The Travel Chica

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When a Hostel Defines Your Travel Experience

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This is not the nicest, newest, or fanciest hostel I have seen.  After all, this is Patagonia.  There is not much that is shiny and new.

This is a hostel that made me feel comfortable.

I felt like I was surrounded by friends I had known for years.  In addition, they have thought of all the little things we backpackers appreciate while on the road far away from home.

I am talking about Erratic Rock in Puerto Natales.

I do not think I have ever written a post specifically about a hostel until now.  Yes, I list hostels in the Travel Tips pages if I think they are a good value.  I have mentioned a hostel as an important part of my experience in a location.

But this was different. 

My stay at Erratic Rock is what defined my experience in Puerto Natales.  It was my introduction to Chile.  The tragedy of the fire in Torres del Paine completely threw me off balance.

It was a strange time for me.  I felt paralyzed. 

I got out of my morning running routine.  I wrote very little.  I took few photos.  I cooked few meals for myself.

When you go to the Erratic Rock Hostel web page, it says, “Tell your friends.  Don’t tell the guide books.”  And that’s not a gimmick.  The owner Bill, an Oregon transplant, has actually written letters to the guide books requesting that his hostel is NOT included in their publications.

So I’m telling my friends about this awesome place.

8 Reasons I Love Erratic Rock

1 – Awesome breakfast.

Omelet, a thick slice of homemade bread, butter, homemade jam, yogurt, cereal, milk, tea, coffee (the REAL stuff!).

2 – Great collection of movies.

Because of the fire, the hostel was full of people waiting to hear the latest news.  We passed the time watching lots of “classics.”  Pretty Woman, Cliffhanger, and many more.

3 – Best book exchange I have ever seen.

Not only do they have a lot of English books, the selection is actually good.  I picked up Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

4 – Organized and orderly.

Bill and all of the staff are laid-back people.  But they are also on top of everything and have solid routines and practices to keep this busy hostel running smoothly.

There are rules, and they are posted everywhere.  More importantly, they are enforced.  If you are making noise in a quiet zone too late, a staff member will politely ask you to move the conversation.

Have an early bus in the morning? Just let Bill know you need to attend Early Breakfast 1 or Early Breakfast 2.  He would not want you to head out with enjoying a great breakfast.

The dorms actually get fully cleaned every afternoon because one of the rules is that guests should move all of their belongings off the floor and onto their beds during a set time period.

The kitchen is orderly and clean.  There is a marker attached to the refrigerator, so you can clearly label and date your food.  The contents of the refrigerator and pantry area are reviewed every day.  There is a clearly marked “free food bin” for people to use, of which I took full advantage.

There is always soap, toilet paper, and a hand towel in every bathroom.

5 – Adorable hostel cats.

Usually, I am a little worried when there are animals in a hostel.  But these cats are clean, friendly, and adorable.  My first night I was sitting in my bed working on my laptop, and this cute little guy hopped right up, laid across my arms, closed his eyes, and started purring.  I kept on typing, and he didn’t mind at all.

6 – They  don’t just care about the environment.  They are helping YOU do YOUR part.

They recycle and have clearly marked bins for types of recyclables and organic materials for compost.

They are a member and active supporter of Leave No Trace, an organization that teaches people to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

The Erratic Rock equipment rental shop next door has a bin of free gear for people to donate and re-use (e.g. sleep pads).  They also coordinate a recycling program for the gas cans used for camping stoves.

During their 3pm trekking information session, in addition to telling you about the treks, the accommodation options, the food options, and the climate, they educate you on how to be a responsible trekker.  I fully appreciated this because I am new to the multi-day trekking, especially in this type of environment.

7 – The people rock.

Bill is the heart and soul of this place.  He loves this area.  He has surrounded himself with a staff that is mostly made up of volunteers who are travelers themselves.  They KNOW what makes a good hostel.

Everyone is helpful and friendly and has a positive attitude.  Even during the chaos of the fire, Bill and his staff were calm and kept the hostel running in an orderly way.  They did their best to help anyone they could.  Since all the hostels were filling up, stranded backpackers were invited to sleep on couches and the floor. 

They answered the question, “What is the status of the fire?” about a million times and never with even a hint of irritation or exasperation.

This hostel attracts the type of travelers I like to be around.

Even though people were upset and stressed about the park, quick friendships were made, drinks and stories were shared.

8 – Base Camp Pub is next door.

Many of those stories and drinks were shared next door at Base Camp.

The drinks are affordable.  The atmosphere is great.  There was even a reggae band one night.  The hostel staff cooked up tasty food that made for a cheap dinner a couple of nights.

Even though I did not get to visit Torres del Paine, I will fondly remember my stay at Erratic Rock.

Has a hostel ever played a critical role in your travels?

 

Comments

  4. Sounds like a great place! I haven’t really backpacked and we tend to stay with family when we travel most often, but this sounds like a great place for a place where you don’t know anybody. And the breakfast does look amazing :)

  7. It’s always great to hear about a nice hostel experience. I still remember staying at Miss Sophie’s hostel in Prague 7 years ago. It was nicer than many of the hotels I had stayed in. Nice facilities, friendly staff and good food always make for a memorable stay!

  11. It’s comborting to your mom to know you had such a nice, friendly place to stay during such a chaotic, sad adventure. No matter how old you get your mom will always be concerned for you.
    Love Mom
    PS Happy Valentine’s Day

  14. you’re lucky to find a good hostel in Argentina…1st time i went to buenos aires i decided to stay in a hostel ( to stretch the money hahaha) and my experience was just awful. The staff was unpolite, the services such as breakfast and the cleaning didn’t work nicely, they didn’t respond for any missing itens and so on … The second time i stayed in a hotel room … It was ok but i spend quite lot to get an average service. The 3rd time i decide to make a house swaps since you dont spend a penny , and for me it was the best shot , because i didint worry about services , i saved up on the meals , as i cooked them at home and could enjoy better the trip and spend money on other more enjoyable things. I really like the advice o this one , for sure when i go to patagonia i’ll stay there , and say that they should set an example to all other argentina’s hostels

  17. Looks like an awesome place! Hostels can be so much better than hotels for the travel experience, especially when you’re solo. When you find one with great staff it’s more like staying with family, which is so wonderful when you’re on the road.
    Andrea recently posted..Our Next Move

  20. I think on every trip accommodation plays an important role for me – If the bed is uncomfortable, the location is next to a highway or you freeze under the shower… you won’t remember the rest of the trip as good as it might have been with a better hotel/hostel experience!

    I think one of the best experiences so far was at a camp in Tulum, Mexico. I slept in a hammock and yeah, got bitten by a kazillion mosquitoes each night… but in reward I got myself a fresh banana milk shake every morning, woke up to the sound of the waves and the wind brushing through the palm trees and met one of my closest friends (this was more than 4 years ago!).
    Katherina recently posted..Photo Essay: Hiking Valle del Frances, Torres del Paine (Chile)

  25. A hostel with a pub right next door? I’m in! But most of all, a place you’re staying at should always make you feel at home. It always makes you love the place you’re visiting even more. Thank you for posting this!

  35. This hostel looks truly awesome with it welcoming friendly friendly. I really appreciate you sharing your experience. with us.

  37. We were obviously watching something manly (ie NOT Pretty Woman)!!
    Fond memories of everyone there, happy days. I’ll get back there and hike it one day…

  38. This place sounds amazing!! I’ve tried to get in touch with them via e-mail and through their website about making a reservation but haven’t gotten any responses. How did you get in touch with them?

    • I do recall that I emailed them, and they responded within a few days. I would try again with email and if you don’t hear anything, see if they are on HostelWorld to reserve online. If you have a Skype account, you can always call cheaply. I have done that in South America when I couldn’t get ahold of places by email.
      Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..The best view in Willamette Valley?

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