Featured Hostel
Hostel Bekuo -
Matapalo Cabo Matapalo, located at the very southern tip of the Osa Peninsula, is easily one of the most beautiful places in all of Costa Rica. It's also one of the least traveled. Combine this paradise with one of the Costa Ricas top hostels, Hostel Bekuo, and you have a match made in heave. Oh, and there are three right hand point breaks as well.
Located right in Matapalo, between Playa Matapalo and Backwash, and a 5 minute walk from Pan Dulce, Hostel Bekuo Matapalo is the essece of the simple life; no electricity, no phones, on internet. Just the guests, the abundant rainforest, beautiful beaches, incredible waves, and the occasional waterfall. Hostel Bekuo Matapalo manages to create a comfortable atmosphere in an affordable place to stay (there isn't another place to stay in Matapalo that's less than $40 a night). Bekuo Matapalo offers free linens, a continental breakfast, a huge community kitchen for the guests, hammocks for lounging around, and board rentals for those that would like to learn the sport.
In the evening the hostel is lit by tiki torches and candles. Each bed has a small LED light for reading, that is powered by rooftop solar panels.
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.