Kafen Hotel

The owner was very helpful and set a lovely tone for our stay. The staff were amazing, the food was great, and the view was wonderful. We did have one issue: there wasn't enough hot water, and the pool was extremely cold, so we couldn't really use the space as we'd hoped. Still, everything else was perfect, and it was an amazing experience.

The staff were very friendly and did try to help us, so the problems weren't their fault. The dome itself was beautiful, but we had several issues. The bathtub kept giving us trouble, and we had to call a technician each time because the water pressure was blocked or the water wouldn't stay hot. We bought a bottle of wine and asked for a cork, but were told there wasn't one available. I wouldn't recommend the massages. I don't think the therapists are professionally trained, and the experience was really not good. I'd suggest staying just one night to try the place, rather than booking a longer stay.

I took the waterfall tour they offered, and it was excellently led. Nobody told me ahead of time that I'd get soaked, though, or that it involved actual hiking and climbing through and up the falls. I'd pictured a short walk and a dip in the pools. It was nothing like that 😂, but I loved it 🥰. The Tiny House fit the cozy, natural look I wanted, and I loved my two nights at Kafen so much I wish I'd stayed longer. It was exceptionally clean, and I didn't notice bugs or spiders. There are natural gaps between parts of the wooden structure, including the door frames and floor, but they didn't worry me. I also didn't see a lock on the sliding door, though I felt the place was secure since you can't easily reach the rooms without going through reception. I got there entirely by public transport, taking the 238 bus from Santa Ana. Later I was told the official stop nearest the hotel is Plaza Buganvilia, but neither the bus drivers nor the other people riding knew where that was. I marked it on my map picture. From that stop, it's about a seven-minute downhill walk to reception. I understand bus 64 goes to Juayua village twice an hour, possibly at 40 minutes past the hour, though I could never work out the exact times. I wonder if the hotel might consider a branded Tuk-Tuk to shuttle guests around locally. I don't see a problem with the road from the main road to reception and parking. It's wide enough for vehicles to pass if you park to the side. It's not paved, but I don't see why a car would have trouble on the track if you drive slowly. Parking didn't feel unsafe to me. The Tiny House shower only had cool water during my stay. That didn't bother me, as I hadn't found warm water anywhere in El Salvador and the weather is mostly warm. I didn't check if this room is meant to have warm water, but water comes up often in reviews. This area seems fairly newly developed, and the hotel is surrounded by nature. I imagine getting water here isn't straightforward, and I think they're doing their best to provide it. The towels felt small. I'm an average size, usually wearing S-M, and they didn't wrap all the way around me after a shower. The bathrobes fit beautifully, though, so I used those instead. At home I'd usually use a towel that size to wrap my hair, but I know I'm not at home and things vary. I ordered food three times: steak the first night, then a pulled pork burger, then breakfast. It's pricier than other places, but it comes straight to your room, which is personal and really convenient. I liked everything, it arrived quickly, and they served me outside normal dinner hours. One thing they could improve might be raising the orange juice price to offer freshly squeezed juice. I only know a few Spanish words and basic phrases, but the whole team were so helpful and thoughtful. I had lots of questions, mostly about buses and transport, and WhatsApp plus Google Translate worked well for us. I really appreciated it.

Waking up surrounded by nature and looking at the stars through our bubble dome made this an unforgettable stay. The bubble is the way to go, such a unique experience and well worth the drive. Loved it!