The View Hostel and Lounge — Hotel in Cali

First time writing a review but I just bloody had to!! My stay at The View in Cali wasn’t on my radar at all. I had come to Colombia with the intention of staying between Medellin, Bogota, and the Northern Region. It was on a random day that I decided to head out to Cali to experience one of the biggest parts of Colombian culture: dance. It was on this bus ride that I found the diamond that is The View Hostel.

Scrolling through the options online, I found it. It had everything I wanted: the option of a female or mixed room, a pool, a gym, breakfast, and of course - salsa services. But there was so much more to this hostel that I would only find out when I got there. I booked it 2 hours before I arrived. I found myself at the Cali bus station at 4:30 am, dumbfounded that I was in this new city, not knowing the language, and not knowing exactly where to go. I decided to hop in an Uber and try my luck and head to the hostel, hoping that the 24-hour reception truly was 24 hours. Hoping that I could leave my bag there and do something - whatever one can do at 5am.

Ringing the bell, I was greeted in Spanish, and I tried my best in broken Spanish to explain what was happening. Next thing I knew, the doors opened and I was inside. I was greeted by Daniel and Alexandra, two pivotal characters during my time at the hostel, as well as two of the three receptionists. Daniel accommodated my odd hours, and we both made light of the awkward timing. I found myself super comfortable already. To top it off, having understood the length of my journey he was so kind and accommodating enough to give me access to a bed SEVERAL hours before I was meant to be there. He then gave me a full tour of the hostel which ended at the rooftop just as the sun rose. The hostel truly lives up to its name, and when I saw the view from the third floor and the rooftop, my mouth dropped. You get the entirety of Cali greeting you every morning and waving goodbye to you as you go to sleep. You see the stars, you see the city lights flooding far and wide, you see beautiful sunrises and sunsets. If you’re considering this hostel, know that you should just book it now for the view alone. I’m not even exaggerating how incredible the view is, it’s something everyone should see for themselves - literally one pro of the many.

They also have a sauna, a spa room, a garage that flips into a speakeasy, great music, great energy and what I want to yap about next: great people. The people who work at this hostel captivated my heart in a way where I truly felt safe and at peace, comfortable. From Andreas with his calming energy and playfulness to Alexandra with her cool energy and kind eyes, to Daniel with his charisma and cheeky energy, the three receptionists who I saw most often and will probably be who one would see most here, are another “just buy it” reasons. They care for you and do what they can to best accomodate the guests. Above all else, you also see Jose, who runs the hostel, so frequently. I admire how involved he is not only behind the scenes but also at the forefront of the hostel. Whether it be at the reception or getting to know each guest, he’s deeply involved.

Another thing is how inclusive the hostel is with their guests, ensuring everyone is involved and encouraging us to try out the many things they have going on. They organize day trips and night outs with everyone at the hostel. I’ve never felt so closely connected to a group of people I just met, never felt this connected to the Colombian people. In some ways this hostel is truly like a family - I talked to fellow guests and they agreed with that statement too. Being here allowed me to experience Colombia and Cali at its most authentic, with opportunities to really spend time with the locals. The View has been the platform allowing me to fully understand just how incredible...

Strange vibes, would not recommend, especially for solo backpackers

Honestly… this hostel was a big no for us. The vibe was off from the moment we arrived: weird energy, uncomfortable atmosphere, and absolutely not the kind of place we’d recommend, especially if you’re a solo backpacker looking to meet people or feel safe.

The area itself didn’t feel great either: not particularly safe, not walkable, and definitely not where you want to be wandering around after dark.

Now let’s talk about the pool… It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since the dinosaurs went extinct. Definitely not inviting, unless you’re a bacteria enthusiast.

The guest crowd? Mostly older women in their 50s, which would be totally fine… if they weren’t aggressively tanning in the tiniest thongs imaginable. At one point we genuinely saw more than we ever signed up for. Let’s just say the view was eye-opening in all the wrong ways.

The whole place felt off. We couldn’t wait to leave. If you’re looking for chill vibes, clean spaces, or basic comfort…...

We loved our stay at The View Hostel. The moment we checked in we were greeted and felt welcomed by the staff who remained on hand to help us with anything we needed the entire time we were there. The building is a massive lively villa converted into a hostel but still retains its family home feeling. We were lucky enough to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas celebrations with the family and friends of the owner and this was a night we will not soon forget. Breakfast by the pool and enjoying meals we cooked for ourselves in the kitchen on the terrace with a view over Cali were well worth the location being a little far from the heart of the city. The location is about 10-20min taxi ride from all the different hot spots in Cali but this was not a problem in the end. Thank you to Sandra, your family and all the staff at The View you made our stay...