Calipso Hostel

We've sent all our stand-up paddle customers to Calipso Hostal for their time in Bocas, and the comments have always been more than flattering. The place is extremely clean and well priced. It's also got a very family-like feel, with helpful owners and staff who make you feel at home. We highly recommend it.

We spent 8 nights in a private room with air conditioning, a toilet and a shower, at a fairly cheap rate. There was no light in the shared area in the evenings. The owners weren't around, and when they were, they played loud, unpleasant music.

We'd planned on staying for one more night after the first two, but the beds were full of bedbugs. Room 3 was dark and smelled bad, so we moved to room 10. I was bitten badly again and even saw them crawling over the sheets at night. The owner seemed very nice at first, but wouldn't talk to us about it. People seem to change completely when money is involved. Do yourself a favor and stay away!

Bedbugs! We were bitten in two different rooms, and the bites itch for days. Soothing lotions are expensive here on Bocas. Worse, both managers refused to discuss it with us face to face, as if they hoped that would make the problem go away. Any compensation or money back? Forget it. The owners are too stubborn. The staff, though, are nice.