Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
El Misti Hostel Ipanema
Bed bug reports
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Confirmed Hostelworld
Hostel is in a great location, staff were friendly and nice addition to have a free seat at the beach for the day. However, we had to move rooms as my bed had bed bugs and had to spend a lot of time/money to resolve, which they compensated with a free breakfasts. The hostel was a little crammed and the main communal space was the downstairs bar and which made it difficult to engage with the other travellers as you had your own table. Does organise lots of activities and group outings however.
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Possible Booking.com
Falta banheiros, pouquíssimos banheiros, sem banheiros suficientes. A limpeza de deixa MUITO a desejar. No meu penúltimo dia senti algumas coceiras/feridas nas costas, acreditei ser algo da praia ou sol, minutos após o checkout, já no aeroporto encontrei um percevejo no meu casaco que ficava sempre em cima da cama. No geral é um party hostel, o que diz tudo sobre o que quem quer se hospedar precisa saber. A localização é excelente mas deixou bastante a desejar.
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Vibe Analysis
El Misti Ipanema is for the beach-first, bar-first version of Rio. It sits in a very strong Ipanema spot, close to the beach, metro, food, and nightlife, and its best stays tend to be the social ones: organized outings, tours, drinking games, parties around the city, and a busy downstairs bar make it easy to plug into a crew fast. Staff and volunteers are a real strength here: friendly, helpful, and often in organizer mode for solo travelers. Facilities are the tax. Dorms can be very tight, often with triple bunks, narrow beds, limited floor space, and one bathroom serving a crowded room. The main social space is basically the bar plus a rooftop/kitchen area, so it feels more like a party base than a hostel with a proper lounge. Noise, late movement, and controlled or inconsistent air-conditioning are part of the deal. Best fit: solo travelers who want Ipanema beach access, nightly momentum, and an easy-made squad for a short stay. Bad fit: travelers needing quiet sleep, clean roomy dorms, reliable work setup, or soft hotel-ish value for the price. The fun/social machine is real; the comfort layer is rough.
Signals to check
- A May 2026 safety allegation concerns a serious nighttime incident and the staff response.
- Dorms can be extremely cramped, with triple bunks, little room for luggage, and one bathroom serving too many beds.
- Noise is a real tradeoff: the bar, late room traffic, and party rhythm can make sleep hard.
- Cleanliness, damp/mould, and pests are recurring practical risks.
- Air-conditioning and ventilation can be rough: some rooms run too cold, others feel hot, humid, or poorly aired.
- Reservation, cancellation, and refund handling can be a risk; confirm terms and charges carefully.