Colombia, one of the more dangerous countries in South America is less travelled by tourists for this reason. This is a shame as it is one of the most beautiful countries on the continent. Santa Marta, in the far north on the Carribean Coast, four hours by bus from stunning Cartagena, is a city where most people start who come from Venezuela. There are direct buses from Maracaibo in Venezuela that take you in about eight hours to this small but pleasant colonial town. Before you set of on this route check the latest news about guerilla activity in the region and travel by day only!
This very popular hostel is totally geared towards backpackers, but still has a family atmosphere, so the name is more than appropriate. Downstairs is the common room with tv and a few chairs and loads of information about everything that can and should be done in the area. It is all very well documented with photos and explanations how to get where and how much it should cost. It's a great introduction to the area. Despite the fact that only Spanish is spoken, as is the norm in the country, most signs and tourist info is in three or more languages.
The Casa has three floors with mostly single, double, and triple rooms, but downstairs are two dormitories of six beds each. Those dormitories are rediculously cheap and not very popular because for less than a dollar more you can have your private room. However Israelis seem to prefer the cheaper dormitory. The rooms are all spotless clean and the showers have no hot water, which is really not needed because of hot daytime temperatures.
The hostel serves breakfast and Colombian lunches on request and has the usual range of soft drinks for sale. Contrary to what my Lonely Planet guidebook said there is no internet available, but down the street you will find plenty.
To get there from the bus station, the usual point of arrival, you have to take a taxi or one of the minibuses that heads towards Carrera 1c, the beach road. Calle 10C is on the north side of town and the hostel is two blocks from the sea. A lovely beach skirts the road along the Carribean sea and makes a pleasant place to escape the heat.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2004
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