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Reviews of Madre Selva Hostel

Calle Margarita, Cocles, 70403 Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

#76 of 83 hotels in Puerto Viejo

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 91 hostel reviews

8.4

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    8.2

  • Comfort

    8.4

  • Location

    8.0

  • Facilities

    8.1

  • Staff

    9.1

  • Value for money

    8.6

  • Free Wifi

    9.0

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: March 7, 2025

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Family Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The location was nice, as we saw different animals right from our room.

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: January 7, 2025

    8.0
    very affordable, very safe, nice and quiet and friendly.
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    WiFi gets a bit slow. A hot shower goes a long way.

    Friendly staff, clean simple rooms and common areas.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: December 15, 2024

    9.0
    Very good if you go by car and don’t want to be in the town.
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Double Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Outdoor couches smelled a little bad because of the humidity/rain.

    Into the nature, nice decorated, good place to chill, one of the best private rooms with toilet we had in Costa Rica

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: May 13, 2024

    8.0
    Basic accommodation but good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The staff could focus a little more on cleaning, the kitchen needs a deep clean and the bathrooms weren't touched while I was there, toilet paper overflowing from the bins

    Comfortable bed, jungle location so felt very in nature.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: May 12, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The shared showers can use some upgrading as the doors are rusty. The shared areas need to be cleaned more frequently.

    It keeps with the jungle theme. Lots of plants and there were two friendly cats. The room was spacious and bed was comfy.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: April 17, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Very helpful and friendly staff, great jungle location, nice atmosphere and decoration

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: March 1, 2024

    7.0
    Decent for a budget place to stay
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bunk 12 Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Every toilet had turds floating in them. The communal dorm was super hot but that’s expected. The beds were decent but the pillows were pathetic. They were basically just cotton swabs stuffed into an airplane sized pillow case. It ended up hurting my neck the next morning.

    Good common areas, as much fresh filtered water as you need. Decent communal kitchen. Fruit growing on tree around the property. Staff is super friendly and helpful. They have Netflix if you feel homesick

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: February 19, 2024

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk 12 Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The Amplitude. Perfect place to organize a Film Screening or some nice cultural event.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: February 19, 2024

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Noise a little bit

    Kitchen, staff team, parking space, the room in general

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: February 7, 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The kitchen could use some love. Not always clean and the pans and so are quite old. Hot water situation could be better. We saw that in the description it was written about bycicles but then when we arrived we rented them as they had none.

    Loved waking up with the sound of the monkey and the nature. Staff was friendly.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: November 28, 2023

    8.0
    One of the best places in Cocles
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk 12 Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 8 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The hostel needs some love right now, but the new management is on it. So but there was some things that could be better, like the kitchen. There is not much stuff and the quality is kind of bad(pans and stuff) But its possible to cook so its ok ;) Also in the dorm were so many mosquitos, that sleeping was not possible at some nights. There are no mosquito nets and the doors don't close properly. I would in general recomend to travel with a mosquito net in costa rica...

    Very chill place with lots of artsy details. Its in the middle of the jungle what is beautiful. You can see a lot of animals and listen to the forest concert. The path from the mainroad up to the hostel(10min walk) was the highlight of my day. Such a beautiful forestwalk. People were nice and helpful. I spent my last night in a private room. They are beautiful and have mosquito nets!!!

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: September 4, 2023

    7.0
    Very nice share house
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Way to hot the room that we got, we had a fan but a deumidifier would have been better

    That was in the middle of the jungle

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: July 13, 2023

    8.0
    Cocles Madre Selva
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The shared shower and bathroom, is not comfortable

    The room was nice and clean, the staff are friendly, the sounds of nature are relaxing

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: March 27, 2023

    7.0
    great price
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Double Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    cleanliness, but it is acceptable

    quiet nice place

    Stayed in March 2023

  • Reviewed: March 27, 2023

    7.0
    you are getting what you pay for
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    the shower was not as clean as you would like

    quiet place, great staff

    Stayed in March 2023

  • Reviewed: March 26, 2023

    8.0
    nice place and most of the staffs are very nice and helpful, except..
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk 12 Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    location is far from the main road with unpaved road

    kitchen is open for every one, quiet night

    Stayed in March 2023

  • Reviewed: December 22, 2022

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    /

    nice atmosphere friendly people

    Stayed in December 2022

  • Reviewed: November 5, 2022

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The kitchen could have some more things to share, like some more glasses, some salt/pepper etc. One night the water was out, and the smell became a little bit strong with the many people using the bath.. also, when there was a problem with the toilets or the kitchen in the evening, the staff just let it like that until the facillity management came the next morning.

    Hostel in the middle of the jungle. Nice chill-out area, the double room were nice and clean. The staff helped us whenever there were questions. Keep in mind, that you are in the jungle - electricity went out once fore some hours, which didn't bother us. They cleaned the public bathrooms / kitchen every morning.

    Stayed in November 2022

  • Reviewed: July 21, 2022

    9.0
    Very pleasant stay!
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Family Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    The highway there was in poor condition

    Friendly, helpful staff, great cook, cute place, very pleasant stay

    Stayed in June 2022

  • Reviewed: June 30, 2022

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Friendly hostel with a great location, beach, supermarkets and bakery are close. It's a chill place in the jungle, we saw toucans and monkeys. Nice room and shared kitchen.

    Stayed in June 2022

  • Reviewed: June 16, 2022

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Private Bathroom
    • Stayed 1 night

    Funny design, lots of common area, friendly reception

    Stayed in June 2022

  • Reviewed: May 20, 2022

    9.0
    Wonderful
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The only issue for me was the fact my private room was right next to the kitchen so sometimes late at night or early morning I could hear people talking which disturbed my sleep but that's no fault of the hostel.

    What I love most is how close the hostel is to nature -- it's an escape from places like Puerto but still close you can easily get to supermarkets, the beach, etc. I love Anna the cleaner! She is extremely sweet and so is Sofi and Andres who manage the hostel. There's also plenty of space to chill, hangout, do work, watch movies in the "boat" which I loved to hangout with the friends i made at the hostel.

    Stayed in April 2022

  • Reviewed: May 5, 2022

    7.0
    good stay in cocles
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk 12 Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 6 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    the kitchen had a permanently horrible smell but was cleaned every day by staff. the beds had mosquito nets and the doors were kept open 24/7 and didn’t ever shut properly. the bikes were good quality but kind of expensive compared to everywhere else, and seeing as it’s pretty far from puerto viejo it would be nice to have a bit of a discount if you have paid to stay. simple fixes could make this place perfect

    it was a colourful and simple stay. the beds were comfy and there were lockers. a shared kitchen helped budget my stay at Costa Rica and you could rent bikes here. very close to cocles beach which was nice.

    Stayed in April 2022

  • Reviewed: March 21, 2025

    5.0
    Not a good experience
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Double Room with Shared Bathroom
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Very expensive for what is offered. We paid 45 dollars per night in a private room with a shared bathroom. There was no water between 2 PM and 7 AM, apparently due to an external problem in water supply, but we were only informed by that after completing the check-in. The kitchen is available for usage in a very limited time, you cannot use it after 9 PM. When there is water, you cannot expect to have a hot shower. There is no ammenities provided (e.g. soap), the laundry was not available during our stay. Do not recommend.

    Very friendly staff! It's located near Playa Cocles, 10 min walking, and it's easy to explore other beaches in the surrounding area if you rent a bike (which can be provided/facilitated by the staff)

    Stayed in March 2025

Showing 1 - 25

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