Mambembe Hostel - Ilha Grande

It was easy to feel at home here. The hostel has a friendly social atmosphere, and the staff were kind and genuinely helpful. You’re close to the beach, shops, and restaurants, which made it a handy base for exploring Ilha Grande however you like.

The dorm was alright and the kitchen is a decent size, but the amenities felt dated. The location is convenient, close to pretty much everything. While we were there, a lot of guests seemed more focused on going out at night than seeing the island during the day. People ignored the quiet hours, with some being loud at 2-3am and shining torches in my and my partner’s faces. It might suit you if you only need basic accommodation and expect to sleep more during the day than at night.

There was always hot water in the shower, and the bathrooms were cleaned regularly. The 23:00 quiet time was respected, so sleeping was easy. The kitchen is great and even has a working oven, and there’s a roomy garden for hanging out. Staff were lovely, and the place is close to the centre, pier, and beach. The only annoying bit was the bunks: the bed itself was comfortable, but when someone climbed onto the top bunk, the whole thing moved and woke me up.

The people I met here were lovely, and the location is fantastic. Roman was nice during the day, but at night he became a nightmare. We understood the 11pm curfew, but he went too far. He shouted at us for quietly saying hi to a friend in the communal area at midnight, and repeatedly told us to “shut the F up” while we were whispering. He sat outside his room waiting to yell at people. It got so unpleasant that we were afraid to run into him on the way back to our room, and ended up sitting out on the street instead. DO BETTER.