Lanquin, Ruta Semuc Champey Semil15.540492,-89.951332(Show on Map)
7.3
Good
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+5 Photos
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Checkin - Checkout dates
1 Room2 Guests
Info
Summary of reviews
Pachamaya River Hostel is highly praised for its stunning and strategic location along the riverbank, making it an ideal spot for those exploring Semuc Champey. Guests love the tranquil jungle setting, just a short, scenic walk to the natural pools, which enhances the overall experience. The picturesque views and serene environment make it a peaceful retreat, despite its remote location from Lanquin.
Breakfast at the hostel is a standout feature, often included in the room rate and consisting mainly of delicious, generous servings of pancakes and fruits. While service can be slow and coffee quality is less than ideal, the overall satisfaction with breakfast is high, especially for its taste and filling portions.
The dining experience for dinner receives mixed reviews. Many guests rave about the delicious, plentiful portions, particularly praising the pad Thai and vegetarian options. However, the long wait times, limited selection and absence of meat options are noted as drawbacks. Despite these issues, the quality of the food makes it worth trying for many visitors.
Rooms at Pachamaya River Hostel offer a blend of rustic charm and cleanliness. Guests often highlight the beauty of private rooms in wooden cabins, which provide comfort and stunning views. Dormitories are spacious with good compartments, though basic. Some common issues include uncomfortably hot nights due to the lack of fans or air conditioning and occasional noise concerns due to thin walls. Cleanliness is generally praised, although there are notable issues in shared spaces, such as cobwebs, dirty facilities and sheets.
The staff at the hostel is generally regarded as friendly, helpful and attentive. Specific individuals receive commendations for their outstanding service, contributing to a warm and inviting atmosphere. However, some guests experienced unprofessional or rude behavior, primarily from the management or receptionists, though these do not overshadow the overall positive sentiment.
Wi-Fi connectivity at the hostel is noted to be sporadic and often unreliable, especially in the rooms. Guests seeking a strong and consistent internet connection might find the offerings insufficient.
Guest experiences with beds are mixed with some finding the mattresses comfortable, while others report hard, uncomfortable mattresses and hygiene concerns. Issues such as dirty sheets, stains and bed bugs have been mentioned, indicating the need for better bed maintenance.
The hostel's dog-friendly policy is a highlight for animal lovers with many guests enjoying the presence of friendly dogs and puppies, adding a charming and homely atmosphere. Minor downsides include occasional smells, aggressive barking and flea issues.
Overall, Pachamaya River Hostel is a highly recommended choice for travelers seeking a peaceful, scenic retreat close to nature, though potential guests should be aware of the minor inconveniences related to service speed, room maintenance and Wi-Fi reliability.
Categories
Dog Friendly
This hotel in Lanquín is pet-friendly. It is popular among guests and provides a comfortable stay for those traveling with dogs.
Parking
Small
Room Types
Double Room with Private BathroomThe spacious double room offers a private entrance, a seating area, parquet floors as well as a terrace with mountain views. The unit has 1 bed.
Double Room with Shared BathroomThe spacious double room provides a private entrance, parquet floors and a balcony. The unit offers 1 bed.
Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory RoomRooms are 35 square metres.
Single Bed in Mixed Dormitory RoomRooms are 45 square metres.
Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory Room
Bungalow with PatioThe unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
7.3
Good
Review Summaries
Location
Pachamaya River Hostel boasts a stunning and strategic location, ideal for travelers looking to explore Semuc Champey. The hostel is nestled directly on the riverbank, offering picturesque views and a tranquil setting in the heart of the jungle. Guests appreciate the property's close proximity to the natural pools of Semuc Champey with many highlighting the ease of a short, scenic walk—often cited as 5 to 10 minutes—to the park's entrance.
This unique riverfront property provides a pleasant and serene environment for a restful stay with opportunities for a quiet swim and immersion in nature. Despite its remote location far from the town of Lanquin, visitors find it to be a perfect starting point for discovering Semuc Champey without the need for additional transportation. The setting is described as beautiful, authentic and quintessentially jungle-like, which enhances the overall experience.
For those seeking a peaceful yet accessible retreat surrounded by nature, Pachamaya River Hostel is a highly recommended choice due to its prime location, natural beauty and charming ambiance.
Breakfast
At Pachamaya River Hostel, breakfast is a notable highlight, frequently praised for its quality and taste. Included in the room rate, the breakfast often features delicious pancakes and fruits, leaving guests satisfied and full until lunch. The servings are generous and stand out in terms of both quantity and flavor with many guests describing the portions as very filling.
Despite the menu primarily consisting of pancakes when included with accommodation, many guests appreciate their delicious taste. Some also noted that the hostel can arrange an early breakfast upon request, adding to the convenience for travelers with early schedules.
However, there are some points of contention. Breakfast service can be slow and the serving times are restrictive, typically only between 8-9 am. Additionally, the set prices for breakfast might be considered expensive relative to the portion size if not included in the room rate. Coffee quality appears to be a downside, often described as weak.
Overall, though, the breakfast at Pachamaya River Hostel is generally well-received with its inclusion in the room rate being particularly valued and the pancakes earning frequent compliments for their taste.
Dinner
The Pachamaya River Hostel offers a dining experience with mixed reviews from its guests. On the positive side, many guests have praised the food as delicious with some even describing it as amazing and the best in the world. The dishes are noted for their generous and plentiful portions and the pad Thai in particular garnered accolades for its taste. Moreover, the vegetarian options are well-received with meals being described as super tasty and the cook considered excellent by several visitors.
However, there are some downsides reported by the guests. One common issue is the lengthy wait times for meals, which some found frustrating. Another point of contention is the pricing of the food, which several guests felt was overpriced, particularly given the limited selection available. There are also mentions of the absence of meat options, which might not appeal to all diners. Additionally, while the portions are often large and filling, the variety and availability of menu items can be lacking.
Overall, the quality of the food at Pachamaya River Hostel seems to be high, but potential visitors should be prepared for possible waits and higher-than-expected prices. Whether you are a vegetarian or simply enjoy generous servings of well-cooked meals, you might find the dining experience here to be worth trying, just be aware of the limitations and cost.
Rooms
Pachamaya River Hostel offers a blend of rustic charm and cleanliness. Guests frequently highlight the beauty and coziness of the rooms, emphasizing their cleanliness and pleasant atmosphere. The private rooms, especially those in wooden cabins with small terraces, provide comfort and stunning views of the garden, river and jungle, creating a relaxing environment.
However, several reviews mentioned the lack of fans or air conditioning, leading to uncomfortably hot nights. The cabins, while charmingly rustic and well-located, could benefit from additional furnishings and insect screens.
Dormitories are praised for their spaciousness and private compartments with large lockers, although some found them excessively basic. Shared bathrooms are plentiful and well-maintained with good shower pressure.
In terms of facilities, some rooms lack outlets for charging devices and there are instances where the sheets were not the cleanest. The simplistic design includes mattresses on the floor or wooden pallets and walls that can be quite thin, leading to noise concerns. Nonetheless, the overall cleanliness and scenic views make it a tranquil retreat with lovely cabins and ample room for each guest.
Beds
Visitors to Pachamaya River Hostel have shared mixed experiences regarding the beds. On the positive side, several guests mentioned comfortable mattresses and cozy bedding. Some found the dorm beds comfortable, while others enjoyed a comfy bed in the double room. However, the feedback also highlighted several areas for improvement. Numerous reviews pointed out issues with bed comfort, ranging from hard and uncomfortable mattresses to thin duvets that didn’t provide enough warmth. Hygiene concerns were raised with mentions of dirty bed sheets, visible stains and even bed bugs. There were also comments about wood pallets being used as bed bases and some beds containing bugs. Additionally, guests noted incidents of dogs entering rooms and sleeping on the beds, which caused further discomfort. Although some guests could manage a night’s stay, the general consensus pointed to a need for better bed and room maintenance.
Cleanliness
Pachamaya River Hostel, surrounded by nature, offers a mix of unique accommodations including tree houses and modern corrugated iron triangles. Guests have appreciated the pleasant and clean rooms with reports of no moldy smell and overall good cleanliness in certain areas. Some cabins received commendations for being very clean and facilities were noted for their cleanliness. However, there are noteworthy issues regarding the overall hygiene of shared spaces. The corners of shared rooms infested with cobwebs, dirty toilets and showers and dirty bed sheets have been common complaints. The property displays signs of neglect, such as trash left around and restroom facilities being unclean despite daily cleaning efforts. While the hostel combines the charm of nature with innovative lodging ideas, the significant discrepancies in cleanliness, especially in shared spaces and communal areas, have left some guests with a less than optimal experience.
Staff
Pachamaya River Hostel presents a mixed experience when it comes to staff interactions, yet there are numerous commendable aspects that stand out. Many guests praise the hostel for its wonderful and super friendly staff, who are often described as very helpful, attentive and kind. Specific individuals like Alejandro and the cook Matilda receive special mentions for their outstanding service and warm demeanors, contributing significantly to the pleasant atmosphere of the hostel.
The friendliness extends from general customer service to the management with recent changes in management seemingly bringing a positive shift in staff behavior, making the hostel's environment even more inviting. The staff's dedication goes beyond basic duties, as they are frequently noted for their willingness to assist with various needs, such as arranging transportation and providing valuable information.
Despite the overwhelming positivity, there are occasional criticisms. Some guests experienced staff as unprofessional, rude or disengaged and there were reports of unpleasant encounters with the manager and certain receptionists. These issues, however, do not overshadow the excellent customer service many visitors appreciated.
Overall, while Pachamaya River Hostel's team may have areas needing improvement, the general sentiment leans heavily towards a supportive and accommodating atmosphere created by a largely friendly and attentive staff.
Wi-Fi
Pachamaya River Hostel offers a unique experience where guests can enjoy nature with limited connectivity. The availability of Wi-Fi varies greatly, often dependent on weather conditions and time of day. Guests have noted that Wi-Fi is accessible, but the signal is frequently weak or non-existent, especially in the rooms. While some have experienced brief periods of reliable connection, most have faced significant challenges with internet consistency, including limited access and slow speeds. The hostel ensures a certain rustic charm with a general facility of Wi-Fi, albeit sporadic and often unreliable. Those seeking a strong and constant internet connection might find the hostel's Wi-Fi offerings fall short of expectations.
Dog Friendly
Pachamaya River Hostel is a standout destination for dog lovers, complete with dog-friendly accommodations and a welcoming attitude toward animal guests. The property features a variety of beautiful and friendly dogs, including several adorable puppies that have clearly stolen the hearts of many visitors. Guests will encounter cute, calm and friendly dogs throughout their stay, which adds a charming and homely atmosphere to the hostel. However, potential visitors should be aware that the presence of numerous dogs can sometimes lead to issues such as occasional smells, aggressive barking and even fleas on the deck. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall experience for animal enthusiasts is overwhelmingly positive.
FAQ
No, Pachamaya River Hostel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Pachamaya River Hostel.
Yes, Pachamaya River Hostel welcomes dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Pachamaya River Hostel.
