Aquarela Do Leme Hostel

I’ve been traveling for 2 1/2 months now through South America, Africa, the Middle East, and now Eastern Europe. Aquarela do Lema was the best hostel experience I’ve had by far. I stayed in both the dorms and a private room and both were incredibly clean and comfortable. The hammocks on the balconies were a nice touch. The owners are wonderful. Their children are often playing in the lobby which creates a very nice homie feel. The atmosphere was very social. Breakfast was great. And best of all the staff was really helpful.

Great hostel that attracts a great mix of guests that all seemed to be on the page. It wasn't noisy despite being in a mixed dorm. Every guest I met was super nice! I've never had that type of experience in a hostel before. The rooms were great, staff were helpful, and having a morning breakfast available was a great option. I found it safe to walk up and down the steep hill to end from the hostel which was about 350m from the boardwalk to the hostel. I would definitely go back to stay there again!

The hostel is indeed really clean, tidy, has a great vibe and an awesome view! However I must mention that being in a community requires more responsibility and upfront communication from the hostel to the guests. To go up the hill, uber cars are allowed, but uber motos are NOT. It makes absolute sense that the community has such rules, but the hostel should absolutely not expect guests to know that or count on uber motos drivers knowing that. This type of information should be given at least during the check-in, but I had to find out directly from a community person shouting at the uber moto. This seriously impacted an experience that could've been great and I sincerely hope the hostel takes this in consideration for the future so it doesn't happen to any other guests.

This is a very comfortable hostel, I came back here 3 times during my stay in Rio. The beds just offer more comfort and privacy compared to most other hostels I've been to. The guys and girls at reception are very helpful and they do their best to make you feel at home. The location is quite nice even though the hike up the hill is somewhat steep. The neighbourhood is a favela but feels (and is!) safe. The only remark I had is that you do get the feeling the owners (Europeans) have quite a commercial focus (which they can do, of course, it's a free market after all!). For some of the activities I did get the feeling it was overpriced. But besides that, I well recommend this place :) Also: WiFi was great. I had a 3h online video training and actually came back to Aquarela to host this training as the work stations and WiFi seemed reliable (and it turned out exactly like it!).

I had the delightful experience of being a guest and volunteer at Aquarela do Leme. I stayed for 1 month total. ||I can sincerely say that the hostel is one of the cleanest, well organised hostels I've stayed at. It's family run and they have a genuine interest in their guests and well-being of staff. ||The free breakfast is incredible with homemade bread and cakes. The shared kitchen is always clean. 24hr reception and common area. The rooftop features occasional DJs, forró and samba lessons. It also has a gym, what more could you ask for!? Also, it's definitely not a party hostel in case you were worried. And they offer tour services and transfers.||In my time there I saw so many guests stay for extended periods and always returning... Even as a volunteer, I saw some of us staying for months and months. ||Thoroughly recommend this hostel!

If you’re a backpacker looking for a place in Rio that feels like home, Aquarela Hostel should be on your list. From the moment you walk in, the staff is welcoming and makes you feel like you’re more than just a guest. It’s a laid-back, friendly vibe that puts you at ease right away.||The rooms and common spaces are super clean—something you really appreciate when you’ve been on the road for a while. The beds are comfortable, so you can actually get a good night’s sleep, and the rooms have everything you need without feeling cramped.||One of the best parts is the rooftop bar, which has an amazing view of the city. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day, meet other travelers, or just enjoy the sunset. And then there’s the breakfast—it’s seriously up there with what you’d expect in a fancy hotel, so you’re set for the day.||Aquarela isn’t just a hostel, it feels like a little home base in Rio, with people who genuinely care about your stay. Definitely worth checking out if you want a comfortable, welcoming place while you explore the city.

Best hostel Ive ever been!!! The environment is amazing, super chill but the free breakfast and good mood of the volunteers and the owners facilitate meeting people. I got some amazing friends I will def meet again back in Europe! The rooms are super spacious, and the beds are quite comfy, with a lot of privacy! Bathrooms are also always super clean and never crowded. They have a WhatsApp group to meet people and do activities together 💫 The owners are amazing, thank you for everything!!!!!

Loved my experience here. It felt very luxurious. The rooms had 8 people in them but it felt like no one else was in the room. Each room had a balcony and every bed had a curtain, fan, lockbox and outlet. It felt so safe in the hostel which was so nice after being in Rio. The hostel is near the top of a huge hill. The shuttle we took dropped is off at the bottom and we walked up the hill with our backpacks perfectly fine. Ubers picked up/ dropped off at the intersection near the top of the hill about a minute from the top. The hostel is gated with a buzzer to get in.

This was my first time staying at a hostel. This one had a beautiful view and the host kept the rooms and bathrooms clean. The breakfast was a huge spread of bread and fruits and coffee. Very nice place to stay.