La Casa EcoExplor

It was fine for a couple of nights, though not the best place we stayed on our trip. The dorm for four was spacious and well priced, with shelves and comfortable mattresses. Showers had hot water, and the hostel was clean and quiet, with a pleasant courtyard and lots of seating. It’s near the bus station and a short walk from the town’s main street. The kitchen is cramped, and the fridge doesn’t keep food cold enough, so people were using the freezer as a fridge. The beds wobble, and there are no in-room lockers for valuables. The staff were a bit military about the rules, even though guests were quiet and considerate. WiFi was quite slow unless you paid extra for faster speeds.

We spent five nights here and felt right at home. The cozy hostel, the treehouse, and all the little details were lovely. We had an amazing time in San Pedro de Atacama, and got great local recommendations too.

My wife and I stayed about a week and really liked the calm, relaxed, friendly feel of the place. Carla, Victor and Paula were always around with advice and help setting up tours. Car hire and excursions are offered at very reasonable prices, so there’s no need to book tours through another company. The rooms and facilities are clean and well cared for. A welcoming team and a good-value hostel in San Pedro de Atacama, definitely recommend.

It’s a small, sociable, affordable hostel with a lovely patio and a great kitchen. But the owners didn’t seem to trust guests much. They asked us several times about payments we’d already made, and when we couldn’t pay right at check-in, we had to leave our passport. That made things uncomfortable. The outdoor space could be much nicer for relaxing too: there’s only one hammock, and the chairs aren’t really suitable for hanging out. It’s close to being a great stay, but not quite there yet.