We stayed here based on reviews. We have never stayed at a hostel before but will be open to it in future travels....just not with our kid. Only stayed 1 night. The good feedback about this hostel......friendly staff, not a party place, quiet, nice area with a great restaurant (El Balcon) 3 blocks away, safe ambiance, nice guests..it has that home away from home feel, like you can just kick back and relax. The bad feedback.......run down mattresses, dirty private bathroom, no hot water, terrible plumbing, no window screens, therefore, mosquito central at night which didn't let us sleep from the constant itching from the bites. Would I stay here again....maybe. It was a last minute decision and just glad it wasn't worse. Everything else my husband and I can deal with but when traveling with an 11 year old who is allergic to insect bites, no way. We are a young, adventurous and spontaneous couple.....the little lady isn't. It was an experience....we have traveled to quite a few 3rd world countries and have dealt with bugs in our rooms but having to shower with your flip flops on and sleep on a nasty mattress is not something I would choose to do again. Overall....just ok, could have been worse but also, could have been better. Not sure what other hostels must be like if this one was rated one of the best. Happy travels!

Hostel Bukuo was the first hostel I've stayed in and my boyfriend and I's first destination in Costa Rica. The employees were nice and laid back. Rooms were clean and they have a nice t.v. room and pool table which we used often. We only stayed for two nights but for the two nights we were there it worked out great.

My only complaints were that mosquitos were in my room and I got chewed up badly and the first night we stayed there we got woken up in the middle of the night by some drunks. Other than that, Bekuo is a great place to stay, especially for just a night or two while in San Jose.

They don't take reservations, just on the honest system. They were good, it was in a good neighborhood. They told us the wrong time for the direct bus to manual antonio. I got my stuff stolen on a non direct bus and it was just bad. But the beds were comfortable and they had free internet. We were only there one night, so i can't give a better review. But the one night wasn't that bad at all.

I can't say this very often, but words fail me. From the time I walked through the door to the time 6 days later when I got in the taxi to go to the airport, I felt like I'd found a second home. I haven't felt this relaxed in years and I won't stay anywhere else in San Jose unless I move there and even then I'd probably go over to hang out.

If you're looking for a place to party, this isn't the place you're looking for. They don't have a bar, but they do have bottles of wine (and cans of Imperial or Pilsen, two Costa Rican brews) that they can sell you (and can usually be talked into sharing after you buy it). :)

Jordan, Pat, Ney, Jaime and the rest are incredibly cool and a great bunch of people to sit and chat with, whether food is involved or not. I didn't get to meet Storm, but he's involved in the independent surf film the hostel is sponsoring ("Gringo Invasion"). If you're looking for a tour of a volcano, waterfall, rain forest or one of Costa Rica's many beaches, Jaime's the guy to talk to. I got to tour the Poas volcano and the rain forest and had an incredible time.

If you're a computer geek like me, you can use your laptop to connect to their free Wi-Fi network. If you're not, they've got computers you can use.

While walking around the neighborhood, I never felt threatened as there is a constant police presence. The reason? The Belgian embassy is right around the corner and the Italians aren't too much further away.

I haven't even gotten home yet (I'm writing from the airport in Ft. Lauderdale) and I can't wait to go back to get more Bekuo.