Rocking J's

It's a little far from town, but if you're okay with a long walk, that's the only downside. The place is covered in all kinds of art—mostly mosaics—but there are paintings on the walls too. The rooms have AC and are comfortable, and you get a lock and a locker to store your stuff. It's also right on the beach! For the value, i think the amenities are great.

The sense of serenity and peace and safety in this place was amazing. We didn’t stay there, but we know of a female friend that stayed there when she needed to upon arriving to Costa Rica and she felt very safe.

TLDR: bedbug hell, but the front desk ladies were very sweet and kind. If you choose a tent and go in with low expectations you’ll be ok. Interior with mosaics was beautiful. This probably would’ve been fine if I had known going into it that it was a hostel where most people stay in tents but it was advertised to me as an ocean view room. We did get a room but it was filthy, and incredibly hot. It was too hot to keep the window closed but the window screen was so torn that anyone could just reach in and unlock the door. The shared bathrooms were also filthy, and cursed- the doors didn’t latch so you had to hold them shut. The showers didn’t drain. The bed is a loft bed which would be fine except the light switch is on the ground floor so you have to climb up a big ladder in pitch darkness, which is frightening. My partner and I ended up fleeing in the middle of the night (like hobbits before a mounted Nazgûl) after spotting several bedbugs.

Rocking J's saved my vacation. They offer secure paid parking to non hotel guest. I would've missed my trip to Bocas del Toro is not for this awesome place because the hotel I was at wouldn't allow me to park there for 2 extra nights.

Stayed at this hostel in spring of 2011 for three nights, it was great. There were like 100 people there - it was basically an enormous party. The owner, Rockin Jay, was convinced that a huge tsunami was on its way to wipe out the entire town and we'd all be underwater within 24hrs, he wouldn't shut up about it; luckily the giant wave never came. The owner's son Xavier spray painted my sneakers green to celebrate St Patrick's Day, the next morning I woke up naked in a hammock... pretty embarrassed. One afternoon on the beach a random man brought us over to a tree where he had found a mother and baby sloth chilling together. I held my hand out in front of the baby and waited until it finally reached out and grabbed onto my pointer finger. Cute! My travel buddy got her iPod stolen out of her tent. Good times had by all.

Let’s face it —it’s definitely the cheapest accommodation you will find in Puerto Viejo. This perk aside, the place is relatively clean, secure, and at a location that’s not too far from downtown PV. The crew are friendly; it has a beach access; everyone has a locker for storage. My biggest complaint is the built-in bar. Friday/Saturday night you will be sleeping 20m away from drunk yells and live music. There might be people playing pool under your tent at 1am. There are no people there to enforce the 10pm quiet hour rule. Earplugs are a must for this place —the tents make you feel like you have a “personal” space but you really don’t. You are part of the rumble and tumble of “Rocking” J’s.

I don’t recommend it. I visited for the first time to see the place and stayed at the beach. When I tried to return the same way to get to my vehicle, they wanted to charge me 6,000 colones ($6) just to pass through. For my first visit, I was treated VERY badly, as they tried to overcharge me just for crossing.

Super chill. I recommend the AC dorms but friends we made said the tents are actually not hot at night and they slept pretty well. Being at the bar is an awesome experience with Juan and his dogs. Everybody is approachable and friendly, and helpful.