While Bocas del Toro is in fact located in Panama, it has become such a destination for travelers from Costa Rica, that we though it should be included here. And Mondo Taitu, along with their sister hostel, Hostel Heike, are such great places to stay, that they should be the featured hostel here.
When you get off the boat in Bocas, you'll find Mondo at the end of town, past the main park, to the left a little bit and there you are, a two story yellow house. Some of the best things about Mondo are no TV and no internet. It's a place where you can really disconnect and get away from IM's, HBO, DVD's and all that other crap you don't need.
The bar at Mondo is the center of the universe when happy hour starts. $.50 beers are hard to beat, and when happy hour ends there are drink specials all night. The patrons are freindly and the service is great. Try to be there for a theme party or an 80´s power hour (better bring your own garb, 80´s gear is hard to find on a tiny caribbean island).
Featured Hostel
Mondo Taitu Bocas del Toro has become a mecca for backpackers looking for great times, amazing beaches, always mad nightlife, and a virtual cornucopia of shoestring travelers from all over the world. Bocas is attractive to so many people over and over again in no small part because of Mondo Taitu, one of the island regions original hostel, and their three chivalrous owners, Dan, Daniel and Dave.
What is Hosteling?
The concept of hostelling has been around for a long time, but the actual movement started in 1907, when a German school teacher named Richard Schirrmann cleared out some classrooms and laid down some straw mats so that young people of all countries could be provided with suitable meeting places where they could get to know each other!
It used to be that youth hostels had only dormitory-style arrangements reserved for youth and a chore was assigned to offset the low cost of the bed. Well, there have been a few changes since then, although you may still find dorms and some rural hostels that require you to carry out a small chore such as making your own bed or bringing the dirty linen to reception. But hostels are no longer only for the young, and most places have private rooms available. However you will still most likely have to share a bath.
Staying in a hostel in Costa Rica is a fantastic way to meet other travellers who can offer you great advice on things to see and interesting places to go which you may not hear of in books or travel guides. Hostels also tend to have more of a social scene, you will find that even some organize parties, BBQ's, meetings or have a bar within their premises where people can chat and get to know the fellow guests.
If you are travelling alone then staying in a hostel is a great way to meet long term travel buddies, people looking to do a fun day trip or visit a particular museum together. These, usually, short meetings can make a great impact on your cultural awareness and sometimes be the starting point of a life long friendship.