Stop 012010
The domain is registered
bluealmondhostel.com was registered in August 2010, according to the public domain record.
The hostel · since around 2010
An island original.
A small, independent backpacker house at Manzana 4, Casa 3 in Barrio Los Almendros. Here’s its story — with sources — plus the house, the rules and how to find it.
Who we are
Small house, long story.
Blue Almond has been a backpacker house in Barrio Los Almendros since around 2010 — Manzana 4, Casa 3, which is why the sign says M4·C3. It’s independent: no chain, no franchise, no corporate playbook.
Its own listing describes it as “family run by locals”, and it’s run by Juan, the owner, who is also the one handing out island advice. The vibe is social but calm: shared dinners and popcorn nights, then quiet time at 11:59 pm.
The logbook
Fifteen-odd years, stamped and sourced.
There’s no official founding date, so we don’t invent one. Each stop shows where it comes from and whether it’s history or checked this month.
- Stop 022011
Open for backpackers
An archived 2012 version of the hostel’s website already mentions a booking policy in place “from September 2011 on” — so the house was taking guests by then.
- Stop 032017
Six years, same address
In a May 2017 blog post, the hostel wrote it had been in business “over 6 years on the same location in Los Almendros” — and listed its tourism registry number, 29218.
- Stop 042019
Goodbye, Old Providence
Blue Almond once had a sister hostel on Providencia, Blue Almond Old Providence. After about five years, the hostel announced it closed in June 2019.
- Stop 052019
Farewell to Shaggy
On 31 December 2019 the hostel said goodbye to Shaggy, its beagle and “official Public Relations Manager”, who it wrote had entertained more than 20,000 guests over 10 years.
- Stop 062020
A pandemic pause
In March 2020 the hostel announced it was closing for COVID-19 “after 10 years in business”, planning to reopen once life got back to normal.
- Stop 072020→
Back in business
The hostel later reopened, and its Hostelworld listing is taking bookings again. We don’t have an exact reopening date, so we won’t make one up.
- Stop 082023
“Over 14 years in business”
Replying to a guest review on Hostelworld in November 2023, the owner mentioned their first guest from Serbia “in over 14 years” in business.
- Stop 092026
A reel with @estefiroble
On 28 September 2026 the hostel posted a collab reel with creator @estefiroble, showing the house as it is now: the sign, the common room, the purple sofa, the murals and the pink doors.
- Stop 102026
RNT 29218: active
In the October 2026 period of the national tourism registry’s open data, RNT 29218 is listed as active for Blue Almond Hostel, a hostal in Barrio Los Almendros.
All sources consulted between 22 and 31 Oct 2026. Archived pages are history — they describe the hostel then, not now.
House tour
Same house, different decades.
Every photo is dated. The old ones are old, and none of them is meant to show you a particular bedroom.
01 The common room, then and now
Then · 2019
Now · 2026
02 The murals
Painted faces on the courtyard walls — a favourite backdrop for guest photos, judging by the hostel’s Instagram.
03 The pink doors
Hard to miss, easy to photograph. This one’s just a door — not a promise of which room you’ll get.
04 The kitchen
A big shared kitchen
Fully equipped — appliances, crockery, cutlery. No microwave (sorry).
05 The lockers
Lockers with plugs inside
Charge your phone behind a lock. Bring your own padlock.
We don’t have photos of these two — so we drew them instead of faking it.
The full list
What comes with your bed.
Straight from the hostel’s own current listing. Tick, tick, tick.
- Coffee all dayFree, from morning to whenever.
- Popcorn every nightA nightly tradition. Movie optional.
- A big shared kitchenFully equipped — appliances, crockery, cutlery. No microwave (sorry).
- Free surfboardsTwo boards, 6′4″ and 6′8″, for guests who know what they’re doing.
- Lockers with plugs insideCharge your phone behind a lock. Bring your own padlock.
- Luggage storage for ProvidenciaLeave the big bag here while you hop over.
- Free Wi-FiFree, with island-internet moods — plan big uploads accordingly.
- Lounge, TV, PS4 & board gamesPlus Netflix for the rainy afternoons.
- Book exchangeLeave one, take one.
- Linen & towelsIncluded, and changed on request for stays over three nights.
- No curfewYou get two keys: front door and your room.
- Actual local adviceFamily-run by locals who’ll tell you what’s worth it — and what isn’t.
The honest details
What’s included — and what isn’t.
Blue Almond is an authentic Caribbean backpacker house: great value, real hospitality, no resort pretending. Better you read it here than discover it at 2 a.m.
Blue Almond HostelM4·C3 · Barrio Los Almendros · San Andrés
Included with your bed
- Coffee all dayfree
- Popcorn every nightfree
- A big shared kitchenfree
- Free surfboardsfree
- Lockers with plugs insidefree
- Luggage storage for Providenciafree
- Free Wi-Fifree
- Lounge, TV, PS4 & board gamesfree
- Book exchangefree
- Linen & towelsfree
- No curfewfree
- Actual local advicefree
Not on the menu
- No air-conditioning: Fans and the Caribbean breeze. Rooms can get warm — guests say so, and we’d rather tell you first.
- No hot showers: Cold water, which in this heat is a feature. Pressure can be gentle on a rain-fed island.
- No breakfast: The kitchen is yours, the coffee is free, and there’s a convenience store a few steps away.
- No 24-hour reception: You’ll get a self check-in email after booking. Tell us your flight and we’ll plan around it.
- No check-ins after midnight: Check-in runs 14:00–23:00 — and never after midnight or before 9:00. Landing late? Message first.
Totalgood people + the island
*** Thank you for not expecting a resort ***
House rules
A few rules, so everyone sleeps.
Short version below. The long version, with the why, lives in the FAQ.
- Adults only (18+)The hostel can’t host anyone under 18.
- Quiet time 11:59 pm — the 80/20 ruleIf 80% of the house wants to keep going, quiet time moves. Otherwise, people are sleeping.
- No outside visitorsGuests only, for everyone’s safety and sleep.
- No groups, stag or hen partiesUp to eight people per booking.
- Bring your own drinks… if you shareStraight from the house rules. Sharing is how friendships start here.
- No sleeping bagsBedding is provided.
- Pay on arrival, cash or cardTaxes included. Credit cards may carry a surcharge (house rules). Online channels may take a deposit — their terms show when you book.
- A few fees existLost keys, lost towels, and gutting fish in the kitchen come with a fee. Yes, the fish one is a real rule.
Location & arrival
Getting to M4·C3.
Tell the taxi driver
Barrio Los Almendros, Manzana 4, Casa 3, San Andrés
(frente a la antigua Defensoría del Pueblo)
That last bit means “opposite the former Ombudsman’s Office” — it’s the landmark the hostel itself gives for taxis, so say it in Spanish.
How far is everything?
- “10-minute walk to downtown”
- “about a 20-minute walk to the main beach”
- “1-minute walk from the ocean”
- “6-minute taxi ride from the airport”
In the hostel’s own words, from its Hostelworld listing (opens in a new tab). We haven’t timed it ourselves.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Arrival card
- From the airport
- Take a taxi. The hostel advises against walking from the airport.
- Share the ride
- Send your flight number and arrival time after booking, and share a taxi with guests on the same flight.
- Check-in
- 14:00–23:00. No check-ins after midnight.
- Before you land
- There’s no 24-hour reception: you’ll get a self check-in email after booking.
RNT 29218 — active
Listed as active in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT) open data, Oct 2026. Declared to the registry: 4 rooms, 12 beds.
See the registry record (datos.gov.co) (opens in a new tab)Sounds like your kind of place?
Come see it for yourself.
Pick your dates and book, or ask a question first. Either way, Juan’s island briefing comes free.