La Hamaca Hostel Utila

The listing talks up a traveler vibe, but the host didn’t seem interested in making that happen. They only showed up to collect money. The place has potential, though I’d avoid it as it is. It felt nothing like the photos and description, which seem to show how it used to look. The restaurant and bar never opened while I was there. For somewhere called “La Hamaca,” I expected decent hammocks, but there were only uncomfortable rope chairs. My dive resort was more comfortable, and comfort wasn’t even its selling point. There were no trash bins, so you had to use bins at other businesses. The doors were left open during the day, and stray dogs came in and pooped on the floor. It was still there all night. At night, the outdoor bathrooms were locked, apparently in case someone stole the toilet paper. If you were on the terrace, using the toilet meant going through the front door, crossing the dorm, and waking people up. Total scam.

We spoke nicely to the whole team, but the young woman with glasses and braids started talking to us in a bad way right away. The other young woman was great and super friendly. Our staff member could use some rest, I think, and should learn to leave her problems at home and speak to guests properly. We didn’t go to school together. Learn some manners! What a poor soul. Whatever reply comes on this post, that was our experience.

We spent slow mornings on the beautiful waterfront deck, with smoothies, omelettes, and coffee. They serve healthy food and drinks from 6AM-2PM, and it made for perfect island vibes. We had a private room with excellent AC and a shared bathroom. Nobody was staying in the other room, so it felt private. The bed was comfy, there was lots of closet space, and the dock facing the water was exceptional. I loved it here!

I’d booked extra nights, but left early because the place felt unsanitary. I’d been backpacking for six months through North and Central America, and this was the first place I cut a stay short. When I arrived, it looked abandoned. I figured it might just be low season, but there was literally nobody else there. I was alone in my dorm for three days. On the last day, I got company: a massive mosquito infestation, a cockroach in the bathroom, and a cat sleeping in one of the beds. I packed up and booked somewhere else right then. I think staff leave around 18h, so there’s nobody to ask for help if something goes wrong, like the mosquito problem. They also charge a 15-20% commission for card payments. Lol.