Pura Vida Hostel

This is a decent hostel and I had a good stay there. However, it is unfortunately not worthy of its 9/10 rating on most sites.||The best thing about the hostel is the location, as it is a few minutes from Copacabana beach and about 10 minutes from Ipanema beach/Arpoador, as well as being very close to cafés, supermarkets, pharmacies, etc., which is very helpful. I also have no complaints about the accommodation itself - I stayed in a private room, which was good and clean (unfortunately don’t know about the shared rooms ).||However, on the social/activity front the hostel did not live up to expectations. I appreciate that I visited Rio in the off-season, which obviously affects the social side of things, but the hostel still did not do enough in my opinion. For example, the organisation of the free tours was completely inadequate, with most tours starting half an hour or an hour later than the official time, and little effort made by the tour guide to speak to guests and encourage them to come, other than the occasional message in the WhatsApp group. As a result, on multiple occasions the free tour attendees consisted only of hostel staff, since it was so difficult for guests to figure out how to join. As for the paid activities, information about these was often provided extremely last-minute, with a WhatsApp message being sent only half an hour before the activity began, making it very difficult to plan in advance and join these excursions. Finally, evening events at the hostel bar were often equally disorganised, e.g. dance classes starting an hour after they were meant to, and no effort made by the hostel to encourage guests to meet each other (e.g. I know of other hostels with a ‘welcome drinks’ every evening for guests to get to know each other). This makes it especially difficult for solo travellers like myself. From a hostel that brands itself as the best party hostel in Rio, I expected far more - especially considering that Pura Vida is one of the more expensive hostels in the city. Moreover, I am not the only one with this opinion - multiple guests whom I met there decided to move to other hostels after a couple of days since they also found the social scene very limited and the hostel to not be worth the money. ||Overall, my stay in Rio was still positive, and Pura Vida was not a bad place to stay, but I believe travellers (especially solo ones) should be aware of these issues, and I sincerely hope that the hostel takes my feedback regarding the free tours, paid activities and general social scene on board.

A very good hostel to stay when visiting Rio de Janeiro. The location in Copacobana is ideal, the rooms are clean, the staff is great and the whole hostel is very well organised. There are a lot of cool tours and activities you can follow. It’s very easy to meet new people but also to do your own thing. So would definitely recommend!

This was the best place I've stayed in Rio de Janeiro. The excellent location, affordable dorms and truly helpful and lovely staff make this place an amazing stay! I particularly interacted with Daniel and Larissa, who were both very friendly, cheerful and kind. I wish I had spent more time at the hostel itself because it is a super fun and happening place, but in the little time I was there the staff were very accommodating (e.g. with the luggage after check out) and with local tours (e.g. the beach tour during sunset). I'll highly recommend Pura Vida, and I'll certainly come back here if I'm visiting Rio.

Amazingly fun hostel. I stayed here for two weeks and wish I could have stayed longer. There are events on all the time, you will never be bored. All of this is made even better by the drinks at the bar! The caipirinhas they make are second to none. Shout out to Ana, she makes them the best! If you get the chance to come to Pura Vida make sure you order a caipirinha bucket from her. You won't be disappointed!

great place to meet people! lively atmosphere and staff were nice and helpful. good location in copacabana (it’s a little walk up a favela but totally safe)

The hostel was clean and had a great atmosphere. The location is fantastic—close to plenty of restaurants and just a short walk from the beach. The beds were comfortable, and the kitchen was spotless. What truly stood out, though, was the incredible staff. Leo, Nina, Mateus, and Daniel were amazing—always friendly, helpful, and welcoming. They really made the stay special.

This hostel is excellent and very social. I stayed with a friend during the carnival, and we had a fantastic experience. Our private room was great, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the staff were lovely. The hostel organized daily activities and shared them via WhatsApp, ensuring it was easy to meet new people and always having something to do.||The location is also ideal, just a five-minute walk from Copacabana Beach. Michele was exceptional, she helped me with several requests in a personable and professional manner, going above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable. I truly appreciate all her help. I would definitely stay here again - in fact, I’m already planning to!

My brother and I were meant to stay here for 5 days but ended up extending to 7 because we were loving Rio so much. We met some really fun people and made great connections before we even checked into our room. The volunteer staff running tours and working the bar were excellent. If you’re into surfing they have some good boards you can rent out for a very reasonable price. Great location, 15 mins walk from Ipanema. If I’m ever back in Rio this is where I’ll be.