Casa el Rio

The people were wonderful and friendly, and there’s a lovely courtyard where you can sit in the sun. We stayed in the room nearest reception, though, and had to keep the curtains shut because the only window faced an internal corridor where people kept walking by. That left us without privacy or natural light. There were also lots of mosquitoes to spray, and the reception phone rang loudly and got answered several times during the night, disturbing our sleep.

The staff were very nice, and the pool was a lovely way to cool off. We also enjoyed the paid breakfast, which cost C90. Our basic private room got very hot and had little airflow. The location felt inconvenient and unpleasant, the shower was just a hose on the wall and was dirty, and laundry was very expensive.

The garden and kind staff were the only good parts for us. Our private room smelled strongly of damp and mould, with mould across the ceiling and what looked like moss growing from a roof panel. There were lots of flies, and the room was so hot that opening the window wasn’t a real option because it had no bug screen. I wouldn’t recommend staying in this room. It felt like a health hazard.

A staff member waited an hour and a half after closing for me to arrive, which I really appreciated. Everyone was very friendly. It’s a quiet, laid-back hostel, with plenty of spots to sit and relax, a TV for movies, and a reasonably equipped kitchen. It isn’t a party place, so there’s usually room to cook and space to unwind.