Hostel Villa Vento Surf Santa Catalina

Breakfast was delicious, and I felt at home here. It’s an easy place to meet people and be social, and the private rooms feel a bit like a traveler’s hotel. My room was near the nighttime hangout area, though, so the noise made it hard to sleep.

The pool, balcony, and light around Villa Vento made it a lovely place to spend time. Steven and the volunteers were kind and helpful, and even during rainy season, when there isn’t much to do, they were keen to suggest things nearby and help us enjoy our stay. They were also open to communal activities like cooking with people from the other hostel, which added to the warm atmosphere. I stayed in the mixed 8-person dorm. It was very clean, including the bathrooms, sheets, curtains, and lights, and the sheets even smelled freshly washed. The showers are cold, but the temperature was warm enough. Breakfast had fruit, toast, and eggs. As a woman, I felt safe, and got the sense that the owner is thoughtful about making the place respectful and welcoming. I had a great stay and would come back.

Breakfast being included meant making pancakes from a mix ourselves. The toilets and showers smelled bad, and when the power went out there was no water, so we couldn’t even flush. In our private room, there was nowhere to hang or put clothes, the bed was uncomfortable, and the thin walls let every sound through as if it were right by your head. We stayed a couple of nights and wouldn’t recommend it.

We spent a few weeks here, and it soon started to feel like home. It’s a relaxed, social place with friendly, helpful staff, and it’s in a good location. The facilities are decent and there’s a pool for cooling off. Nothing fancy, but it has what you need if you’re traveling around Panama and want somewhere laid-back.