Mulata Hostel

The front desk staff were great, and breakfast was very good. The facilities were nice, though hardly anyone else was staying there. The fans worked well, but the sheets were poor quality and really held in the heat. I'd recommend adding eggs to the continental breakfast for 20 peso.

The central location is the main reason I'd choose this place. I booked a private room, but it didn't look like the photos on the Booking site, and the staff weren't very helpful. The website says they provide tours, but I was just sent to the first office down the street. The worst part was the noise at night. It felt like sleeping in three nightclubs, so I decided not to stay for the second night I'd booked. Luckily, the manager was fair and refunded me for that night. This hostel might suit some people, but it wasn't for me.

I got absolutely no sleep because loud music played every night from multiple bars around the property. The room was disgusting, with ants everywhere, though I could have put up with that if I could at least sleep and have energy to explore during the day. There are plenty of other options in Santa Marta, so don't be swayed by the promise of a cheap private room. I've slept much better in 20-bed dorms, met cool people, and felt safe there. The reception staff were the rudest I've met in all my travels. They locked the gate and wouldn't let me out, claiming they had to check the room at checkout, and refused to call the police. I didn't feel safe, and felt like I might have to call the police just to have my human rights respected. They also knew very little about the city and had no maps or other information. I'm easygoing and have travelled for years, but this was by far my worst experience.

The room cost quite a lot, and the staff never warned us about the rooftop bar nearby, which played music very loudly until late. When we arrived, we told the receptionist we were exhausted, but she put us on the top floor, close to the bar. Hygiene and infrastructure were average. The biggest problem was that we simply couldn't sleep. Pretty bad for a hotel.