Casa Oro Eco Hostel

Although we didn’t stay at Casa Oro Eco Hostel, our experience with the staff left a bad impression. After being dropped off by a shuttle in San Juan del Sur, we were immediately surrounded by aggressive taxi drivers offering rides to Playa Maderas for the same price we had already paid for the shuttle from León. Frustrated, we approached the receptionist hoping for honest advice. Unfortunately, he scammed us. He promised to arrange a taxi for us to Playa Maderas, which seemed like a better option than waiting for the shuttle to avoid hiking up the hill in the dark. After waiting 45 minutes (way too long for such a small town), a questionable, rickety vehicle arrived, not even a proper taxi. As it got dark and rainy, the driver took us halfway, then abruptly kicked us out in the jungle with no explanation, leaving us stranded with our bags and no idea where we were. We eventually found out the $4 shuttle we passed up earlier is the best option, especially since it’s a 4WD vehicle, essential for reaching Playa Maderas. My advice: avoid relying on the staff at Casa Oro and opt for the shuttle. Travel with other tourists to minimize the chance of being scammed. Unfortunately, we cannot recommend Casa Oro Eco Hostel based on our experience.

staff not pleasant at all, we had reserved by booking and during checking we were told of other taxes that we had to pay ($6/pers). You have to pay for ice cubes at the bar and the dormitories are poorly air-conditioned and the shared kitchen only has a stove and two tiny fridges for the entire hotel. In conclusion, it is entirely possible to find better and cheaper in San Juan del Sur.

Honestly, I typically don't leave reviews, but I'm extremely upset with how they manage this place. The rooms are barely clean - mine had beer cans from previous guests lying around for over two days. I paid $20+ per night for a dorm, which is more than the usual rates in the area. On my first night, I was assigned a bed that was already occupied. When I raised this concern with the front desk immediately, they insisted it was my assigned bed and promised to address the issue with the guest occupying it. When I returned later that night, I found a drunk guest passed out on the floor with pee around him and my belongings scattered all over the floor. Fortunately, a nice security guy moved me to another room. The next day, there were no apologies or acknowledgments from the front desk staff, who blamed the situation on other guests rather than their lack of organization and communication. Additionally, although I didn't see them, both my friend and I, who stayed in separate rooms, woke up with skin spots, suggesting possible bed bugs or improperly cleaned sheets. I'm unsure who manages this place, but it doesn't seem like anyone is ensuring things are handled properly.