This was my first opportunity to introduce my kids (ages 5 and 7) to staying at a hostel, and it was a lovely experience! They loved sleeping in bunk beds, and eating in the outdoors kitchen. I loved that they could relax on the hammocks at the hostel and play on the playground on the nearby square (no crossing streets needed) while we were getting ready to leave. There is a lovely garden where you can hang out at a chair, in the kitchen or on a hammock. There are mosquitos in the evenings, but the staff bring out mosquito coils to burn to keep them away. The kitchen is adequately stocked with everything you need to cook a meal, although the burners take a bit to heat up water (for making pasta, for example). There is plenty of filtered water that is safe to drink and refill your water bottle. There are bikes to rent if you choose. There is no on-site parking but there is plenty of nearby street parking. The beds are clean and the mattresses are covered with mattress pads/protectors which I appreciated. The breakfast is available from 7-10AM and was super delicious - I wish I could've gotten seconds. I would definitely stay again! read more

Amazing Hostel! Colourful and Charming with a Friendly and Relaxed Atmosphere - Perfectly Located in Valladolid! I stayed at Hostel La Candelaria for three nights (November 15-18, 2015) as a solo female traveler in the 6 bed female dorm. This was my second time staying at this hostel. I absolutely LOVE this hostel! The hostel is located inside a beautiful pastel-coloured colonial building and situated perfectly on a quiet and lovely small park and square, just three blocks north of Valladolid's central plaza and park. It is also three blocks away from the ADO bus terminal. You can find everything you need within walking distance of the hostel including delicious local restaurants, banks, grocery shopping, the local market, and city attractions. The hostel has daily housekeeping staff who do a fantastic job of keeping all areas of the hostel clean. I stayed in the 6 bed female dorm which is situated on the second floor of the hostel. The mattresses and pillows were very comfortable. There is a medium-sized locker for every bed and locks are provided (bonus!). There are also a good amount of electrical outlets situated around the room, with most of them located right beside the beds (convenient for charging electronics in the night). Even though there is no air conditioning in the room (or anywhere in the hostel), there is a huge fan on the roof and a few smaller ones around the room which created good air flow for sleeping in the night. There is also a small balcony in the room with doors that overlooks the beautiful and peaceful "La Candelaria" park. This hostel offers bike rentals for 80 pesos a day or 15 pesos per hour, which is a great option for getting around. I rented a bike one morning and rode to some nearby Mayan villages and off the beaten path cenotes and also used it to get around Valladolid. The breakfast was amazing! There was a good variety of options to choose from, including eggs made to order and cooked to your preferred style, bread, jam, fresh seasonal fruits (watermelon, pineapple, papaya, mango and more), a selection of cereals with milk, yogurt and coffee. I really enjoyed eating breakfast in the outdoor kitchen seating area among the tropical garden! It was such a lovely setting to start my morning. I interacted with a few different staff members during my stay and they were all very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful with offering advice and information about Valladolid. The staff spoke fluent English and Spanish, among a few other languages. Upon checking in, the staff will provide you with a great map of Valladolid which indicates restaurants, banks, supermarkets, and attractions on it. The hostel also has organized binders in three different languages that provide detailed information about the various things to see and do, in and around Valladolid, including info like costs and how to get there and back. This was very helpful! The hostel offers free Wi-Fi in the common areas (it did not work in the female dorm). The signal was consistently strong and the connection worked best for me in the outdoor garden/kitchen area, the reception area and the second floor lounge. The internet was even fast enough for me to be able to make Skype phone calls home, which was great. The hostel also has one computer with internet in the reception area for guests to use. There are lots of washrooms and showers situated in various areas of the hostel and I loved how colourful the outdoor ones were! The water pressure was weak and hot water was hit or miss, but this is typical throughout the Yucatan. The hostel has so many different common areas, which I loved! If you need some quiet alone time to relax or if you want to socialize and meet new people, there are lots of places to do both. There is a beautiful and well maintained garden area behind the hostel with a group of hammocks, which was lovely. There is a colourful outdoor kitchen and eating area among the tropical foliage, as well as an indoor kitchen. Inside the hostel, there is the reception area, a lounge on the main level with couches and pre-loaded movies on a flatscreen TV, a lounge on the second floor with seating and a balcony that overlooks the quiet square, and the rooftop terrace. There were always other travelers hanging out in the common areas and I found it very easy to meet people and make friends. Overall, I loved everything about Hostel La Candelaria! It has such a relaxed, peaceful, chill and social vibe and everyone that I met here was so friendly and welcoming. The appearance of the hostel is also very aesthetically beautiful and I enjoyed the bright paint colours used on the walls and building and the unique decor. This hostel has a lot of character and is very charming. The city of Valladolid is absolutely lovely and it is definitely worth a stop! Even though it is small, it was my favourite place that I visited during my two and half week Yucatan travels. The colourful and colonial architecture w read more

This place is great. Very ideallic setting right near a town square. Feels very bohemian, with great art and lots of plants. Plenty of room to hang out, meet with people, and a GREAT breakfast. Very clean, and very helpful staff. read more