Buccaneers Backpackers Cintsa

The Buccaneers Backpackers Cintsa hostel is popular as it is right next to a beach with its own direct access, and there are views of the sea from most rooms as well as the bar. It is unlike most hostels in that the rooms are spread out over the hillside, but this adds to the beach getaway feel. It even has a beauty therapy room when the beautician is around.

Buccaneers is down a long bumpy road, and the only way to get there is by self-drive or Baz Bus which stops here. The village of Cintsa is a 10 minute walk away on the other side of the beach, and has few amenities - a general store selling food and magazines, a cafe, and a touristy beach shop. There is little else around, but the hostel provides daily free activities, such as volleyball competitions, and also a weekly trip to a local school to see the children sing.

The dorms are in self-contained units, each with two bedrooms with two bunk beds in each, a shower room and an open plan kitchen and sitting room. The bed linen may not always be fresh or they may be torn but cleaners come each day and there are notes stating that guest should notify them of any problems so they can rectify it. The shower room has a clean shower with a WC and sink and is functional. The units have a small patio out the front overlooking the beach, and it is fairly secure with each person having a key to the front door of the unit.

Having the lounge sitting area in each dorm unit can be a nice place to escape but not that social. There is, however, a bar/restaurant/pool table/seating area as the main communal space. The hostel serves good food nightly in this area and somebody announces the following day's free activity. Above this is the reception area, where activities can be booked such as horse riding along the beach and surf lessons - although this may be cancelled on the morning if not enough people are booked on. The hostel also has free bodyboards and kayaks for the lagoon on the beach. In this reception area is a shop selling locally made curios, a book exchange, and two computers for fairly expensive internet access. Behind this is a TV room with sofas and a self-catering kitchen area. There is also a swimming pool with bar on the complex although this is rarely manned.

Being that this is spread out over a hillside and is so popular, this place is fairly well managed. It would be better if there were no minimum numbers for activities so that a guest can do what they expect to do instead of an activity being cancelled at the last minute, and ideally provisions for when the beauty therapist and activity guides aren't around. It is a great beach escape, but there is little else to do other than be by the beach so could get a little boring for those who prefer towns and sightseeing.

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