Viajero San Andres Hostel

The noise made it impossible to sleep. Music blasted from the reception speaker, the bar music was even worse, and guests shouted in the hallways late into the night without anyone stepping in. I was also asked to pay 100,000 COP for a two-hour late checkout, even though my booking as a Genius Traveler included it free. The rooms were damp and moldy, with torn, stained sheets and poor cleaning. The common areas were unbearably hot. Room TVs never worked and were never repaired, and the air conditioning was hard to regulate, freezing the room even at 22 degrees Celsius. Reception and bar duties were handled by foreign volunteers instead of trained staff who knew the service and offerings. Customer service was terrible from the start: my booked room wasn’t available, they moved me three times before assigning the one I reserved, then changed it again the next day and said they didn’t know why my reservation hadn’t been honored. If you want to rest, this place is absolutely not recommended.

I’ve enjoyed staying at other Viajero locations, but this one felt extremely old and outdated, and it was very unsocial. None of the advertised hostel activities actually happened. Several people had been assigned the same bed as me, so I had to change beds or rooms every night. Even after moving, people would come in because they’d also been given that bed. Management tried to fix it each time, but this shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

We spent two nights at Viajero and had a great time. It’s a fairly quick walk to the beach, and the property was pretty clean with the basic amenities we needed. The staff were lovely, too. I’d definitely recommend it.

It felt like a home in the middle of the city, where friends could work and have fun together. The staff were kind and helpful, and an active WhatsApp group kept inviting guests to things like rooftop salsa classes, which were a nice way to explore the island. My room was spacious and the air conditioning worked well. I enjoyed staying here and would recommend it. The bar could use some improvement. Breakfast was like a university cafeteria, and could be better for both price and variety. The fruit could have been fresher. If you love tea, don’t expect to find it on the island. You’ll be drinking coffee here. Three days is enough to see the island in general. If you’re coming for a diving certificate, allow six days: the course takes four, and you’ll want a day to rest before and after. Enjoy your time!