Arriving at a new hostel is always scary. Will you end up sharing a room with a wanted criminal? Is the landlord going to kick you out for some ridiculous reason?
Although I was travelling with my mum that didn’t stop us from staying in hostels, but it did mean we got the upgrade to private rooms. Which was a rice break from potential creepy roommates (but not scary owners)
Lucky for us, our first hostel in Chile did not have a scary owner at all, in fact quite the opposite. Mariella was as welcoming as they come and it didn’t take long for Hostal El Anexo in the Atacama desert to become our home (far, far, far) away from home.
After a drowsy desert track short walk from the bus station we made it to the beautifully decorated mud building. And I must mention that Mariella has decorated the place absolutely magnificently. With funky vintage items scattered around the beautiful outdoor area you feel like you have gone back in time (if back in time came with the convenience of wifi – be it a bit slow).
Our room was small but cozy and the communal bathrooms were always clean.
The only odd things about the hostel were our neighbours… There was the pacing phone-man, whose phone dinged on a constant basis (until the wifi cut our and he sat staring at his phone is what seemed to be a trance). There was also the earthquakaphobic guy who had come to the conclusion that any distant siren meant immediate death and we should all be making our way into town… I almost couldn’t resist pretending to stumble past him in a pseudo-tremour.
I was with very happy to be with my mummy and not sharing a room with these characters…
Hostal El Anexo also had a wonderful kitchen which was a great way to skip the earth-shaking food prices of San Pedro. Homemade guacamole went down a treat after a few days of dismal vegan food options (with the exception of Cafe Negro, of course). The hostel also have a water cooler which skips the risky tap-water experiences or constant water-purchasing in this thirst-quenching desert destination.
I would highly recommend Hostel El Anexo to anyone heading to the beautiful San Pedro in northern Chile.
Hostal El Anexo
Gustavo Le Paige 527-BSan Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region, 1410000, Chile
+56 982206286
