WILD ROVER HOSTEL
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Date of Stay: October 2014
Room Type: Four bed dorm with shared bathroom Price per night: 74 Bolivianos per bed Ratings: * All prices quoted were correct during our stay and may be subject to change 
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* Above photo courtesy of Trip Advisor
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“South America’s craziest threesome”
This is the catch phrase for the three Wild Rover hostels in Arequipa and Cusco in Peru and the original in La Paz, Bolivia. The hostels are all themed around the idea of a traditional Irish Pub and according to their website this means “hosts had to provide food, drink a warm bed and entertainment”. Wild Rover La Paz, ticks all of these boxes.
La Paz was the second of the Wild Rover hostels that we had stayed in and after choosing a private room at the Cusco hostel, we decided to mix things up and go for a four-bed dorm for our stay in La Paz.
Upon arriving at Wild Rover, it was immediately apparent that this was a party hostel. We had arrived on the weekend of Halloween and the beautiful old building that the hostel calls home had been transformed into a cob web and jack-o-lantern filled haunted house! The hostel itself is set in the ex-Presidents house and is within walking distance to most of the cities sights.
The thing about the dorms at Wild Rover La Paz, is that the smaller the dorm, the further it is from the noisy, smoke filled bar. This was perfect for us and generally works as most people staying in the bigger dorms are there for the parties anyway!
La Paz was the second of the Wild Rover hostels that we had stayed in and after choosing a private room at the Cusco hostel, we decided to mix things up and go for a four-bed dorm for our stay in La Paz.
Upon arriving at Wild Rover, it was immediately apparent that this was a party hostel. We had arrived on the weekend of Halloween and the beautiful old building that the hostel calls home had been transformed into a cob web and jack-o-lantern filled haunted house! The hostel itself is set in the ex-Presidents house and is within walking distance to most of the cities sights.
The thing about the dorms at Wild Rover La Paz, is that the smaller the dorm, the further it is from the noisy, smoke filled bar. This was perfect for us and generally works as most people staying in the bigger dorms are there for the parties anyway!
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Wild Rover claims to have the comfiest beds in South America and I must say they weren’t bad. Considering how cold it can get overnight in La Paz, we found our beds to be warm, clean and comfortable and for wooden bunk beds, they were sturdy and well built which is always my biggest concern. Each person has a large private locker, big enough for most backpacks which is important seeing as none of the dorm rooms have locks on them. There are also smaller lockers at reception with power points inside to charge phones or to store valuables. The shared bathroom facilities were kept spotless 24 hours a day with an hourly cleaning schedule throughout the day and plenty of bathrooms scattered throughout the hostel. During our stay we never had to wait for a shower or toilet, which is a huge plus considering all bathrooms are shared facilities. |
* Above photo courtesy of Trip Advisor
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The hostel chain is notorious for it’s parties and Wild Rover La Paz did not disappoint. On our first night, a cross dressing bar tender burst into our dorm before free-pouring shots down our throats and leaving again. It was strange, hilarious and definitely gave us the urge to head to the bar where the night was already in full swing. The only downside about the Wild Rover bars is that they are not smoke-free areas and coming from Australia this takes some getting used to, but it certainly didn’t stop us partying the night away and taking part in the hourly free shot ritual.
When the bar is not packed full of hard core party animals, it is also a great place for a meal. The menu has a wide variety of Western food with a few local favourites as well. It is all reasonably priced and their burgers are a must try! |
All guests at the hostel must wear a wristband during their stay and there is 24 hour security on the door which gives the place a secure feeling. There is also a travel agent and internet café downstairs where both guests and non-guests can book tours, bus tickets and find general information about the city.
Overall, Wild Rover La Paz had a great atmosphere and the necessary facilities for a stay in La Paz. If you’re purely after a place to rest your head after sight seeing, go elsewhere, but if you are keen to meet some new friends and enjoy the wild party atmosphere that La Paz is so famous for, then this is the place for you!
Overall, Wild Rover La Paz had a great atmosphere and the necessary facilities for a stay in La Paz. If you’re purely after a place to rest your head after sight seeing, go elsewhere, but if you are keen to meet some new friends and enjoy the wild party atmosphere that La Paz is so famous for, then this is the place for you!
