Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna

7.6
4 Reviews

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How is Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown rated?

Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown Reviews

Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown is brand new and just opened a couple of months before our visit. It belongs to the same company that already owns a hostel outside of the city, and is now expanding into downtown La Fortuna with Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown.

The Location

As mentioned, the hostel is located in downtown La Fortuna, at the beginning of the main road coming from the volcano. It is a ten- to fifteen-minute walk from the bus station and the hostel is located right on the main road, so it is easy to be spotted. The road passes right in front of it, so cars that drive by can be noisy. Fortunately, at nighttime the traffic on the street is very limited. It is possible to walk to the center of La Fortuna in about ten minutes, and the area seems to be safe at night as well. All bars, restaurants, and supermarkets are around.

Rooms and Bathrooms

There are a few private rooms and mostly dormitories. Most of the rooms have six beds and each bed has a plug. As the hostel is brand new, bunks and mattresses are in great condition and are comfy. However the rooms are very small, so with a full six-person dorm and the backpacks it is very hard to move inside. Most of the rooms have a fan, which is good enough, as it doesn’t usually get that hot in the evening. Unfortunately there are no lockers available.

Bathrooms are shared by groups of five to six rooms, and there is also one in the main area. Toilet and shower are together and there is hot water. Rooms are in general clean, but bathrooms can’t easily get rid of the water from the shower as the area is very humid, so it's always a bit wet and slippery.

Common Spaces

There is one large common area at the entrance of the hostel. It is a large open space with sofas, tables, and chairs, a hammock, a bar table, and a kitchen that's free to use for guests. Once again, as the hostel is new, everything seems to be in great condition, except pans in the kitchen, which can’t really be used as they are too ruined. The space is very large and there are two coolers and two sinks so more guests can use the kitchen together.

The vibe is nonexistent and the hostel seems always empty -- it's definitely neither a party spot nor a social one. There are no activities or anything that could help travelers to mingle, so customers usually go out from the hostel in the evening to find something to do in the city. The hostel is run by its owner, a Costa Rican man who lives in the building as well. Friendly and knowledgable, he provides interesting advice about Costa Rica and La Fortuna.

Summary

The hostel has great facilities -- especially the beds -- but small rooms and no vibe. It's not recommended to social people who would like to meet fellow backpackers, but it could be a fair option for older travelers who require more privacy.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
Howler Monkey Hostel DownTown, La Fortuna
+4
#
Manu
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on May 24, 2019

Location and Contact

Location

• Getting to Arenal
• Arenal is approximately 90 kilometers from San Jose, and travel time by car or bus will generally run a minimum of 3 hours, depending on traffic and weather. For this reason it is recommended that you leave early in the morning.
• Air
• If you are short on time, you might consider taking a plane from Tobias Bolanos National Airport in San Jose, to the La Fortuna area. The cost is approximately $80 each way and/or $160 roundtrip, not counting added expenses such as transport to and from the airport.
• Public Bus
• Travel by bus albeit a more economical option, is not recommended if you are travelling with luggage or valuables, as it is less secure than the shuttle service. Also, for elderly passengers or those that are more sensitive to the elements, it should be noted that public buses generally do not have air conditioning, and tend to make many of stops along the way, thus making for a longer trip overall compared to the shuttle service option.
• Shuttle Service
• Shuttle service to and from Arenal is a highly efficient, safe and comfortable option. In most cases the shuttle routes operate on a daily basis with multiple departure times. It is important to note that shuttle buses unlike a public bus, are more secure, direct, and comfortable as they are equipped with air conditioning and offer more personal attention to passengers and more direct routes translating to shorter travel times. The shuttle service is often booked days in advance by visitors so it is important to reserve your seat in advance to ensure availability.
• – Shared Shuttle Service Routes and Rates
• – Arenal – Monteverde Car Boat Car
• Car
• If you opt to go by car, you will actually be driving to La Fortuna, a small town just a few kilometers east of the Arenal Volcano National Park.
• En route you will be passing dairy farms, majestic rolling hills, and lush green pastures, as well as rainforests. And you will pass many towns such as San Ramon, Bajos de Los Rodriquez, and Santa Clara. Although there are many ways to get to La Fortuna, we are going to focus on the most direct and secure route. Here are the driving instructions to La Fortuna, home of the Arenal Volcano from the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica: Take highway 1, also called the Pan-American Highway or Inter-American Highway towards Juan Santamaria International Airport. As you approach the airport, driving east from San Jose you will pass a toll both, the fee is 100 colones, but depending on time they do not always charge. Be sure to pay attention to signs that read to San Ramon as you pass the airport and head out. From the airport you must take highway 1 toward Guanacaste. Along the way you will pass several intersections, such as Aetenas, Grecia, Naranjo, and Palmares, but do not exit highway 1 before you reach San Ramon, which is about a 42 kilometer hike out of the airport. As you approach San Ramon you will turn right off of highway 1 and enter the town limits. There will be a large commercial building painted brown, which is a mall as you exit highway 1. Keep straight for the next 1.7 kilometers until the road ends and then make a left, and proceed 200 meters until the next light. Then at the light make a right toward the San Ramon Hospital.
• Then you will be heading out of San Ramon on a secondary road, passing several small towns en route to La Fortuna, such as Los Angeles, Bajos De Los Rodriquez, and Santa Clara. When you get to Bajos De Los Rodriquez you will come up to a fork in the road where you will run into an old voluntary booth (illustrated in the youtube video that we have provided below) where you have the option of making a right or a left. We recommend that you make a right, as the road is more direct and secure, although both will get you to Arenal. After you turn right, you will continue on to a small town called Santa Clara. As you approach Santa Clara town limits, you will need to turn left (you can follow with the youtube video, as we illustrate the turn, avoid the dirt road on the right) Immediately after you turn left, you will notice a soccer field, and then about 60 meters on, you will see a large soccer ball on the right that is difficult to miss. After Santa Clara, the main thing to look out for is a cross point in Javillos. Be sure to continue straight when you get to the cross point, and then continue on to La Fortuna.

Facilities and Amenities

Party Hostel

Solo Traveller

Bedsheets

Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons

Bike Rental

City Tours

Luggage Storage

24 Hour Security

Bar

Cable TV

Currency Exchange

Entirely Non-Smoking

Food/Restaurant

Hot Showers

Laundry

Lounge Area

Wheelchair Accessible

Credit Card Payments

Towels

Curfew: No Curfew

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