The location was beautiful as it was right on the water and the hostel had beautiful hammocks to relax in. Everyone was really friendly too! Highly recommend

Stayed in May 2025

Things to know - Cash only (no credit cards), Only cold water showers (typical at this price point), they didn’t respond to messages on the booking platform about how to get there from Isla Colon (take a water taxi for $5, plenty during the day), Rooms are basic, but comfortable.

Cash only - No ATMS on Island, Medium firm bed, strong fan, 2 communal kitchens, amazing view on the communal porch with tables and hammocks, staff is super nice, they were able to accommodate a special request, cleaned my room halfway through my week stay. Decent WiFi in room, but better signal in the communal space. Snorkel tours available. Nearby small restaurants and 2 small grocery stores(most only cash). Place is clean (except for the the 2 filthy kitchen towels were not changed from Friday until Wednesday)

Stayed in May 2025

Facilities were really good - exactly as described and well kept. Room was small, but fine and fan kept us cool. Bathroom was also small but well maintained and kept clean. Location is quiet and relaxed, the perfect escape from Bocas.

Stayed in April 2025

No hot water or WiFi in our room. No atm or pharmacy on the island. Coffee costs $1.

Very comfortable and nice common area. The kitchen was well equipped. Room was small but perfect. They offer great tours and water taxis whenever you need.

Stayed in March 2025

Nice volunteers. Well equiped kitchen. Good located on the island. Nice commen area

Stayed in February 2025

This review has been hidden because it doesn't meet our guidelines.

Nothing.

The over the water terrace is great. Also, the tiny town in which the hostel is located truely makes you feel like a visitor, contrary to Bocas town which is much more touristy.

Stayed in February 2025

Not on the main island and the water In front of the hostel was not clear so we didn’t want to swim off the dock

The Hamacas and the proximity to the trail to the beach and other side of the island. There was a sloth on the trail to the beach. There are restaurants bars and convenient stores near by. Excellent chicken wings across from convenient store.

Stayed in February 2025

The shared bathroom was adequate but the hand basin and the toilet are a bit rickerty. One gets the impression that sometime soon there could be an inconvenient breakge or failure there. A bit of preventative maintenance needed.

Location right on the water was great. It was also only a short walk to the track across the island to Wizard Beach. Room was adequate and the bed comfortable. Staff were friendly and helpful. The stove had good strong gas and good skillets and cooking pots and utensils. Also good to have toasters and blender. The tables out overlooking the water and the hammocks were great.

Stayed in February 2025

There could be more kitchen utensils. And there was one cockroach in my room...

Nice hostel in Bastimentos! The very friendly host who helped me with everything. Feel like a friend <3 The hostel is on the sea and the view was amazing. I had rainy days (I spent them on a hammock, relaxing <3 ) and the humidity in the room was high, but it wasn't the reason for the hostel. Note that you cannot bring your own alcoholic beverages to the hostel, but fortunately they have a bar :D

Stayed in January 2025

There is a bar next to it that plays really loud music in the evening, even if its empty,but not past 10pm. As i understand the owners are battling to get the music stopped so its not their fault just something to be aware of if you want a quiet evening.

Awesome place with great views! Staff were really nice and helpful. The room was nice and there are lots of options for tours and rentals

Stayed in November 2024

Not the fault of El Jaguar but not a heap to do in Old Bank for a solo traveller, I would only recommend one day to go I wizard beach/ do tours

Lovely simple rustic vibe, the hammocks and tables in the common deck were lovely, kitchen was clean and well stocked, staff were helpful

Stayed in May 2024

Directly at the water, nice view! Good vibes

Stayed in February 2024

The price of the “deluxe room” the room 10 and 11 I think, they were really expensive for what if offers, it’s a common room with common blankets, a common bathroom like the others, at least I would have liked better blankets for the bed, so I wouldn’t recommend paying so much for theses rooms

It was a nice place, with nice staff, a good location good AC

Stayed in January 2024

No hot water but they have ac! It was a win win!

Great staff!

Stayed in September 2023

The room is very small and the shower is very cold (not a problem). The kitchen is fully equipped but the pans are all old and in need of replacement. The owner and his son were only friendly when they still thought they could sell us a tour. A soon as they heard we went with someone else the friendliness was over. We didn’t like Bastimentos very much, weird atmosphere and lots of drunk locals.

Although we were not a big fan of Bastimentos we did like the hostal being right on the water. Good working AC.

Stayed in September 2023

The location is perfect, above the sea overlooking the bay. We loved staying in the little village comparing to Bocas Town. The rooms are basic but it really does not matter given the great atmosphere. Great kitchen open to sea view.

Stayed in August 2023

Not much to do on the island, no place to go to the beach near the hostel

Private room

Stayed in June 2023

Great staff, basic accomodation but great value for money.

Stayed in May 2023

The bedroom was nice, but the sea view they promised on booking was actually facing the exact spot where the sewage is dumped on the sea water. You notice that there's no sewage system in the island, that's why it is not safe to drink or cook with the water from the tap. We bought bottled water for everything, which made the stay more expensive than it already was. The staff was mostly nice but some of them didn't seem very keen to help. Also, wifi only works in the main living room which is next to the kitchen and where the boats arrive/leave. It doesn't work in the bedrooms. Boat Taxis are mandatory to go absolutely anywhere it costs $6, which it seems pricey for the distances they cover. El Jaguar is close to the Wizard Beach, you may go on foot (20min walk) but if you want to go to Red Frog, then you might need to get a boat taxi.

The hostel El Jaguar is a great place to stay. My husband and I had a great time there. The view from the hostel deck is stunning, sometimes at night you can spot some manta rays swimming next to the hostel.

Stayed in March 2023

The typical things that you would see in a hostel like people not cleaning their dishes and leaving it in the sink.

beautiful surroundings. Hamocks on the pier, bar area including kitchen for own cooking. Great value.

Stayed in April 2023

Kitchen wasn't great or consistently cleaned

Location was great! Definitely recommend staying here for a few nights over a bocas town hostel. The hammocks and deck was also lovely to relax

Stayed in March 2023

Can be a bit noisy in the mornings

Amazing location and friendly price

Stayed in March 2023

None of the tours start from there (if you book tours in bocas town, you always have to pay forr a water taxi to go there - this is not hostal's fault, though. Just have in mind that you will need to plan your tours in advance. The hostal does offer some tours and i guess they do pick you up from there). The other annoying thing for me were sand flies (or some other insects) that were biting me for two nights in a row. It was fine the first night and I am not sure what happened the other two nights, but in the morning I woke up full of bites from bugs that itch like crazy.

It was calm and at night it was nice to fall asleep to the sound of the waves. The staff was nice and very helpful, there are two kitchen's in the common area whefe you can prepare food or store it in one of the fridges. The common area was nice too, right on the water and there's a nice view to other islands from there. The room is simple, but clean and enough to spend the night as I was out during the day. It's also easy to get a water taxi from there as they know that guests need to get a ride to bocas town and always pass by and check if anyone needs a ride. They pass by on a regular basis (especily in the morning or during the day) all you need to do is wait for a few minutes. The town is very small, not much to do there. You need to take water taxis to get to places. You can walk to Wizzard beach which is very nice, but the road was very muddy when I was there and the beach was not the best for swimming as there were lots of vawes. It would be suitable for surfing though.

Stayed in March 2023