La Botella de Leche party hostel in Tamarindo beach Costa Rica

La Botella de Leche is an amazing 5 star hostel located in beautiful Tamarindo beach Costa Rica.  From the funky cow décor to the bean bag common room; my initial impression was that this isn’t your average hostel filled with rules and regulations.  This was a paradise for the free spirit; a special place where travelers from all over the world can make best friends over night and join a new family forever: a place where memories will never be lost and stories will go on being told forever.

So what makes a 5 star hostel anyways?  Well to start with, the staff is definitely one of the key components.  From the first impression to the last, the staff lay down the foundation of what that hostels experience will be all about.  LaBotella de Leche is run by a family from Argentina.  The owner Mariana is a wonderful lady who will help you with all of your travel plans from booking shuttles to your next hostel.  From the three cool brothers, the 4 dogs and 2 cats, to the little new born baby; the sense of family has a beautiful presence here.  I was told by Wences one of the brothers, who is the best surf instructor in Tamarindo and runs La Botella de Leche Surf school, which I highly recommend and is located in front of The 70s Surf Shop on the main drag; the history behind La Botella.  The mother Mariana said one day out of the blue “I want to open a hostel like they have in Europe here in Tamarindo”.  Wences quickly replied that “a place where people share rooms will never work here in Costa Rica”.  As the story goes, on the very first day they opened La Botella they filled every bed.  As in most cases, mother always knows best.

As for the name La Botella de Leche, which translates to The Bottle of Milk, a very different name for a hostel; I was told it was a recurring theme that would pop up everywhere and seemed fitting for her.  My take on it is the following; when you see the old school bottles of milk, the first thing you inevitably think of is the family home; and that is exactly what La Botella is all about.  A family home with an open door and a warm welcome: simply put, a very special place.

LaBotella de Leche has become my second favorite hostel in the entire world: coming in second only to the legendary Pink Palace in Corfu Greece; and beating out L’auberge Palau in Barcelona, for my prior number 2 spot.   If you’re lucky, when you travel you will find a place in a distant land that feels like home.  A place that is hard to leave because the present moment in time feels so perfect.  La Botella de Leche is just such a place and I was very fortunate to spend 2 long weeks there.  I will definitely be adding more stories about the wonderful friends I made while staying there and the parties that took place; so stayed tuned for more upcoming tales from this one of a kind Hostel.

The botella de Leche does take reservations, so if you would like the contact email; please leave me a comment and I will be sure to pass it along to you, or you can go to http://labotelladeleche.com/ for more information.