Hotel San Antonio is more like a hostel than a hotel, making it a good budget option right in the center of Tarapoto. For backpackers looking for a cheap and easy place to stay, San Antonio is definitely a Tarapoto hostel worth considering.
(Update: I generally recommend Tambo Andina above Hotel San Antonio these days.)
Tarapoto, Peru Hostels: Hotel San Antonio
I stayed in Hotel San Antonio when I first arrived in Tarapoto over a year ago. It was one of the few budget recommendations in Lonely Planet Peru (it still is, as far as I’m aware) so it seemed a reliable option. It was decent without being exceptional and made a good base for five or six days.
Revisiting San Antonio a year later, it was immediately evident that a few improvements had been made. The rooms have been spruced up and now look much more inviting – new bedding and a few added decorative details have made it all more homely. The rooms are clean and comfortable and come complete with a fan and cable TV. You also get your own private bathroom (no hot water). Despite the relaxed backpacker hostel feel, you won’t find any dorm rooms or bunk beds.
The rooms surround a long and narrow courtyard adorned with a few benches and a central strip of vegetation, giving the place a good dose of character and some much needed shade.
San Antonio is just as popular with Peruvian backpackers as it is with the international variety, so you won’t be stuck in a gringo enclave. The staff is a little reserved but more than helpful when asked for advice. There is one computer in the reception area with free internet access.
Noise can be a problem, especially if you’re unlucky enough to have particularly noisy people in the room(s) next door. See the comments below for more about the noise issue.
Hotel San Antonio, Tarapoto – Rates, Location & Contact Information
There are three types of room on offer:
- Simple (one single bed): 30 soles per night
- Double (two beds): 40 soles
- Matrimonial (one double bed): 40 soles
Don’t expect discounts for longer stays; I asked about that and received a conclusive “no,” but it’s always worth a try.
Hotel San Antonio is about as central as you can get, half a block from the Plaza de Armas at Jiménez Pimentel 126. You can contact Hotel San Antonio by telephone (042 525563) or fax (042 522226). The hotel doesn’t have a website or email address. Overall, a good option for backpackers looking for cheap and easy Tarapoto hostels.
Yes Hotel San Antonio it is a very cheap place to stay.
would you recommend hostals or hostels in the surrounding area? I am not a huge center of town person & would love to experience more of the country side.
Thanks again.
not cool that you would write about this place and not mention the fact that all rooms basically have a wall that is completely open just covered with a wire mesh ..and the space above all the doors is open also …the reality is you hear everything in the hostel..the neighbour listening to their tv, the guest being woken up at 5 am for their bus the tv that someone turns on at 6 am..after a night of listening to the loud snores of a guest and not being able to sleep at all im just anxiously waiting so ii can go find another hotel as quick as possible …really really not cool that you didnt mention this……
When I stayed in San Antonio — for about 5 nights, I think — I didn’t have any problems with noise. And my room most certainly had four walls, I promise.
That was a while ago, but I’ve met plenty of people who have stayed there since, including within the last few months, and they generally seemed fairly happy. As I said in the article, it’s a cheap and easy place for budget backpackers. That said, one friend of mine recently left San Antonio for another hotel due to noise problems, so it seems like it can be an issue if you have an unlucky night.
Anyway, sorry for my lack of coolness.