EL TUMBO

Sweetest staff and cheap. Would go again to save money

No mosquito nets, so you get bitten all over or you suffocate in a container. Quite dirty. Usually you get more for that price.

Perfect place to stay if you are looking for a cozy hostel with friendly staff and a relaxed vibe. Perfect location in relation to the Spanish school to improve your Spanish, not to mention you have several top surf spots within walking distance! There is a large living room with a bar where you can get drinks. Everyone usually sits here chatting, drinking, watching a movie, playing ping pong or a game of pool. Almost every evening there is something to do in or around the hostel such as Burger night, Taco night and Trivia night. There is a communal kitchen with all amenities and various places where you can relax, such as several hammocks or sofas. The Garden will soon be renovated with, among other things, a volleyball field. There is already a slackline and campfire spot available! And don't forget to cuddle or play with the cutest dog (Lobo) and sweetest cat (Venus)!

Nothing

There were only two redeeming qualities this hostel possessed to make our stay somewhat bearable: the volunteers and the proximity to Playa Amarillo. The volunteers were terrific, very friendly, very helpful, and excelled at giving the place some energy. The hostel is located just five minutes from Playa Amarillo, which was some fantastic surfing while we were there and something I would recommend to anyone that surfs, especially beginner to intermediate surfers.

The description of our room explicitly stated that it was air-conditioned. This was a lie. The room does have air conditioning, but upon arrival, you will be pressed for an additional $10/night per person, or, if you put your foot down, they'll reduce it to $5. Air conditioning, I would argue, is a necessity for sleeping in the dormitories provided. Unless you overindulge in one of sleeping pills or alcohol, you will not sleep through the night. The dormitories are inside renovated shipping containers that absorb the suns ruthless rays, which, without any windows, turns them into a human sweatbox. The staffing situation is slightly odd. The property has both an owner and a manager. The owner is very hands-off with the guests, but is a very chill dude. The manager, however, seemed to go out of his way to make our stay as awkward as possible. From the moment he tried to charge us an extra $30 a night for A/C, which we refused, he followed us around the property with a disapproving and spiteful gaze. From my understanding, he was the head of guest relations/rentals. He was not understanding nor accommodating and entered every interaction with a stubborn demeanour. He even burst into our room close to midnight, removing even more of the minimal sleep from our weary bodies. After our first interaction with him, we avoided going through him for anything as far as we could and instead spoke with the volunteers. During our stay, there was a thieving epidemic sweeping the hostel. Shoes, boardshorts, good sleep, it was all going missing. I would advise you to hang any washing round the back of the hostel away from the main road and ensure your room is locked or you too could fall victim to this thief.

Location is good, the upstairs bar and seating area is very comfortable. Kitchen has everything you need.

Nothing

Amazing location. And very nice hosts