Hostel Valle de la Luna

Hostel Campo Base Valle De La Luna is located about a 15 minute walk from the bus station in the town of San Augustin del Valle Fertil. Like many towns in this area, the landscape is flat, so (distance aside) it's an easy walk.

The easiest way to get there however is to contact the hostel before you arrive and arrange for them to meet you at the bus stop. There are only three buses per day from San Juan to Valle Fertil, so chances are that the staff will be meeting the bus already. If you arrive from San Juan, look for someone from HI (Hostelling International) before you get on the bus as they often look for backpackers getting on the bus going to Valle Fertil and will arrange a reservations and someone to meet you there. A word of warning, you may be told that you'll be met by minbus. Dont expect this, often you get met in person and have to walk, with the hostel staff, to the hostel. If you plan to catch a taxi or bus, forget it, Valle Fertil has neither.

The hostel itself is large and airy. It has a friendly feel to it, with brightly painted walls and surfaces. It has forty beds in dorm rooms which sleep four people each. The rooms are reasonably spacious and the beds comfortable and warm, however the rooms themselves don't have heating, so getting up in the morning can be a somewhat "refreshing" experience.

The bathrooms are clean and adequate. The showers, however, are somewhat erratic, sometimes hot and at others warm but far from hot. Towels may be available, but be prepared to use your own if they don't have enough.

The common spaces are clean and well designed. The lounge has plenty of seating and a large open fire which backs onto one of the dorm rooms (so if you're a cold sleeper, be sure to get a bed in that room). The kitchen-dining room is large, but a little lacking in bench space or storage areas for food. Breakfast is available for a small extra charge. It's comprised of black coffee and two small pastries, so you might be better advised to buy something from the minimarket next door the night before, or better still, from the supermarket in town.

While free internet is available at the hostel (there's only one computer) connections in Valle Fertil are far from rapid, so using it requires much patience. Unless you're truly desperate, wait until you get somewhere else to upload your photos or send long messages.

The main reason people come to this hostel is to visit Valle de La Luna and Talampaya, two parks with spectacular rock formations. Excursions to both parks are organised from the hostel, using remises (private taxis) to drive from the hostel to the parks, approximately one hour each way. Costs and availablility vary depending on the number of people, so if you're travelling solo, be prepared to wait a day or two in low season for others to arrive, or pay extra.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review