Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
CabanaCopa Hostel
Bed bug reports
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Guest report Hostelworld
Met some amazing people there and it is close to Copacabana beach, but the rooms are tiiinyy! And also only two big lockers in a 6 bed dorm and lots of bed bugs!
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Guest report Booking.com
Location was very convenient. For starters the hostel did not have running water for several hours during one of the days I stayed. Instead of trying to figure things out, two of the workers there were making out while they were sitting down in reception. That genuinely seemed to be the only time staff was at reception, otherwise you might find them outside smoking. Cleanliness did not seem to be a priority for the hostel. Bathrooms were dirty and clearly showing signs of mold growth. Rooms were dirty, bed bunks were rusty, and not stable enough. Mattresses were dirty and really thin. AC did not work (at least not in the room I was staying at). The hostel tried to hide under the guise of being "environmentally friendly" to excuse why cleaning crew was not coming in to clean rooms/bathrooms etc. When confronted about all these problems, staff would reply "you are getting what you paid for". This did not happen to me, but I did hear that a room had to be moved due to bed bugs.
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Guest report Booking.com
Location was good So damn dirty. Please avoid if you are into hygiene. I felt like I was using a public shower on the beach. - when i arrived my bedroom smelled soooo bad, like sweat and dirty old socks - period blood in the shower and rooftop couch - used bandaids, panty liner and dead insect in the shower - lots of sand (but yea it’s a beach city) - heard from a guy he had bed bugs and had to change rooms, his AC wasn’t working in the room too - a friend of mine said his locker was already damaged so he couldn’t even use it - AND NO WATER ON NYE. Mind you this night was the most expensive due to its location. However, when we came back from the beach there was no water and we had to wait until 8am. It was disgusting to sleep in sand and sweat
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Guest report Google Maps
Great location and nice rooftop but rooms are very small, dark and dirty- I only stayed 2 nights but am now covered in bed bugs bites and having to see UPA for treatment so wouldn’t recommend.
Vibe Analysis
CabanaCopa Hostel has the skeleton of a useful Rio base: close to Copacabana, near the metro, with a rooftop/common areas, some organized activities, and enough traveler traffic that it can become social. Staff and volunteers can be friendly, and the common spaces can produce a lively atmosphere in a secure-feeling area. The catch is not subtle. Recent stays lean rough: cramped dorms, dirty bathrooms, weak maintenance, poor ventilation, shaky bunks, water or hot-water problems, and uneven organization. This is the kind of place that may work if you want the cheapest practical bed near the beach and can tolerate chaos, but it is a risky bet if hygiene, sleep, or secure storage matter. Best fit: budget travelers who mainly want Copacabana access, a place to meet a few people, and are prepared for a rough building. If you are booking a long stay, private room, or Carnival/holiday dates, the price-to-comfort tradeoff can feel especially bad.
Signals to check
- Cleanliness is a major weak point, especially bathrooms and dorm rooms.
- Dorm rooms can be extremely cramped, with limited storage and airflow.
- Water and hot-water reliability can fail.
- There are serious theft and bedbug reports.