Hostal Encuentro - Hostel

Adolfo and Ana, the owners, welcomed everyone like family, and I felt so at home that I stayed a week instead of the three days I’d planned. During my five months of traveling around South America, this was my favorite hostal. Breakfast was always nice, the location is perfect, and the huge terrace looks out over Cali. Great value for money. I couldn’t recommend it more :)

I really liked this hostal. The owner was friendly and helpful, the place was very clean, and the room had a good amount of space. There’s a nice terrace and a kitchen guests can use. Despite being next to a main road, it stayed quiet at night, and even during the day it wasn’t noisy.

The terrace was a lovely spot to relax, have the tasty breakfast, or even take a salsa class. Adolfo and the whole team were so welcoming, and the place felt like home for the few nights I spent there. It was a great base for experiencing Cali and a lovely way to finish my trip in Colombia. Highly recommend :-)

Adolfo goes out of his way to bring guests together, which was great for me as a solo traveler. He calls us his children and has a caring, dad or grandpa kind of way about him. The hostal is run by a sweet older couple and their nephew, and I met travelers there who I went on to spend another two weeks with in Colombia. A friend and I first tried to find hostels with more of a social vibe, but we couldn’t leave this spacious, spotless, family-run place after all. The rooms are color-coded, with matching sheets, towels, and decor. Beds are made every day, and cleanliness throughout the hostal and bathrooms is excellent. The bright, spacious bathroom has plenty of showers and toilets, towel and clothes hooks, and always-hot water. Soap was provided, though a little watered down. Some toilets let you see people’s feet, so I used the corner one for more privacy. I cooked there often. The kitchen is huge, with big burners and pots, plenty of fridge space, and containers for leftovers. It never felt crowded, and I often made fruit smoothies in the blender. Breakfast changed daily, which was a nice surprise, and even when the place was full I didn’t wait long. There was always good coffee, fruit, and the day’s breakfast. The decor has lots of cute little touches that make it feel homey, plus a spot with tourist guides and leaflets. Adolfo gave each guest a map of Cali and took plenty of time to explain where to go and what to do, with the same enthusiasm for the first guest as the tenth. The staff were lovely and patient while I practiced my Spanish. They were very flexible about checkout, and often didn’t mind when we decided to stay longer at the last minute, stayed later in the day, or checked out well past the set time. I never felt rushed or treated like just another guest passing through. The neighborhood is pretty and feels safe, with great restaurants and a lovely park just minutes away. The center is walkable along the river. A wonderful place, and I can’t recommend it enough.