Hierba de Conejo - Hostel

The hot water ran out without warning, and around 11 pm there was no hot shower. In a mixed room, there isn’t any light in the room. The shower and toilet doors are only half height, so anyone entering the restroom can see and smell what’s going on inside. There’s no privacy. The cleaning lady was rude too. She’d switch off all the lights while people were still on the terrace, without saying anything, and even when I went to the kitchen during the allowed hours, she told me not to use it despite at least 20 minutes remaining.

The bathrooms really need an upgrade, especially those very short doors, and the kitchen was awkward to cook in, so I could only make simple meals. I also wish there were activities for meeting other travellers, maybe something as simple as beginner Spanish practice, since that’s the main reason I stay in hostels. Still, I enjoyed my short stay. The staff were lovely and made me feel welcome, the service was exceptional, and I liked the free coffee or tea with a muffin or bread for breakfast. The relaxing hangout area was good for chilling and meeting people. The water was pretty cold, but I didn’t mind at this time of year.

Breakfast was a bit hit or miss during the week. Some days there was no coffee, cereal, or pastry, and once everything was missing, though it was pretty good when the full spread was there. The hostel itself is lively because it’s so close to the center, but it’s big enough that it doesn’t feel crowded. There are cozy chairs, hammocks, and sofas all around, plus hot showers every day. The staff were really kind.

There are some useful extras here: a fitted kitchen, a simple free breakfast, friendly and responsive staff, shampoo and soap, TV with Netflix, and hot showers. You can leave your luggage at reception for free until 6 pm, or pay 30 pesos per person per day to store it longer. The shared bathroom setup felt awkward, with short doors on the bathroom and toilet stalls and little privacy. We paid 650 pesos a night for a private room, but it seemed to have an extra bunk for two more people. The room was rustic and musty with poor ventilation, just one window facing the large shared terrace, though there was a ceiling fan. The colorful terrace lights stayed on at night and made it feel like a nightclub. At 6 am, I finally got out of bed to unplug them and turn off the hallway light. There was also noise at reception until 10 pm.