Sunday-Fun-day with the Naked Tiger
We got a late start, ping-pong balls were already flying into beer cups, a group of people in the corner had completed half of the drinking game ‘circle of death’ and a beer funnel got past to the person across from me. It was just after 10am so we cracked our first beers and challenged the beer pong winners to the next match. The Olympics’ in Rio were all wrapped up but in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua the drinking Olympics were just beginning. I suddenly realised we were in for a very long day and as with most marathons it’s important to sprint off the line.
If you tell anyone you are going to Nicaragua these days, the usual response is “are you going to Sunday-fun-day?” such is the notoriety the event has gained. Every week fresh gringos wash in and the broken ones are spat out. The cycling of the gringos keeps the event fizzing with alcohol fuelled energy week in and out.
Naked Tiger is one of the four hosts of an event which see’s hundreds of young travellers from around the world come together for a Sunday session of debauchery. It was also our home for the next few days. A family BBQ dinner was organised on the night before to line everyone’s stomach and get people introduced and mingling before the big dance.
The first bar on the pub-crawl “Pacha Mama” is a dense crowd of drunken partiers. We had some kind of tequila poured down our throat on entry and jumped in the pool, A volley ball bounces over the net in the pool and people splash around keeping cool in the sun, sinking back as many Tona’s as possible to get at the crowded bar.
The second pub, down by the beach and is where the Sunday fun-day temporary tattoos get sprayed onto the meat of bikini bottomed bums. People line the pools and a dance floor bounces. The drinks keep flowing and you start to find your rhythm in the marathon.
At 5.30pm shuttle loads return people up the hill to the Naked Tiger. Get in early because there is no better place to watch the sunset. As night takes over the DJ gears things up again, loud drum and bass rings out through the dance floor and out into the hillside. At this point the best way to describe the party is like something out of a music video!
The rave continues for those still able to make it. Into the early hours of the morning the party music rages and the reprobates rejoice. When the morning sun arrives and the marathon is over and we can’t be sure if those left standing are actually the winners…
Some hostels we visit have all the makings for a really great environment but something isn’t quite right. Naked Tiger has found that missing ingredient. The employees make sure that everyone is enjoying their selves. They chat to everyone and make you feel welcome then somehow they go drink for drink, shot for shot with you, it’s unnatural how they can keep that up while retaining their ability to work. Alas, they do! For those without the will to pack up and leave the next day, a super chill all you can eat pizza and movie night gets everyone back on their feet and ready to face the world. If you want to party, Nicaragua has the best place in Central America to do it, it’s called the ‘Naked Tiger!’
Kiwis Off Course 
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