Hotel hacienda San Jose

The location near the malecon is a big plus. I’ve stayed here a couple of times, and the rooms were clean, though stains in the concrete made them look less clean than they were. They’re very basic but usable, and the beds are hard, which doesn’t bother me. Hot water was available on both visits, but took a while to reach the shower. It suited me fine. Someone on a tight budget with low expectations might find it brilliant, while a person flying in for a one or two week vacation may not be happy with it. Street parking can be tricky in this busy area, but after 6 pm it usually isn’t too hard to find a spot. In La Paz, as in much of Mexico, park where the paint is white to avoid a ticket. There’s also secure paid parking a couple of blocks away.

I came back a second time because it was cheap. The first stay was in room 9. The ceiling fan barely moved the air and I was sweating at night, though my friend slept fine. They brought us another fan the next day, which helped. The place is very basic, with a mattress on a concrete base and a bathroom that was OK, though not as clean as I’m comfortable with. Room 13 was really hot on my second stay. It had two rooms, but the bathroom walls didn’t reach the ceiling.

The worst night’s sleep I’ve had in three months of traveling, despite only spending seven nights in a bed. The bed was awful, and loud bar music kicked in at 10 pm on a Tuesday and carried on until 4 am. At 6, church bells and schoolchildren woke us again. During the day, the atmosphere was great, with cool travelers and artists around. The price was cheap for a hot shower, and they served a small breakfast in the morning.

This may be the cheapest place to stay in La Paz. The location is awesome, the rooms are clean, everything works, and the beds are comfy. Most of the staff are really friendly, and the WiFi is good. The rooms badly need renovation, though, there’s no hot water, and the roof looks a bit scary.