Hostel Tropico 20º OceanFront

It’s a central hostel in Cozumel, and the large dorm was surprisingly quiet. The beds were clean and spacious. The staff were really friendly and helpful whenever we needed anything.

We liked our ten-night stay here in December 2024, and the price felt fair for what we got. It was our first hostel, so we didn’t have others to compare it with, but after a month traveling around Mexico and staying in all sorts of places, it worked for us. We had bunks in the hallway. Most nights and mornings were pretty quiet, though it depended on who else was staying there. The hostel was mostly empty while we were there, with more noise on weekends. The morning shift woke us up very early twice by talking loudly in the hallway, which didn’t feel like they respected the quiet rules. The night shift employee Dulce was impeccable, easy to approach, and always ready to help. Things were in order during her shifts. We rented bikes from a garage and she let us leave them in the courtyard overnight. The hostel also gave us helpful information about car, motorcycle, and bicycle rental prices on the island. That made it easier to understand the going rates and avoid overpaying for absurd street offers. The bathrooms were always clean. The kitchen was a bit chaotic. There wasn’t a single sharp knife, so preparing food was difficult at first. We ended up buying one and leaving it for others to use, and I hope they kept it. The fridge looked like nobody was maintaining or cleaning it. Bring earplugs and a sleep mask to make your stay easier. There’s a pharmacy on the same block that sells earplugs.

I’ve stayed in a few hostels, and this was an interesting one. It was okay for a night, though a little disappointing for the price. I could have paid more for a room, but there were some nice Airbnbs at that price that I’d have chosen instead. It wasn’t horrible, just not great. The location link in the Airbnb app didn’t match the actual place, if that hasn’t been fixed. It was about ten blocks off, so I got dropped there and had to walk the rest of the way with my luggage in the heat. Check-in was easy. You can rent a small private room or get a bunk. I chose a bunk because I was only there for the night before meeting family at a resort. The bunks are built into the wall along the main hallway, which everyone uses to reach the restrooms, kitchen, and showers. Each has a screen for some privacy, but it doesn’t block noise. At night, glass partitions close off both sides of the hall and they turn on the air conditioning. In the morning they switch it off and open the partitions. The bunks are roomy, with a night light, a charging outlet, and a storage drawer underneath. Small and medium luggage should fit, but larger bags can go in your unit where there’s room, though it isn’t secure. They lend you a lock for the drawer, where I kept my valuables. The bedding was decent. The restroom units have locking doors but little ventilation, so they get humid, and mosquitoes can get in through the small open area. The showers are similar. That part of the hostel has a rustic Mexican concrete style. The kitchen is basic, with a fridge you can use, and there’s an open-air courtyard beside it. They charge for shower towels. The place was maintained and clean, and the staff were very nice. The location is pretty good, with lots of restaurants and shops nearby and the beach right across the street.

This was the worst hostel I’ve ever stayed in. The rooms are incredibly small, and cockroaches and mosquitoes kept biting us through the night. It was boiling hot all day because the air conditioning only ran from 9pm to 7am. Reception was 15 minutes late when we checked out, and we nearly missed our ferry and flight. Don’t stay here, you’ll regret it.