6 Best Bars in The Cayes and Atolls, Belize

What makes this outdoor bar special, aside from the wicked cheap local rum, is the thick tangle of jungle––fan palms, palmettos, and other flora––that most establishments have cleared. Island's Jungle has hookah, karaoke nights, and a whole lotta charm.

Rum Dog is a notch above other island watering holes, with its Belizean Two-5 craft beers on tap, well-kept pier, and beautiful palapa overlooking the Caribbean. It also offers a menu of impressive bar snacks and cocktails (think rangoon nachos and house-made banana liqueur). 

Come here to sip on a cheap Cuba Libre, chew the fat with with locals and travelers, and maybe toss back a Jell-O shot with your newfound friends. In the backyard, you can play Belikin pong or chill under palm trees wrapped in twinkle lights. On DJ nights the scene gets groovy.

In daytime you can read under an umbrella and sip something blended, while at night you can join the (sometimes rowdy) crowds and play board or drinking games. Fun usually lasts until midnight, but it's island-flexible.

On the odd side of the nightlife spectrum is the Chicken Drop, held on Thursday night at the beachfront Wahoo's Lounge. Bet on a numbered square on a sort of giant bingo board, and if the chicken poops on your square, you win the pot. It's hugely popular.

Wayo's is a salty place to nurse a few drinks and shoot the breeze with folks you met 20 minutes ago. It's easy to lose track of time at this overwater dive, which is known for its tropical cocktails like coconut mojitos.