Makako was great for meeting other travelers. We stayed in the private room which had a full bed, tv, it's own air conditioning unit, large closet space and a small loveseat for lounging. We used the shared bathroom. There's a front and back patio that's completely outdoors so it can get quite hot at times. The shared space had a dining table and a few sofas and lounging chairs. There was air conditioning in the shared space but it didn't run well at times (especially with people coming in and out all the time). The hostel's furniture and amenities are a little run down, but the couple running the hostel were extremely nice and helpful in finding things to do in Cartagena. We went to Playa De Bocagrande with the couple running the hostel and another couple and we had a blast. We were able to walk everywhere from Makako without too much of an issue (an Exito supermarket is closeby, great restaurants, Clock Tower).

The worst kind of catfish. While the price might be enticing, the savings is not worth the horror. “Under new management” must be code for abandoned for several months. From ripped mattresses, odors of damp and old furniture, rusty lockers, door handles that are literally detached, and a toilet that looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in over 10 years... just like the hostel itself. A budget hotel does not need to be synonymous with filthy and unkempt. Additionally, I’m not sure why this is labeled an LGBT hotel? There isn’t anything more inclusive about this establishment than any other hostel around. Cartagena has plenty of hostels that are beautiful for just $5 USD more.

2nd floor walk up with 2 bathrooms, 3 dorms and 1 private room. One of the dorm rooms is right in the common area so that could be a bit loud at times. There's laundry service and lockers in the dorm rooms. Wifi is great in the common area but in the rooms further away, the connection is a bit choppy. The facility overall is very basic, but everything was working fine. What makes this place truly phenomenal was the people: The staff are super helpful and welcoming; they organize events and actually hang out / chat with the guests. Other travelers hangout at the common area often and you can easily talk to others there. One thing to note, it's cash only!

The staff here were very friendly although they had limited English. The air conditioning comes on at 7pm but it takes a while to cool the room down. There is a nice common area but it is usually a little warm, even with the fans and air conditioning. It is in an incredible location right in the old town of Cartagena and everything is just a short walk away. For the price, it was excellent.

I had a perfect stay at this hostel. The best think about Makako is the staff. They are passionate about taking care of the travelers that pass by, always smiling, and working really hard to make the place look nice. Ask about laundry service if you need it done, otherwise there's a lavandería right down the street. But the list goes on from there. Free coffee, happy hour, well-equipped kitchen (sharp knives, blender, waffle maker, microwave?!), a common area where they keep the AC on all day, a patio facing the street for smoking, great location, and the hostel is kept very clean. Thank you chicas for making me feel at home.

I stayed 6 nights at the Hostle and had a great time there. I can highly recommed the Hostle.The staff is always around, even goes out to party with you and is very helpful and sympathic. They have a volunteer who is also great and supportive in any way! Atmosphere is pretty good, easy to meet people, especially in the airconditioned livingroom ;) during the Night the hostel is looked (you ring the bell and they open the door, you can not hear the bell in the dorms), so your stuff is save there, also during the night. If you dont have a deep sleep i would recomment the 6 bed dorm, as it is not next to the living room. Its not the cleanest hostel, but if that doesnt bother you, you will have a good time there :)

All I can say is it'll be great if this is exactly what you want. Non-English speaking staff, which I like because it forces me to practice Spanish and they were very engaging and helpful when I could understand them. Accomodations are what you'd expect for the price and the chill out vibe was a nice contrast to the insanity of the city. Also, you're close enough to walk to an area with more locals where food is reasonably priced and they don't try to rip tobogganing like they do everywhere else. Fit my needs perfectly but if you want to party hard and find groups to rove the streets with, it's probably not your spot.

Good for relaxing: hammocks for the morning/evening, very comfy and relaxed common room with aircon for the hot midday. About 30k for a dorm. No party vibe. No pot smoking either, a first for the hostels I've tried in Colombia. If you want a quiet, central hostel, this is a good place.

Unless you like smoking and have no interest in hygiene. The room was dirty. Used sheets, water bottles and bags of clothes ( not belonging to any of the people in the dorm) in the room. Sheets were stained, pillows and mattresses in desperate need of replacing. The bathroom smelt of urine and the Sink was falling off the wall. The kitchen was a health hazard as were most of the electrical sockets. But if none of that matters to you, the staff ( also the owners) are nice and the location is great for the old town.