El Refugio Hostel - Cartajima, Málaga

jennyjenny M.

We found El Refugio Hostel through Hostelworld (where it has 300 (!) excellent reviews). It's about 20mins from Ronda in a small, white village called Cartajima. There's lots to do around: Hiking, climbing, biking, swimming (there's a pool in the village) and just enjoying the fantstic mountainous landscape. It's a perfect base to discover the natrual parks in the area and also just 40mins away from the beach by car. The best thing however is the hostel itself: You walk in, you get a cold beer (for just 1€!!) , there's good music, a wild spirit and great vibrations. It's one of those hostels that are truly special and you won't forget!

Milena P.

This is the right place to escape the standard andalusian travel path: Not your typical teeniehostel. I was happy to stay for 3 nights so I had enough time to enjoy my time without rushing. What makes it special is a combination of the surrounding area (mountains, nature and little villages) and the hospitality (the friendly & energetic owner of the hostel). Next time I'll visit with a group of friends, as this will probably be even more fun! It's good to have a car to get there and around (but I'd still go if I didn't have one).

Alex C.

I can't believe what's just happened.||After reading all the incredible reviews on hostel world I was so excited to stay at this place. I didn't want to stay in central Ronda and wanted something more local and unique, so I booked a bus to Ronda. I arranged a pick up from the station to his hostel. ||I am here at the station now and I rang him to see where he was. He told me on the phone it's not worth my while coming as im the only one staying, so this is why he didn't pick me up. ||So now I'm stuck in Ronda with nothing cheap enough online to book. ||I'm sure the reviews on Hostelworld are true about how amazing the stay is, but would not risk it. ||He wasn't even sorry, and told me 'all you will lose is your Hostelworld deposit' , which is €3. How is this fair. ||Do not trust this guy.

viator3m

Eines der Besten Hostels in denen ich je war. Der Besitzer Botz ist sehr freundlich und kocht, wenn man das möchte auch jeden Tag für einen Frühstück und Abendessen. Dazu empfiehlt er einem Dinge was man in der Nähe machen kann und man kann auch sehr gut mit Ihm reden.

melanie W.

I was really looking forward to this little break.||I left feeling isolated and abused.||The bed was damp, the facilities non too clean.||the host charming when sober, actually abusive when drunk (which was 2 out of three nights)||The charge for the only private room( no washing facilities) was the highest I paid in 4 weeks in Spain) no view (tiny window looking into a tiny lightwell) damp bed, not even a chest of drawers...40EU||This place is so bad I suspect the owner is bribing his young guests for his great reviews.||||Its noisy at night with heavy drinking going on until 2am.||||The place is touted as great for walking, yet the owner has no maps available.||The washing facilities amount to a sink in an open hall, two shower stalls (with two heads in each) two toilets in an open alcove off the hall.||there are no guest cooking facilities and the hosts kitchen where he prepares an admittedly good breakfast is filthy(but dont try to find him out of bed before 9am so forget early walks)||||I'm a pretty easy going traveler, not fussed by much as long as a place is clean and dry and it pains me to write such a bad review, but this place is the pits.||||The horror of it all is that unless you can afford a cab into Ronda, there's no escape until the owner agrees to take you or you wait for the bus..non on weekends.||And he drives like a maniac on those mountain roads.||||oh..terrific rooftop view.

Thang H. N.

Nice authentic Spanish home stay hostel experience. The building is about 300 years old.

Edwin T.

Great host, great little village.
Can get hot in the summer, so come prepared 🙂

Leon M.