La Iguana Perdida - Hostel

I had a good stay overall, but there was one serious issue. Around 2 a.m., someone opened my door and tried to enter my room. I reported this to the receptionist, but was told there are no CCTV cameras in the common areas. For the safety of guests, I strongly recommend installing security cameras.

First time in a hostel felt like they went up and beyond. Will come again.

My first time staying at a Hostel and had a good time. Pictures are exactly how the property is. The view is amazing.

The location of La Iguana Perdida is ideal. It’s quiet, beautiful, and you don’t have to walk up a hill to access it.

Super friendly staff, great food and great vibes! We only stayed for one night but they had plenty of activities on offer. The room was very clean however shower is an eco shower so the hot water did run out after a short time

Great location and vibe. The food is delicious and my room had a great view. Loved the activities and entertainment. The hot water wasn’t working during my stay but I later found out it’s possible the petrol for the heater simply needed replacement and the staff can do that. I’d stay here again in a heart beat.

Great 👍 room and very gentle staff

This was my first time staying at a hostel, so this review is from that perspective. I arrived around 8pm due to my flight, which I had communicated in advance. While the person who checked me in was friendly, the process felt disorganized and like they weren’t really prepared for my arrival. I also couldn’t get dinner because they only cook for guests who sign up by 3pm, which I didn’t know and couldn’t do while traveling. The hostel isn’t very service-oriented, and after talking with other guests, it seems this is largely because the staff are volunteers. A lot of basic information was vague or hard to get. I stayed in a private room, and it was clearly not cleaned prior to my arrival. The floors looked like they hadn’t been swept or mopped in a long time, and the sheets smelled like they hadn’t been changed between guests. I had to ask twice for them to be replaced. The bathrooms also didn’t seem to be cleaned daily, despite multiple people using them. Towels and mats were changed, but that was about it, no disinfectant or proper cleaning seemed to happen. There’s also no space to put toiletries while showering or getting ready. The mattress was very hard and felt old. The reusable cups by the water dispenser smelled bad and didn’t seem properly cleaned, which was off-putting. You might enjoy this place if you’re not too concerned about service or cleanliness. The one real highlight is the location. It’s beautiful, and the views are genuinely stunning.

Lovely room, perfect view, very kind and helpful staff, good food, an overall very pleasant stay:)

Excellent vibe with really friendly staff. The travelers passing through were nice to know - altho briefly.

Yes, the room was spotless and staff is very helpful and friendly.

Gorgeous room with a lakeside view! Fabulous staff, friendly and accommodating. Lovely food and the family dinner is a must. We met some fab people here, sad to leave

Our room was fabulous. It was large, clean, had a nice shower, and best of all, had an amazing balcony looking over the lake. We also enjoyed the meals, particularly the breakfast and lunches made to order. The food was good and you can’t beat the views.

Avoid at all costs. This place is run by drunk volunteers. I had food poisoning from their “community dinner” and entirely regret this stay. No one helpful at all.

This hostel is a great choice in Santa Cruz. It's right in front of the dock so no rolling your suitcase over rocky paths. It's also a 4 minute walk to the party hostel Free Cerveza if you want to get that energy and use their dock, and a 10 minute walk to nice kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming. I stayed in a Private the whole time. The first was Balto and the second was Toliman. Toliman was gorgeous and had a lake view - would be great for a couple. I think I preferred Balto because at night it was cozier and quieter. Family dinner is wonderful at this hostel and such a core part of the experience. I participated every night and loved it. The food was great and the company was amazing. There are also different activities each night and the Open Mic Night is a blast. People from all over the town come for it. The highlight was Sam who was our hiking guide for the sunrise hike. The hike itself was gorgeous; on top of that Sam was really an expert not just with knowledge of the area but also with ensuring our safety and enjoyment. It's technically a short and easyish hike but I have chronic pain and limitations. Sam ensured that I was doing okay, had me hike at the front of the pack to help control the pace, and even gave me cookies because the sugar helps your body. We also learned so many interesting things about the volcanos, the lake and the local Mayan culture.

Amazing place!

Great staff, nice food and drink options, loads of organized activities and best of all the VIEWS

Wonderful vibe from all staff members and great location and accomodations.

It is a great glamping property that any liberal hippie would love.

Lovely cozy place