Hostel San Agustin

The place itself is nice, but the host spoils it. The critical reviews all make the same point, and they’re basically true: follow every regulation and you’ll be fine. Even a young man who seems to stay here long-term got blamed for cooking after 10pm. I felt bad for him. He was quiet and polite to everyone while I was there.

After a tiring trek, I expected the reservation I’d made to give me somewhere to stay. Instead, the owner ignored it to accommodate other guests she considered more convenient. I had to walk around town in the cold at that hour looking for another place, though luckily I eventually found one. The owner is extremely rude and disrespectful, with no manners. She greets you with a false smile, then treats you badly. The hostel also has rules unlike any I’ve encountered in hundreds of hostels. Don’t let this ruin your time in Puerto Natales. There are excellent places in town, and this one isn’t worth it.

The other staff were lovely and very helpful, which makes the way I was treated even more of a shame. The woman working there watched and criticized what we did constantly, and there were rules for everything. Frying wasn’t allowed, and the oven was broken during my stay, leaving very few ways to cook and causing a lot of food waste. I’d washed my dishes before sitting down to eat, and the kitchen was tidy with nobody else using it. Still, another guest and I were interrupted and told to dry everything and put it away right then. When I asked to finish dinner first, we got five minutes. She pointed at my plate, and I didn’t get to finish. As I dried the dishes, she stood over me, snatched the towel away, and shouted that I was doing it wrong. It felt controlling and completely unprofessional. I didn’t feel comfortable there at all.

When we got back from Torres del Paine, the manager refused to return a bag of clothes we’d left at the hostel. Even the Police couldn’t change her mind. She just refused to speak with us and left the room. That’s why I found her behaviour so alarming, and I’m sure this place could ruin your stay. I do not recommend it. Spend your money elsewhere. She’s very controlling and has strict, absurd kitchen rules: limited cooking times, no frying, and no eating in the kitchen. Following them doesn’t stop her from hovering and asking when you plan to cook or shower. You can’t talk to her about it without her aggressively telling you to get “out of her home.”