If you're not familiar with Selina boutique hostels, you probably want to take note for your next Latin American travels. With properties in pretty much every country throughout South and Central America (as well as in Europe, Israel, the U.S. and over 134 destinations worldwide), the upscale hostel chain offers far more than just a bed. Not only is Selina based on budget travel, but it is focused on providing both short and long term travelers and digital nomads with a home away from home, where you can cook, dine, drink, meet others, work, and have totally authentic experiences. My recent stay at Selina La Fortuna in Costa Rica gave me exactly this opportunity.
Set at the base of Arenal volcano in the no longer sleepy town of La Fortuna, a glance at the town map might make you think Selina was just another one of an overload of backpacker digs aimed at the Costa Rican tourist crowd. However just entering in off the street, you can see why Selina has set itself a world apart from the competition. The property is set along a river with jungle cover, making it feel far more like a wild rural retreat, despite being just a minute's walk from La Fortuna's "downtown," with shopping and restaurants.
Rooms here are hidden out of view of the main areas, which boast a swimming pool, large bar/restaurant area with space to lounge, an open-air kitchen for self-caterers, a yoga deck, and then a space in the jungle where there are a series of glamping teepees that surround a fire pit.
The hostel wants people to have community here, so all the open spaces are set up to encourage folks to mingle. Every night at 6pm, there is a welcome bonfire, where everyone has to introduce themselves, and within minutes, most visitors have grabbed a cocktail and are getting to know their neighbors. There is also a big emphasis on co-working here, with a large well set up office space here and hefty discount packages for those who want to pay by the month and combine work and play. As lots of travelers these days are now working on the road, this has become a very viable option, both for the guest and the accommodation.
Additionally, Selina offers an array of activities each day of the week, with a schedule posted at the front desk. You can engage in yoga classes, go on walks, learn how to mix cocktails, take a cooking class, or utilize the movie room or library here on site. Some activities are free, others are reasonably priced, and if you buy into the monthly co-working/stay package, you also get a selection of complimentary activities.
During our stay, we met digital nomads from India, the UK, the U.S. and Europe, all of whom would alternate between days of work and others of volcano exploring, zip-lining, or lounging in hot springs, which are some of the top draws of this part of Costa Rica. It was also nice to just lounge by the teepee, watching the Jesus Christ lizards and howler monkeys that frequented the area, and checking out the stars on clear nights. The teepees here are small but cozy, and are more akin to a glamping experience than staying indoors, funky but fun, and again, they all face each other so when you sit outside, you'll undoubtedly be chatting with your neighbors, which is what the Selina experience is all about.
To book a stay here and for that matter your whole next outdoor-oriented holiday, you're best off going to the nifty Pitchup website, which books campgrounds, glamping spots, and RV parks throughout the Americas, Europe, and the UK, with over 5,300 listings to date. There are no booking fees, you get instant confirmation, there are hundreds of thousands of reviews and photos, and the platform has won multiple national awards.
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Useful links
https://www.pitchup.com/en-us/
https://www.selina.com/costa-rica/la-fortuna/