Hostel Casa Areka

They really do their best to make your stay enjoyable, and that was my experience. The Hostal had everything I needed as a traveller. Space is limited, so it’s easy to meet other people. I think making your own pancakes in the morning is a great idea. I’ll come again and look forward to seeing the Hostal crew. Muchas Gracias ❤️

The pancake breakfast is make-it-yourself, coffee is available all day, and both are included in the price. Staff are kind and helpful when planning your day. There’s a nice garden and pool, though I didn’t use the pool. The location is central and convenient, with restaurants and a supermarket nearby and good bus and Metro access. Getting a bus card in Panama city is easy and cheap. You can walk for a beautiful hour along the Panaman coast to reach Casco Viejo. Visit the free museums while you’re in town: mola, Panamanian, and my favorite, the afro-antillan museum by the Cinco de mayo metro station. For food, mercado de mariscos and the Coca-Cola restaurant are musts. casa areka was a great place to stay, and I kept extending my visit because I was having such a good time.

Frank is a great, friendly host, and the hostel has a lovely look, a nice pool, and a breakout area. The shared bathrooms are very small. It’s a nice neighborhood, but a bit far from nightlife, so it suits chill travelers who don’t need to be close to that scene. I stayed in both a dorm and a private room. The private room was spacious and clean, and having a huge supermarket next door is really convenient. I had an amazing stay and would recommend it for longer visits.

The room and bathroom were clean, and the shower was warm. I booked two nights at the start of my trip. The kitchen has lots of things available, and breakfast is pancakes you make yourself. I didn’t use the pool because I was away from the hostel during the day. It wasn’t noisy, although lots of guests head to the San Blas Islands and get up very early. Nice guests and staff.