Hostel Sunrise

I volunteered at the hostel for 1.5 months. The place itself was very clean, with an amazing atmosphere, and the employees and volunteers were friendly and competent. But the owner Marcos was often inappropriate toward women, and his behavior affected my time at what would otherwise have been a beautiful hostel.

I enjoyed talking with Marcos, and I liked the city views, the pool area, and the spots to crash out. The free coffee and biscuits in the mornings were a nice touch too. I’d booked for two days after staying at four other hostels in Rio, but ended up staying a week. The hostel is close to the bars in Lapa and local attractions like the Stairs and the Arches. The area outside the Metro and along the streets looks a bit sketchy, but nobody gave me a bad experience.

The uphill walk to and from the hostel is the one drawback, and the 12-bed dorm gets a bit hot and sweaty, so I’d choose a different dorm. Apart from that, this is a great place. I stayed at Rio Connection for almost two weeks, and after countless hostels on my travels, it was one of the best I’ve been to. The administrator and volunteers were helpful, and it felt welcoming with a good social vibe, without being all about partying. Breakfast was free and excellent, with eggs, sausage, fruit, coffee, and juice. It’s a 10-minute walk to Lapa and 5-10 minutes to the Metro, which is crucial. There’s open space by the pool for exercise or yoga, and I met tons of cool people. I’d highly recommend it.

The team at Rio World Connection made my couple of weeks volunteering after carnival such a good stay. The hostel was spotless, and getting to Lapa took only about five minutes on foot. Marcos and everyone were wonderful. I’d have stayed longer if I hadn’t already booked my flights, and I hope to come back someday 😊