Volcano Boarding tour, but it is also the #1 place to party in Leon and one of the best party hostels in Central America.

Literally every night is a party night at Bigfoot Hostel. Don’t plan on getting much sleep. There are two Bigfoot Hostels in Leon, one downtown, as well as one on Peñita beach each providing ample party patrons. Both hostels have bars, booze, beers and pools which is the perfect set up for any bikini ridden Central American Party.

Big Foot Hostel is also the owner of the Lava Shot Challenge; 2 shots and 1 double of ghost chilli soaked alcohol. Can you do it without throwing up? Can you hold it in for 30 seconds? If you can, a nice t-shirt will be yours to wear with pride. Every backpacker in knows that Bigfoot Hostel in Leon is one of the best party hostels in Central America.

4. Rockin’ J’s Hostel in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

A Little About Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a hippie haven in Costa Rica. This beachside town on the Southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, bordering Panama, is home to good surf, white sand beaches, and chilled Caribbean vibes. This destination is one of those places where the ocean meets the jungle. Catch abundant wild-life, visit the Jaguar rescue centre, or spend a day sipping coconuts on the beach

A small town with dirt roads, prepare yourself to spend your days jamming to reggae music on the beach, eating quality food and of course day drinking at one of the best party hostels in Central America.

Rockin’ J’s Hostel, Puerto Viejo

Rockin’ J’s is Puerto Viejos not-so-secret party hostel. Located right on the beach, at Rockin’ Js, you can sleep in a hammock dorm, in a tree house, a tent, or even in a container dorm. With colourful art adorning any paintable surface and a massive courtyard filled with hangout zones and BBQs, Rockin’ J’s is just set up for party vibes. Staying at Rockin’ J’s is like living in a constant state of college party. You will wake up in the morning and people will be laid out everywhere with no cares in the world.

The owner is present and part of the party, he is super kind and cares greatly about the experiences of his guests. You won’t however, catch much sleep at Rockin’ J’s, as the party continues through the night. It’s ok though, because if you are looking for one of the best party hostels in Central America, then you aren’t likely looking for sleep. This is the type of hostel party that floods out onto the beach in the middle of the night with hippie vibes

3. Zephyr Lodge Jungle Raves, Lanquin, Guatemala

A Little About Lanquin

Lanquin is a tiny mountain town in the middle of the Guatemalan jungle. It is not easy to reach, but it’s such a beautiful environment, its so worth it. Home to the famous natural pools of Semuc Champey, Lanquin is an adventurers dream. With tubing and rafting opportunities, and even a candle lit caving experience, exploring the lush jungles of Lanquin is one of the best things to do in Guatemala.

Zephyr Lodge Jungle Rave

Build up some stamina before this one.  The Zephyr Lodge resides in the middle of the jungle near Semuc Champey and has a day AND night party. Running on a tab system, it feels almost resort like and the party just keeps on going and going and going. This little trick can get both your wallet and your health in trouble by the end, if there is an end.  So try and be careful.

Zephyr Lodge has it all. There’s an incredible pool over looking the jungle, a hot tub, cabanas, hostel dorms, a wonderful restaurant and great Bar. This is definitely a place where you come, stay for a while, and then crawl out a little later than expected.

Zephyr Lodge’s constant jungle raves make it one of the best party hostels in Central America. Prepare to spend your nights dancing on top of the bar, drinking long island iced teas with the staff, and raving, while you spend your days drinking by the pool. Who doesn’t want to party in the middle of the jungle anyways?

2. Aqua Lounge Hostel in Bocas del Toro

A little about Bocas Del Toro

Bocas del Toro is an archipelago of islands off the northern coast of Panama, it neighbours popular travel destination, Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica. Consisting of 10 islands, Bocas del Toro is a dreamy destination. Pristine beaches, abundant marine life, wild jungles and laid back vibes. Bocas is the type of place you intend to visit for a few days, and end up staying for a few weeks.

Aqua Lounge, One of the best party hostels in Central America

On Carenero Island, just $1 USD water taxi from the main island sits the infamous party bar, night club, and hostel; the Aqua Lounge. With an MTV spring break like feel, this backpacker haven is absolutely packed full of booze smothered travellers starting just after midnight.

It is ladies night here almost every night so for a few hours, drinks are free for the girls. The dance floor is always packed and after a few hours so are the makeshift ocean swimming pools. This is Bocas del Toro, so chances are you had no shoes when you arrived and were wearing not much more than swim trunks and a bikini, so why not a 3:00am drunken swim.

If you plan on staying here, plan on partying until the wee hours of the morning.  Here’s hoping you don’t need much sleep. Fortunately, Bocas del Toro is home to one of the best beaches in Central America, so if anything, you will have a beautiful place to recover from your definite hangover acquired by a night of partying at the Aqua Lounge

1. The Naked Tiger, San Juan Del Sur Nicaragua: The Best Party Hostel in Central America

A Little About San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

San Juan del Sur is a beachside party town on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. The crescent shaped town engulfs an incredible beach with a quality break for beginner and intermediate surfers. The mountain that carves the towns shape provides sweeping views of the ocean and some seriously unforgettable sunsets. The town is busy, San Juan del Sur is very popular with expats and travellers a-like. You’ll find colourful buildings, lots of restaurants and bars, and of course, Sunday Funday, the best Party in Central America.

Sunday Funday Hostel Party

By far the most well-known and anticipated party in Hostel in Central America is San Juan Del Sur’s Sunday Funday pool crawl hosted by the Naked Tiger Hostel. I am sure you have seen the T-shirt somewhere if you are traveling through the Americas. This massive hostel crawl costs $30 and is a must-do if you are traveling through Central America.

Put on by a few hostels this party starts at 2:00 in the afternoon with a shuttle ride (back of a pick up truck) from either Pachamama hostel or the Naked Tiger to a hotel Anmar with a great view of the San Juan Del Sur beach. You are left here for a few hours to swim and drink yourselves silly before being thrown into another shuttle to watch the sunset from the patio at the Naked Tiger.

More drinks continue to be served at the Naked Tiger.  Let’s just say during this party I have seen things from intoxicated backpackers that I simply cannot un-see. Following sunset, party goers are once again thrown into shuttles and driven to Pachamama hostel in town where the party turn to nightclub Arribas Bar, full of…you guessed it…more drinks and a lot of dancing. The party is well organized and everyone does it for a blast.  No one should miss out on the Sunday Funday pool crawl in San Juan del Sur as it is without a doubt the best Hostel party in Central America.

Final Party Thoughts

I have always loved traveling in Central America. There’s something about the backpacker trail thats so endearing. It’s a tight nit community, more so than I’ve experienced traveling elsewhere. Its like one big happy family spread across a sub-continent where you bump into each other all to often. It comes as no surprise to me that traveling in Central America is such a party, everyone knows each other, the weather is great and the cost is minimal. So be prepared, if you’re planning a trip to Central America, you are about to have a good time and definitely make sure you stop by at least one of these 5 best party hostels in Central America. You will have no regrets…I mean…there might be some regrets…but you’ll have fun.

Honorable Mention

I have heard amazing things about the party at Dirty McNasty Hostel in Caye Caulker Belize. I haven’t personally attended the party. When I do later this year I will update this post and let you know if it was as good as these ones. I will be adding a stay at Dirty McNasty Hostel to my Belize itinerary this year

Looking for a party? PIN THIS so you remember these 5 best party hostels in Central America