Bambu Hostel

It's a very relaxed place, right on the beach. You can look out the front window at the ocean and palm trees, and snorkeling is a 15 minute walk away. It's also handy for catching a bus or collectivo. The volunteer staff were friendly, and the facilities are rustic, but that adds to the charm. I'd absolutely stay again!

The dorm had a nice view of the beach, and the bedrooms and showers were clean. The staff were so helpful and friendly that it felt like a little family. They also serve a family dinner for 50 pesos, and it was always delicious. I really enjoyed my stay!

The sea breeze in the room was lovely, and the location right on the seafront is good. But the roof is bamboo and thatch, and the rooms aren't sealed off from one another or outside, so there was a lot of noise. We heard the street, guests and staff staying up, and music from the hostel cafe until early morning. Everyone, staff included, slammed doors. It was hard to tell who was working and who was staying there. I think at least six staff were around, but they couldn't advise us on onward travel or activities. People, including staff, smoked cigarettes and joints inside, and some seemed very high. Staff belongings took up most of the communal table, which also had a bowl of dog food on it. The bathrooms were in bad shape: no paper, hair clogging the drain, and mold on the bamboo shower head. I chose the lesser of two evils and didn't shower there. In the morning the place was even messier, with food, empty bottles and cans, and dirty dishes all over the kitchen and tables. We ran out of filtered water twice, and most of the time nobody was at reception when we had questions or problems.

I booked through Hostelworld and paid a deposit, but staff said it didn't count and charged me extra. The staff seemed to know nothing about the area or local activities, and asking for anything made us feel like an inconvenience. Smoking went on inside the hostel, including staff smoking weed and seeming high all the time. Staff took over communal areas, and the tables had day-old food and bowls of dog food on them. The rooms aren't sealed off, so you hear everything. It felt like a scam. Avoid it, there are better places to stay.