Republica Bahia Hostel, Santa Marta

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Republica Bahia Hostel Reviews

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Republica Hostel Santa Marta is the third location of the Republica hostel chain. It is perfectly located for bars, restaurants, and nightlife, and tends to attract young, fun backpackers looking to socialize and party. At the same time, the hostel is also well located for sightseeing in Santa Marta and the dorm beds offer great privacy.

The Location

Republica Hostel Santa Marta is located within the most touristic part of the city, close to many bars and restaurants. It is within walking distance of the main historical sites, parks, and churches. It is situated on the edge of Parque Simon Bolivar, a square with trees and benches. It is within three minutes' walk of the Malecon/city beach. There is a bank with an ATM immediately next door to the hostel, and a supermarket within ten minutes' walk. The main bus station (where you will find buses to nearby places of interest such as Minca and Tayrona Park) is around fifteen minutes' walk away.

The area is busy with both tourists and locals, even at night. We felt safe walking around this area, but it is not recommended to walk alone at night.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Dorm rooms and private rooms are available. The rooms feel clean and have natural light and air conditioning. The dorm rooms have specially designed bunk beds, which are more like private pods than beds -- each has its own light and charging cable, and walls on three sides for privacy. Huge lockers are located beneath the beds, each containing a large drawer, in which you can fit a backpack. There is only a metal bar between one drawer and the next, meaning that technically the person with the drawer next to you could reach into your locker. However, we felt that our things were secure in the drawers, since our entire backpacks fit in and it would have been impossible to fit the backpack through the gap in the bars. We were given a card to unlock the door to the room, but due to the number of people sharing a dorm, it is almost always left open.

There are shared bathrooms for dorms. Private rooms come with en suites. The shared bathrooms are modern, clean, and bright with colourful artwork on the walls. Showers only run cold water.

Common Spaces

The common space is centred around a small pool. There is a chilled atmosphere during the day with music playing whilst people relax in chairs or hammocks, use the pool, or use the Wi-Fi (it's fast and available throughout the hostel). At night, there is more of a party atmosphere, especially on weekends, when there are sometimes pool parties held with live DJs. There is a bar serving beer and cocktails with happy hour deals. Events are sometimes organised in the evenings, such as salsa classes or party bus tours. The reception can also help arrange tours to local attractions such as the Lost City trek or Tayrona Park.

There is currently no shared kitchen, but there is a refrigerator for storing food. A good-quality breakfast is included and includes coffee and a choice of two menus, which vary daily.

The hostel was opened within a year of our visit, and parts are still in construction. At the time of writing, there are plans to build more rooms and a communal kitchen area. During our stay, we were not disturbed by any building works, as they are not noticeable from within the rooms or communal areas.

Summary

Republica Hostel Santa Marta is a sociable hostel with beautiful communal areas and a range of events, mainly themed around partying, to help fellow travelers to meet. Despite being a party hostel, there is usually a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere during the day. The specially designed beds offer much more privacy than can be expected for most dorms. The hostel is perfectly located for bars, restaurants, nightlife, and sightseeing in Santa Marta.

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