When searching for hostels in Palomino, a charming, rustic, Caribbean village in Northern Colombia, it’s impossible to overlook Casa Del Pavo Real.
Not only does Casa Del Pavo Real offer some of the best dorms and private accommodation in town, but it also comes equipped with a fantastic on-site restaurant and stunning pool.
Lush green gardens and chic white decor makes the hostel immediately appealing aesthetically. And if you look beyond the immaculately curated styling and facilities, you’ll discover that this hostel is way more than just a place to kick back and relax.
Casa Del Pavo Real
Casa Del Pavo Real translates to Peacock House in Spanish and you’ll see subtle hints throughout the property and in the branding.
The hostel is Swiss-owned and architecturally designed, but has its interior styled by a Colombian. This unique combination really makes the hostel stand-out in the local area, with the care and attention to design and detail being evident in all areas of the property.
There’s also a great emphasis on health and wellness. The restaurant is vegetarian (more on that to come), there’s spa facilities offering all types of treatments and the restaurant, chill out areas and gardens merge seamlessly to provide a real sense of zen.
The gardens are vibrant and thriving, attracting all manner of lizards, bugs, butterflies and birds. You’ll spot plenty of friendly wildlife when taking a swim!
An added bonus, and one of my personal highlights is the number of friendly dogs that live on site. These dogs are part of the nearby Dogshelter Palomino and act as mascots and guardians of the hostel and its grounds. They’re also available for adoption!
Leave a sunlounger unattended for too long and you will come back to find a dog sunning itself in your place!
The Rooms
The great thing about Casa Del Pavo Real is that it has a room for all budgets and types of travellers. From beds in shared dorms to private rooms in the main building and even bungalows with private pools. There’s a whole offering of accommodation to suit everyone’s needs.
All the rooms have a fan and air conditioning, which is a MUST when staying in this part of Colombia. There’s also plenty of hot water!
We stayed in a double room with a terrace for the majority of our stay, but splurged on a night in a suite with a private pool for our final night. Our double room was spacious and comfortable with high ceilings and came with a terrace and hammock overlooking the main pool.
The final night’s suite was a real treat, located to the rear of the grounds and framed by foliage with a private plunge pool accessed from the bedroom! FANCY.
The Dog Shelter
As mentioned, dog lovers will adore the fact that the hostel partners with a local dog shelter which helps to care for and rehome stray dogs. This social project is run by locals and volunteers who are extremely passionate about what they do.
Casa Del Pavo offers a half day excursion (either morning or afternoon) to visit the shelter and walk some of the dogs. There was a small fee to do so but it was more than worth it!
The shelter has also just opened up a cafe too, with the proceeds helping to further support the pups in need. Make sure you head over for a drink!
I would highly recommend booking yourself onto the morning dog walk. You’ll get to see another side of Palomino as people go about their morning routine. It’s also slightly cooler (although still very humid!) when you climb one of the mountain treks.
Be sure to bring your swimmers so that you can jump into the river at the end of the hike alongside your new furry best friends to cool off!
El Jardin Del Pavo Real Restaurant
A free breakfast was included in our room booking and there was a good variety of options. Sitting by the pool in the morning with the Caribbean sun beaming down is a great way to start any day.
The restaurant’s kitchen is open plan so you will be able to see your food being prepared to order. The ingredients are fresh – you can see the bulbous papayas and other fruits/veggies resting on the countertops. And the staff and chefs are extremely friendly.
As mentioned the restaurant’s menu features vegetarian options only, which was something we had not previously experienced during our South America travels. Don’t be put off however, as the food was stunning!
There’s a lunch service around midday with plenty of snacks and nibbles on offer. Dinner is also served in the evening with even more options. You won’t go hungry!
Myself and my partner love vegetarian dishes – as long as they are done well – and here they most certainly are. Dishes are light and delicious, featuring ingredients sourced locally – some even from the surrounding gardens on the property itself.
The Location
Casa Del Pavo Real is tucked away from the main street in Palomino where the majority of other hostels and hotels are found.
Access to the hostel is clearly signposted however and it only takes a short journey off the main road along a bumpy dirt track to get to the entrance (all the roads in Palomino are bumpy to be honest!).
One of the major plus points with staying at Casa Del Pavo Real is that you’re just a two minute walk to the beach. There’s also a number of locally run beach bars and restaurants along the route. And it’s far less touristy than the other side of town. We spent many a day walking down the beach and often had most of it to ourselves.
Palomino is just 45 mins away from Tayrona National Park which means taking a day trip from Casa Del Pavo Real is really easy. You can either take a bus or ask at reception to arrange a transfer.
The Casa Del Pavo Real Team
I just wanted to give the team at the hostel a shout-out as they really made our stay. The reception, kitchen, housekeeping and dog-shelter staff are so helpful, considerate and kind with guests. There is a real family-run feel to the place.
Casa Del Pavo Real is as warm and welcoming as the village of Palomino is itself, which makes it that much harder to leave!
My Top Pick For Staying in Palomino
Staying at Casa Del Pavo Real is a real treat, whether you are looking for a bed on a budget or want to splurge on a private suite with your own pool.
The warmth of the team who run the hostel coupled with its gorgeous garden, pool and abundance of friendly pups to play with makes Casa Del Pavo Real a real home away from home.
I can’t wait to go back one day and I hope to encourage more people to pay it a visit too!
Address: Calle #10 / Km 72, Palomino, La Guajira
Until next time,
Lica xoxo
