Parque Calderon in Cuenca's Historic Center
New visitors to South America may confuse hostal with the English word hostel, verbiage that conjures images of hippy dormitories complete with grimy shared bathrooms and blinking hallway lights. But in Ecuador, a hostal is a guesthouse, which splices the best features of a hotel and hostel, making them great accommodation options for midrange budget travelers. Hostals are perfect for large groups with varying budgets. Housing cheap dorms as well as private and spacious rooms, hostals can meet traveler needs while offering the hostel-style of socializing in common areas such as the kitchen and dining hall. Of the hostals in which we’ve stayed, Cuenca had one of the best and newest.
Hostal Capitolio in Cuenca
When Neil and I arrived in Cuenca with our friend Daniel, we had reservations for a private apartment located in a Spanish school. For $20 per night, we had a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and weak WIFI. After one night, we were looking for another option. Based on a hunch and a flyer that Daniel received at the bus terminal, we headed into Cuenca’s historic center for Hostal Capitolio.
Private rooms start at US$12 per person per night. Everything is brand new in the hostal
Hostal Capitolio has a basic common room beside its super clean kitchen.
When we were told that the guesthouse was brand new, owner Diego was not exaggerating. Sheets were fresh and had never been used. Mattresses had never been slept in. Dark wood flooring looked newly laid and showerheads seemed to have just arrived from the store. Workmen hammered away in the lobby, setting new paneling for an office as a two-person cleaning staff swabbed the floors with floral-scented solutions. Hostal Capitolio also has 24-hour door security, letting guests in and out of the building.
Rooms in Hostal Capitolio
Rooms are neatly appointed with a small night table and even smaller TV with great international cable. Three double rooms offer private baths and two beds for $12 per person per night. Eight shared rooms with communal baths start at $8 per night. If you’re staying for a longer period of time, negotiate a discount with Diego. Hands-on and friendly, he’ll most likely knock off a dollar or two from the nightly rate. Cons: The bathroom is a bit narrow with only a few inches of space between the wall and toilet. Since Diego was still preparing the hostal, shower curtains and extra towels had to be requested. But don’t be shy. Just ask politely and the staff will arrange for whatever you need, even if it’s a TV that requires a new cable line to be cut. No problem. Major Pro: The in-room WIFI is the fastest I’ve had in over two months.
Accommodations in Cuenca’s Historic Center
On sunny mornings, nothing is better than a stroll past Spanish colonial architecture in Cuenca Ecuador
The hostal is located at the cross section of Machuca and Presidente Cordova. A major transportation hub, local buses and yellow taxis zip past the hotel until late at night. Across the street, a beverage distributor sells liquor, beer, and soft drinks at competitive prices. At the northwest corner of the intersection, a small tienda has water and snacks. But the owner can be a little aloof. So with some extra time, we walked three blocks down Cordova to Calle Borrero where a micro-market stocks everything from cold cuts and rice to papas fritas and paper towels. Around the corner from the micro-market, a laundry service offers same-day wash and dry. Hostal Capitolio is also three blocks away from one of the best and most affordable restaurants in Cuenca: Moliendo Café. It is a must!
Generally, Cuenca has a plethora of accommodations, ranging from high-end chains to $5 hostel dorms. But if you’re like us—mid-range travelers—then you should look into hostals, where for a few bucks more you’ll get the privacy of a hotel mixed with the camaraderie of a hostel.
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South america has many hostels, well informative post.