I stayed in this hostel back in 2022 for about a month and it was absolutely amazing. I always wanted to write a glowing review for them, but time and circumstances got away with me and I never got to. But now that I have this blog, I figured I may as well make a post and share it everywhere!
A quick search on Booking.com – where I first found them – shows that they’re still operating, and still providing amazing service to their guests. From the pictures, it looks like they’ve made a few cool changes, too. More on that later, though.
So what’s this place called? It’s…
Casa Samay in Cozumel Mexico
And in my opinion, they are the best hostel in Cozumel. Booking.com shows them at a 9.5 rating currently, and it’s very representative of their customer service and amenities. The couple who run it, Ara and Diego, are professional and personable: they often go above and beyond for their guests; they offer excellent advice; they’re amazing hosts and supports for their volunteers; and they’re very easy to reach by Whatsapp if there’s ever any questions or issues.
The hostel itself is located about 7 blocks from the ferry in a very quiet and peaceful area. How quiet? Well, I stayed there during the carnival, and the noise from the parties did not make it back to the hostel area. So even though most people were probably partying late into the night, I was able to fall asleep at 10pm and get a good nights rest.
So if you’re looking for a peaceful place to stay, this is a good option. Some of the recent reviews say this is still the case, too.
In terms of amenities, this hostel has:
- a fully-equipped kitchen (minus an oven – stovetop only)
- cupboard space to store your food in kitchen, as well as space in a fridge
- lockable lockers in the dorm rooms (fit an average backpack)
- a female-only dorm room (no bunk beds)
- cctv in the common areas that Ara and Diego check often
- free filtered water
- two common bathrooms that each have showers
- outdoor space to gather and sit
- a front gate that’s always locked, and a front door that gets locked at night/when everyone is out
- locks on every room door (you get a key to your room, the front door, and the front gate)
- bike rentals (for an extra fee)
- snorkel and flipper rentals (for an extra fee)
- lockers to store your bags after check out (so you can go to activities and come back for them)
- free high speed wifi (it’s very fast, too!)
- A beautiful garden out front
As you can see, they offer quite a bit at their hostel! Plus, Ara and Diego (or their volunteers) are commonly around at least once or twice a day to tend to things and welcome arrivals. And if you reach out to them on Whatsapp, they are very responsive. They truly care about their guests and want everyone to have a great time. When I said their customer service was top notch – I meant it!
It also looks like they’ve improved their booking options since I stayed there.
The Room Types They Offer Are…
- Double Bed Private Rooms (x3)
- Dorm (4 beds, bunkbed style)
- Female-only Dorm (3 beds, no bunkbeds)
Personally, I had the chance to stay in one of the private rooms, as well as the female-only dorm.
Both dorms have air conditioning, although the single rooms do not. HOWEVER – Diego has done a lot of maintenance on the hostel to prevent heat from getting in, so it is okay as long as you’re used to the heat (fun fact: he created much of the art at the hostel, too!).
PLUS: the single rooms all have amazing high-powered fans in them. If you’re someone who loves sleeping to the sound of white noise, then these fans are heaven-sent and block out almost any other sound. They also work well to help keep you cool at night.
Places Around the Hostel
Even though it’s not in the shore area, there are still a lot of great places nearby! Like:
- An Italian pasta restaurant
- A pizza chain restaurant
- the local market (for fresh fish, veggies, and fruits as well as other things like backpacks and shoes)
- two grocery stores (Super Aki and Soriana)
- two great local chicken places
- and many other shops/restaurants, including one place that sells herbal tea/specialty soaps/crystals/incense
Or if you’re just looking for something quick: there’s also an Oxxo near the Super Aki (about a 5 minute walk).
Ara and Diego will be able to give you directions and recommendations when you’re there, and I highly suggest asking as things might have changed since I stayed! From looking at the map, though, it looks like many of the above options are still around.
And if you want to watch the sunset on the shore, it’s only about 5-10 minutes walk. Even as a solo female traveler, I felt pretty safe making this walk just before and after sunset each day.
Extra Tips to Make the Most of your Stay
Ask Ara and Diego about snorkeling excursions. I’m unsure if they still have the same connections, but when I stayed there they had negotiated a special price with a local snorkeling company. While I’m not a water person (ironic, I know), everyone else that tried this company loved their experience. Keep in mind, though: one of the spots they go to (El Cielo I think) requires no chemicals (aka, no sunscreen), so make sure you bring a white cotton long-sleeve shirt with you to prevent the sunburns.
I say that because everyone came back sunburnt. BUT they also had a great time. If you DO forget to bring a shirt and get burnt, then you could always try to apply some coconut oil to the burns after sundown (never apply it in the sun as its an oil). I found that it helped me heal a lot overnight (a thin layer seeps into the skin by morning), and then a good diet (lots of veggies/fruits) plus adequate hydration helped even more.
Please check my disclosure here! Nothing in this post constitutes medical advice and I am not a medical professional – this is just my personal experience.
Another thing to ask them about is the local chicken places. Both spots have great prices, great customer service, and different sides that come with the chicken. I highly recommend bringing it back to the hostel so that you can use utensils and a plate – it can get messy, but it tastes great!
Many of their guests are from Europe, too, so there are often lots of chances to meet people with different cultural backgrounds! Common among everyone that I met there, though, was a desire for a peaceful place to rest and explore the island. So if you’re into partying and night life, Casa Samay hostel probably isn’t the best fit.
And if you love listening to birdsong, there are a bunch of birds that gather in the trees on the main road near Casa Samay around 6pm-7pm. The trees are in the divider between the directions; as soon as you get close to the turnoff for the hostel, you’ll hear them (they’re pretty loud). It seemed consistent every day, and I always thought the sound went well with the colors of the sunset.
Conclusions
I know it can sometimes be hard to decide on a place when looking at all those booking sites. That’s why reviews come in handy. And back when I was deciding where to stay on Cozumel, Casa Samay was the only hostel that had consistently high reviews, a quiet atmosphere, and a kitchen. I wasn’t too familiar with hostels, so all those things were important to me.
Booking was a smooth process, and extending my stay with them in person was even easier. Make sure to check your email or texts for instructions on how to check in, and if you have any issues at arrival: try to message them on Whatsapp.
If you’re looking for a peaceful spot to stay, a place with great customer service, or even just a female-only dorm on Cozumel, then I highly recommend Casa Samay. Plus by staying here, you’re supporting a local business – Ara and Diego are entrepreneurs. They put a lot of heart and soul into running this hostel and it shows!