The Hub

The kitchen looks out over farmland and the lake, and the hostel is peaceful because it sits just beyond the centre. It’s only a five-minute walk into town, and about 15 minutes on foot to playa las cristalinas for a swim. Marco was easy to approach and very helpful. He even took us to La Nariz for an incredible sunrise. I had such a lovely, relaxing stay at The Hub and would recommend it to anyone wanting some quiet by the lake :)

The permaculture garden project and recycling Center gave me so much hope during my stay, and I’ll always be grateful for that. There’s so much else that feels magical at the Hub, from the calm village of San Juan to how quickly the place starts to feel like family. I’ll never forget waking up in a comfortable bamboo dorm, or the kindness of erwin and marcos and those kindest-of-all-time dogs. The owners are basically angels, and the place feels like home. Honestly, I think this is the Best place to stay in the lake.

There are several ways to relax here, from the shared card-game space to hammocks beneath a shaded outdoor area. The Hub also has a temescal (traditional sauna), an indoor shower, flushing toilets and compost toilets. Its community gardens are used by local organizations, and the property sits among mountains right on the lake. This community-based hostel is just a five-minute walk outside town, so it’s convenient while still feeling private and different. Sleeping options include semi-private beds and a large dormitory that works well for big groups. Guests can use the full kitchen with a fridge, stove, sink and filtered water. I definitely recommend staying at the Hub, or at least contacting the staff to visit. I LOVE IT HERE.

The yard is a nice place to hang out, right beside the lake, and town is about a seven-minute walk uphill. The dorm price is pretty nice if two people can squeeze into one single bed. For one person it’s okay at 11 euros. There’s a kitchen with salt, fresh drinking water and enough cutlery. Equipo is nice when you can catch him in person. I booked through airbnb, but Equipo was very unresponsive. I didn’t find out where the place was until literally 30 minutes after check-in, and my WhatsApp messages got no reply either. Thank God I had data so I could check the airbnb message. The bedrooms and bathrooms are very basic, and there was a lot of mess in the bedroom area, though I think that may have been because of other guests. The dorm is directly below the kitchen and dining area, so you hear everything upstairs. If people aren’t quiet, you won’t sleep well. It’s good value for two people sharing one bed. For one person, it’s okay, not good or bad. Responsiveness could be much better.