Aracari Garden Hostel

We saw toucans while lounging in the hammocks, and there were lots of places to relax around the hostel. The five-bed dorm was comfortable and had two bathrooms. The kitchen was good too, and the beach access and river were both a short walk away. The woman at reception was lovely and helpful. We also met the owner, a lovely man who shared a lot about Panama and made sure we had an incredible day. He later drove our shuttle to La Fortuna, one of the highlights of our Costa Rica trip, with fun stops along the way and plenty to learn. We booked tours through the hostel, and our guide was knowledgeable and pointed out lots of animals.

The garden was lovely for watching wildlife, and breakfast was a perfect start to the day. We spent three nights here and had a wonderful time. Our turtle tour with Israel was a highlight of the trip.

The common area was lovely, with beds, couches and hammocks, and we enjoyed being in a family neighborhood, seeing kids play and local families go about their day. The location right by the beach was great. We're a family of five and rented the huge, air-conditioned two-bedroom apartment. One room was out of order, so two of us were put in a separate room. Later that night the apartment's air conditioning stopped, and we had to switch rooms. The employee was so helpful and nice, and since we were only there one night to sleep, it wasn't a big deal. They gave us an adorable air-conditioned casita. We really loved it there!

For $25 a night, I got a spacious private room with an ensuite bathroom. No AC, but the fan and screens on every window and door were fantastic. It's easy to walk everywhere, and an employee meets you when you arrive at the dock. Just outside the entrance there's a large blue tank of drinking water. The young woman at reception was friendly, knowledgeable, and spoke Spanish and English, which helped. She arranged a tour for me that same day. Relaxing in the hammock with the ocean breeze was perfection. Breakfast costs $10. I only wished the place were a little cleaner: the bathroom grout was dirty and my pillowcase had a couple of marks, though nothing too concerning.