Pueblito Magico Hostel - Mompox

We stayed mostly for the amazing travelers we met, and the hostel itself had a nice atmosphere. But we CANNOT recommend the place. Our experience with the host, Jaime, was VERY disappointing, and we felt he couldn't be trusted. Prices were a repeated problem. Filtered water refills cost 5,000 COP, which felt excessive, and beer cost two to three times as much as elsewhere, even compared with the bar next door. Laundry was shockingly expensive too. There were also price changes when we arrived, including confusion over whether breakfast was included, which left us feeling misled. Breakfast had been offered as an option from the start, even though it wasn't included in our stay. When we tried to have it, we waited nearly two hours because there were no ingredients. The stressed staff had to go buy them at the last minute, despite two people, a volunteer and another guest, being entitled to breakfast. The way volunteers were treated also concerned us. They were expected to work long, unpredictable hours for very little compensation, and regular employees were expected to work on their days off. When the power went out for 15 hours, Jaime did nothing to explain what was happening or offer compensation, while other nearby businesses took action. The worst part came around 11:30 PM, when Jaime suddenly demanded that we check out immediately, without letting us leave the next morning. He wasn't going to be there in the morning, as had happened on previous days, and this seemed to show a lack of trust in us and his own staff. We expected a reasonable checkout time or at least advance notice of this policy. In all our travels, we'd never been asked to leave at such an unexpected hour. When I said how unusual it was, Jaime became rude, defensive, and argumentative. I told him we'd already dealt with several inconveniences and that this checkout demand was even stranger. Instead of acknowledging the problems, he said we had no right to complain about breakfast because it wasn't included, ignoring that it had been offered as an option from the start. He just told me to stay "tranquila" and rudely avoided the conversation. Afterward, he wrote a personal Airbnb review about me full of lies, accusing me of causing problems to get discounts, then contradicting himself in the same comment by saying I'd paid. It felt like pure spite because I'd questioned him. His attitude wasn't the only concern. He seemed to give preferential treatment to certain female travelers, mostly European women, and kept pushing them to book "VIP tours" in a way that felt uncomfortable. Jaime delegates responsibilities without supervision or commitment, except when it comes to collecting money. Whether it's listed on Airbnb, Hostelworld, or Booking, the poor management and lack of care are clear. DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOSTEL, EVEN IF IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN MOMPOX.

Jaime was really helpful with booking our activities and transfer, and the staff were lovely. The hotel is clean and sits by the river on a nice square in the cute city of Mompós. Our dorm was comfortable, with a fan at every bed to handle the heat. Thanks for everything!

I had a really great time here. It’s in a nice spot, with views of the Magdalena River and other Mompox attractions close by. The room was comfortable and had its own bathroom. You could order breakfast and drinks from the bar, and the service was friendly. The manager was easy to get in touch with. A place with a special atmosphere.

Jaime, the owner, made my stay feel like home. His kindness, passion, and deep knowledge of the region stood out. He’s a wonderful storyteller and cultural ambassador as well as a great host. The hostel itself has a charm that captures Mompox, peaceful, colorful, and full of history. If you’re after an authentic experience in Mompox, Pueblito Mágico is highly recommended. My time there was unforgettable.