Hostel on the beach.. can it get any better?!
I visited Isla Mujeres after recommendations from some travellers and advised to stay at Pocna.
I was given a good quality dorm room for 110 pesos a night, without realising the price of dorm rooms range from 90 to 110 pesos. They also have a camp garden where you can pitch a tent or sleep in a hammock for as little as 65 pesos a night. Alternative options are private rooms and double rooms etc for a bit more.
Here I met several travellers mainly from Europe, US and South Americas. We would sit in the large common area and discuss travels and day plans over breakfast, lunch, dinner and/or strong margaritas. It was very easy to meet people and socialise. The term 'youth hostel' is rather inaccurate as there were a number of middle aged - elderly people staying in the hostel, stating that friends of theirs had recommended the place and they were loving it.
Pocna offers free breakfast, however has a restaurant where you can buy cheap good quality food all day long, plus a bar which is open til 7pm and then a beach bar starting at 11pm. On your first night you are given a free drink voucher at the beach bar, and most of the cocktails are 2 for 1!
Activities such as organised snorkeling and hiring a bike are offered on a daily basis including the odd themed beach party. In fact Pocna gives you little reason to leave the accommodation.
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting Mexico. The island is lovely and Pocna provides the best opportunity to meet travellers and generally have an enjoyable experience on a small mexican island far removed from the blatant and intrusive commerce of Cancun. I remained here for the end of my travels and ditched the idea of staying in Cancun entirely
Unique Quality: Good Points:
1) Right on the beach
2) Relatively clean
3) Restaurant serving cheap good quality food all day
4) Large grounds including a camping ground for tents and hammocks
5) Several social areas including a place with pool table and table tennis, hammocks in one of the gardens, beach bar
6) 3 mins walk to Playa Norte (you can see it from Pocna)
7) Cheap dorms starting from 90 pesos
8) Beach party every night
Bad Points:
1) There is no internet access.. however there are plenty of internet cafes a few steps away for 10 pesos for 30 mins.
2) There is no public kitchen, so nowhere to cook your own food or even keep your water cold
3) No laundry, however there are laundry sites in town where they do the laundry for you!
4) Beach is lovely, but you are prohibited from swimming due to its rocky nature!
5) No locks provided on the lockers, so you would need to purchase one for yourself
6) No drinking alcohol bought from outside the premises
7) Limited access to electrical sockets. There were some in the bathrooms.. but thats the bathroom!
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