Reviews of Ch'i Bocól Community Hostel

Thank you for the honest feedback. We are glad you enjoyed your time here. Concerning the portion sizes, this is something that we don't typically hear from our guests, but if we did we would be happy to provide more food as there is almost always something else to eat. Personally I am 1.93m and 90 kilos, and the meals are enough for me. Concerning the beds in the dorms, this is something that we are aware of and we plan on fixing very soon. We have a new dorm room that will be opened very soon, and as soon as it is ready we plan on remodeling the dorm that you were in, which will include purchasing all brand new high quality mattresses. Thanks again for the feedback, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Guatemala.

Thank you for the honest feedback. We are glad you enjoyed your time here. Concerning the portion sizes, this is something that we don't typically hear from our guests, but if we did we would be happy to provide more food as there i… Show more

Lauren, Thank you for the honest review. I'm sorry to hear that you felt the prices were not transparent or fair. We have put a lot of consideration into making sure that our prices are competitive and fair while also being able to earn enough to maintain the property and pay our workers a fair wage. I'll be happy to respond to each of your concerns to explain why we have priced things the way we have. First, concerning the hike to Semuc Champey: The hike to Semuc Champey is a feature of our tour. It includes scenic views of the mountains. It passes by many of the local mayan peoples houses. It gives you the opportunity to see how the local people live their lives here, and what it takes for them to get to and from their own houses. Guided hikes are tours that people pay for all over the country. The mirador near Flores. Acatenango in Antigua. The 3 day hike from Xela to San Pedro. We have designed our tour to include the hike because we appeal to the type of traveler that enjoys hiking. Yes, there are other hotels in the area that offer a tour for less, and yes they include transportation - because they have to. It would take 5 to 6 hours for people to hike from Lanquin to Semuc Champey. We are literally the only accommodation in the area that is situated in a location that allows for a hike in. All the others require transportation because a hike isn't possible. Concerning the kitchen - it is stated on the booking page that our kitchen isn't available for guest use. Yes we charge for hot water because it is very expensive to bring the propane tanks in and out due to our remote location. Yes its would be possible to use a kettle to heat water but they are extremely inefficient and use a ton of electricity, which doesn't make sense as we are completely off grid and rely 100% on solar for our electricity. Concerning the restaurant - the meals are not vegan. They are vegetarian. We ourselves are not vegetarian but we offer vegetarian meals because so many people that come here are vegetarian, and also because its the only way we can really make sure the food we are serving you is clean and safe. Purchasing meat from the local market is questionable to begin with as it is hung up on display in an open air environment (with lots of flies). Then it would have to be put on a truck for 30 minutes, and then carried through the jungle for 30 minutes before it reached us. Its just not a sanitary option. And to say that we don't have protein options is untrue - we offer lots of protein, just no meat. Concerning the ride back to Lanquin - our booking page says that we offer shuttles for a fee. The list of shuttles and prices that is hung at reception literally starts with "Lanquin - Q50". Yes we cover the cost of the ride from Lanquin to the drop off point each evening at 6pm. We do this for your convenience and safety, as well as making things logistically easier by reducing the number of individual trips we have of people making their way here. In return, we ask guests to pay for the truck ride out when they leave. This is pretty standard everywhere in the country, and the rest of the world for that matter. There might be a few exceptions here or there, but typically your hotel doesn't offer you a free taxi ride to the bus station when you are ready to leave. The booking page also mentions the hike to get here. Our first photo literally says "A 30 minute hike to get to a secluded paradise". And in addition we sent you multiple emails before your arrive to confirm that you knew about the hike before arriving, but you never read them or responded. In your defense booking has made this information hard to find as it seems almost hidden at the bottom of the page. We have contacted them several times asking that this is changed, but they refuse to do so. In conclusion, we want to make sure that all of our pricing is not only fair, but is well understood. We wish you the best on your ongoing travels.

Lauren, Thank you for the honest review. I'm sorry to hear that you felt the prices were not transparent or fair. We have put a lot of consideration into making sure that our prices are competitive and fair while also being able to e… Show more

Thank you for the honest review. I would assume that your comment about knowing more details about the way to the hostel is likely about the bridge that is in disrepair. Good news! After months of working toward a solution, the bridge was repaired today. We will continue working with the community leaders on this side of the river until we can get the bridge completely redone (which will be good for 30 years). Until that happens, we have done what we can to make it as safe as possible. Thanks again for the honest feedback, and we hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Guatemala.

Thank you for the honest review. I would assume that your comment about knowing more details about the way to the hostel is likely about the bridge that is in disrepair. Good news! After months of working toward a solution, the bridge wa… Show more

Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate you pointing out the conflicting information you saw online and in our welcome email concerning kitchen use. We immediately corrected it as we want to make sure that all of our guests understand that our kitchen is temporarily closed for guest use. Concerning the bridge we agree that it is in need of repair. We have met with the municipality of Lanquin to inquire as to the legal process that we need to go through to get them to repair the bridge, and just this week we met with the Elders in the Community who will be taking the first steps needed to get the municipality to fix the bridge. That process will likely take a while, so for now we have purchased all of the wood necessary to patch the bridge and make it safe until the municipality repairs it. The community elders have agreed to find volunteers to make the repairs, and we are hoping that it gets done within the next few weeks. Thanks again for the feedback and we hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

Thank you for your feedback. We appreciate you pointing out the conflicting information you saw online and in our welcome email concerning kitchen use. We immediately corrected it as we want to make sure that all of our guests understand … Show more

Thanks for the feedback David. We are working on a solution concerning the hike to get up to the dorms. And we agree that our manager was often difficult to locate on the property. We (the owners) have returned to the property and will be here indefinitely, likely several years. We have also replaced the manager that was here when you visited with someone that is much easier to find when necessary. Thanks again and we hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

Thanks for the feedback David. We are working on a solution concerning the hike to get up to the dorms. And we agree that our manager was often difficult to locate on the property. We (the owners) have returned to the property and will b… Show more

Thanks for the feedback. We are currently building new dorms rooms that should be finished within the next few weeks. We will be purchasing brand new mattresses for all of the beds, and then closing the old dorms so that we can renovate them. Thanks again and we hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

Thanks for the feedback. We are currently building new dorms rooms that should be finished within the next few weeks. We will be purchasing brand new mattresses for all of the beds, and then closing the old dorms so that we can renovate t… Show more