Backpacker's Hostel Iquique

The hostel was decent for meeting people, with table tennis and pool, and the rooms did the job. But the service was poor. I arrived around 9 p.m. after walking from the bus station and was told there were no beds except a private room for 30,000 pesos. No hostels had space, so I spent the night homeless on the beach. When I came back at 6 a.m. and asked about a room for the next night, they said there were plenty of dorm beds. It seemed the staff just couldn't be bothered. After booking for that night, I had to argue to sit and charge my phone for 30 minutes before they kicked me off the property until check-in. Lesson learned, book hostels ahead.

The place had a nice atmosphere, with lots of indoor and outdoor spots to hang out and a kitchen guests can use. I was alone in a shared room on the top floor and had the whole balcony to myself. It must get busy in peak season. My room upstairs had no internet, though I'm sure the lower floors are fine. There's a small part of the driveway where they'll let you park a bike or motorcycle, as they did for me.

You can enter the hostel as early as 6 in the morning. The desk staff are really friendly, and there's an easy-to-use kitchen plus a bar where you can buy drinks. The Wi-Fi is usually good. The showers are tiny but great, and each room has a little closet for your things.

The common areas are good, both inside and out, and the kitchen is well equipped and cleaned every day. It may get busy when the hostel is full. Our room was on the cozy, somewhat small side. The place is friendly and quiet, and very close to the beach. There's street parking if you're lucky, and the shops are five blocks away. You can rent sun umbrellas, boogie boards, surf gear, and sand or snow boards. Ask for a room away from the street if you can, because of the traffic noise. The front gate is locked and you have to buzz in, which is good for security, though not great if you're waiting outside. Recommended.