Viajero Huacachina Hostel

The staff were friendly and helpful, and we felt safe with reception open around the clock. Our refurbished room was clean and tidy, with a spacious bed. Blackout curtains would have made it more comfortable, though. The pool was a nice extra, breakfast was fresh and tasty, and the Wi-Fi was excellent in the room and around reception, but weaker by the pool. Booking a sandbuggy tour through the hostel was a great choice, and it became one of the highlights of our Huacachina trip. Sleep was the big problem. Music played every day from 8 am to 1 am, and it was very loud, stopping at exactly 1 each night. The host spoke loudly into a microphone, guests cheered, and people talked loudly around 11 pm, 12:30 am, and 1 am. We were repeatedly woken up or couldn't fall asleep. Several other guests told us they had the same issue. Even wax earplugs and sleeping medication weren't enough to let us sleep before 1 am. One morning, staff woke us at 5:15 am by talking loudly and watching videos on their phones at full volume. We raised it with staff, and it didn't happen the next two mornings. We stayed three nights and came away with mixed feelings. It's a fun, well-equipped hostel with good staff, but the noise made it very hard to get proper rest. Great if you want evening activities and a social atmosphere, but I wouldn't recommend it if you go to bed early or need a good night's sleep.

The hostel itself is gorgeous, with a big open pool area, lots of places to relax, and views of huge sand dunes. Our room was very clean and finished to a high standard, with a socket, light, and curtain at each bed. The staff were helpful in booking our sand dunes tour, which I'd definitely book through them. I really wanted to love the place, and the facilities are why I'd still recommend it, though some things need improvement. Our check-in was 1.5-2 hours late, which I'd never experienced before. The Venezuelan man at reception, whose name I didn't get, was helpful and apologetic. He gave us 10% bar coupons while we waited. When we tried to use them for a couple of beers, the bar lady was dismissive and said the bar was closed for a meeting until 5 pm. A few minutes later, we saw a couple get Aperol Spritzes, so we asked another staff member whether we could get drinks since we still hadn't checked in. He said only soft drinks and beer, which was what we'd wanted anyway. We eventually got served, but it felt like we were being sent from one person to another just to get a drink. Once we got checked in, I asked what had caused the delay. Some staff hadn't shown up, so rooms weren't cleaned and the team was struggling. I understand that, but clear communication matters when guests are waiting, and the bar staff could have treated us better. Later, they offered us a free drink to make up for it, which was appreciated, but it wasn't our choice. It was a very sweet shot loaded with Sprite. Thanks to the Venezuelan guy at the front desk for trying so hard to help us.

We needed a good rest during a busy hiking schedule, and had a really great time at Viajero Huacachina. There's a steady choice of activities in the grounds and outside, but we could still find a nice balance between relaxing and joining in. The staff are all friendly and helpful, always smiling. Elen especially was a lovely, cheerful face to see at breakfast every morning.

Viajero had a lovely atmosphere, clean rooms, good food, and the best pool, with sun loungers too. There were fun activities like volleypool and bingo, plus a welcoming meet-and-drink where we could get to know new friends. Jose ran the activities with so much enthusiasm and was a fantastic host. We had a great time and would absolutely recommend it. Thanks to the Viajero team Huacachina!