Hostal La Libertad

The area felt refreshingly non-touristy, which made our kayak trip a great experience. Our guide didn’t speak English, but he was keen to point out the animals along the way. The owner, a helpful Italian man, suggested we try the tour. His wife cooks lovely food, definitely worth tasting, and there’s also a very good restaurant about five minutes away.

I loved the quiet around the hostal, even though it’s only a short bus ride from the center. Walking through the Panamanian neighborhood was lovely, with a supermarket and a good local restaurant nearby. The owner was such a sweet, helpful guy, and we went with him to see baby turtles hatching on the beach. He’s service minded and just fun to spend time with. Great breakfast too, and a nice outdoor common area. I’d highly recommend staying here while visiting David.

The owners, an Italian and Dominican couple, were really charming. Our motorcycles were safely parked in their secure parking, and the hostal itself was very clean and comfortable. We’d stay again if we’re in the David area.

We booked a private bedroom, but this is really more like a bedroom with its own bathroom. There’s a fridge for keeping things cold, and that’s about it: no shared kitchen, coffee, tea, or hot water. You’ll need to go out for everything from breakfast to dinner, though they do offer meals for purchase. The neighborhood didn’t feel like the best. We came across a fight where someone had a broken bottle and another man was being pelted with large rocks. The hostal is only close to a marina where you can book tours to different islands. For anywhere else, you’ll need a taxi or bus.