SANTA MARIA HOSTEL MUNROE ISLAND

Location, Nature

Not quite walkable to eateries .

The location was excellent and the staff was very friendly and helpful Perfect for solo travelers and group travelling

Very tranquil place, and the staff was extremely helpful.

The mattresses were really hard, and there was no hot water

Santa maria offered great stay with clean room, tasty breakfast and strong wifi.. place where it is located is the plus point of santa maria also the host nivy was very friendly and supportive.. had great time here.. highly recommend

I was here for the second time! As always Raj was super nice and helpful and the place is a little corner of paradise, quiet, in front of the lake, everything you need to recharge your energy♥️

Excellent view with nice host.. always Good vibes..👍

Vibe of the hostel and specially manager raj is super awesome 👍

Friendly staff and other guests, beautiful location. Good value with breakfast included and can help organise activities.

Not too much close by. Simple accommodation, but comfortable.

A lovely hostel right on the water! Such a beautiful place to relax with hammocks and the host was so helpful. Highly recommend!!

Rajat has made the stay too comfortable and did every possible help which he can to make the most out of stay !

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If you are looking at Munroe Island It means you want to stay away from the crowd and noise, and I can guarantee you Santa Maria is the best place for chilling and being in the peaceful nature. Raj is the host, and he has been the best! Ask him anything you need, he knows his stuff and he will surely help you.

Stayed here longer than I thought I would. The hostel really fits my needs for a calm and chilling place. Right on the water, away from anything else. Raj (the host) will help you find the best kayak/boat tour. I will bring magnificent memories of this place.

Posizione splendida Good vibes

Views are fantastic.

Where to start... the person running the hostel was useless, he seemed very unorganised and a lot of the time I had no idea where he was so couldn't ask him anything. The room was advertised as having multiple facilities that it didn't have, there was no mosquito net, no towels, no safe, no toilet paper, all of which were listed in the room I paid for. The breakfast was meagre, I ended up just having a banana, not what you expect when it says breakfast included. It's also very difficult to access, when returning to the station I had to cross two railway lines. I changed from two nights to one. Go and stay at the SM hostel in Kovalam instead, it's way better!

Location, facilities

Only one fan at the dorm. It's very hot

Backyard backwater swimming pool

Need to keep bed clean

The location is wonderful, and the hostel staff, - Jenny was very helpful. I had the most amazing time.

It didn't bother me much, but the cleanliness in the bathroom could be improved.

Would definitely come again! The host naijeen is easy going, helpful and sympathetic. My dormitory was spacious and clean. Breakfast is included. And the idyllic location directly at the backwater lake is perfect for recreation, swimming, kayaking ...

amazing spot with great views and great vibes literally all you need to have a chill getaway is there and there’s shops 5 min walk away if you need anything

If i'll come back to India one day i will surely spend more time in Munroe at Santa Maria Hostel, it was special and regenerating. Thanks to people at the hostel and Nageen (owner) i had a great time, one day we also cooked together an exquisite chicken tandoori! In the evening you can see sunsets with a majestic magical silence while laying down on a hammock.

I enjoyed my stay very much. The place is far from the city but thanks to that you can enjoy the quietness. Appu even let me paint a mural! It is a place where you can breathe joy and relaxation.

A very chilled relaxing place to stay for a night ,, the manager was kind and he always wants to help the travellers if they want to do something around the island and wants to make sure they are having a good time. He always asks if we have had dinner and if we want anything which I think is really nice. Naijeen make us chai a lot lol and I really appreciate this as I’m a chai addict ahha thanks Naijeen for making the place feel like home and being a nice person to everyone ☺️

Location, staff, facility, vibe

Nothing, it was great. I took the best room though, the other rooms dont have AC and each are a little different.

Nice place to relax and chill in Munroe Island. They provide boat sunset and sunrise cruise, kayaking and other kind of activities. Dormitories are a little dark and humid but for the price it’s ok !

Lakeside chill, tent, breakfast and dinner

could be better cleaned : bathroom, untidy indoors

Laid back vibe. Plenty of areas to relax by the lake and enjoy the gentle breeze. Complimentary local breakfast; the dinner (extra cost) is pretty good too. Kayak rental. Remote but still have access to local restaurants (20min walk away) and shops.

Road to hostel floods with the tide, and there are only a few hours a day where one can cross without getting feet wet. Could be tricky when arriving or leaving hostel with luggage. There are a couple alternate routes across the railway track but not advisable with luggage.

Wonderful spot, great location, good staff too, wonderful travelers to meet there as well

All was really good. Rooms / dormitories are cleaned (different types are available with Ac/ non Ac). Apu our host was really caring and will always answer all questions. Santa Maria is definitely an Amazing place for relaxing and chill out - and enjoying the local boat or kayak to explore the backwaters and beautiful mangroves (did a 3 hours boat trip at sunrise, the light and nature were amazing - really worth it)! To reach the place, the easiest is to reach with the train - the train station is Munrotuttu. Or if you come by bus, the bus is from Kollam / Perumon and then a ferry from Perumon to Munroe island !

All was good

It is a beautiful hostel due to its proximity to Ashtamudi lake , giving people the opportunity to enjoy the views or enjoying a swim or a kayak/boat ride directly from hostel’ premises, the manager and the local staff and volunteers are super nice and helpful, the woman who cooks the breakfast and lunch and dinner ( on request) is the best chef ever, very nice vibes and walking distance to the town square and some other shops and restaurants , the railway station is only 10 minutes away with tuk tuk or 30 minutes walk , the hammocks next to the lake are the best experience to have a rest and some moment of joy

I had a double room which was super nice, with a balcony facing the lake. Food was great. A kayak is there for rent, highly recommended. Very easy going and friendly atmosphere.

Railway is near, trains are audible now and then. Nothing horrible.

The breathtaking view 😍

Nothing

Maybe my favourite hostel after 4 months in India - I booked for 2 nights and ended up staying over a week. You can get out of bed and jump straight into the backwaters. The sunrise boat tour through the mangroves is a must (& really good value). Loved the Keralan breakfast in the morning, and appreciated being able to use the kitchen to cook my own food after travelling for ages! Attracts a great backpacker crowd and is super social in a chill way. Rooms are simple but clean and the outdoor common areas are perfect - hammocks galore. Thanks for a great stay 🌊🌴🌞

It's an island so eating out options are limited - it's to be expected! Totally worth it to enjoy suchna secluded spot

Amazing community vibe which was created by the large shared table in the courtyard. Everyone got together in the mornings for the free breakfast. Pretty secluded spot they serve lunch and dinner at an extra cost Did the sunrise canoe tour which was really good! Host Narjeen is so helpful and kind

About 20 mins walk from other restaurants. The path to the hostel is sometimes underwater depending on the tide. You can walk through but you'll get wet feet! Some of the walls were pretty thin

Really relaxed and sociable hostel. Host was so helpful and kind, and the location is beautiful. It's a bit out of the way but we loved that and you can eat at the hostel or there are a few places a little walk away. Would absolutely recommend.

Very nice staff and amazing location

Rooms and surroundings are run down

I stayed for one week. Perfect location, clean and comfortable rooms, you can swim in the lake, and overall Naijeen has been a wonderful host !! Thanks for everything !

What a location. This place is situated near back waters and surrounded by greenary. Very calm location

Beds were not comfortable for me.

It is like a good sunset point as well as lake front view is wonderful.you can start your day here with good swimming and delicious food and end it to a peaceful sunset.

Peaceful with great location and also perfect place for swimmers.

The location is absolutely stunning. It's isolated and dreamy. The host is wonderful and very helpful. The rooms are clean and simple.

The social vibe, staff and location were very very nice. Such a social place to meet other backpackers. Right on the water with a couple hammocks. Staff very friendly. 10 mins walk to a couple restaurants. Can easily do any tour you want from the hostel.

The rooms are really bad. Private room is terrible value for money. One fan above the bed. Mattress paper thin. No shower pressure so it's a bucket shower. Place is a bit neglected so very old and falling apart. Breakfast was not the best. There were two curries and idl made and put on the table for everyone to share but hygiene was not the best so there was hair in the Currys. Overall we had a great great time but that was because of the other travellers we met and not the accommodation. The value for money was really bad.

Santa Maria Hostel is a nice place to chill in the nature and get to know local or international travellers. It is a bit isolated, but in a good way: not bothered from the outer world, but Apu, the hostelguy helped us to have any needs: he brought us foods, drinks, ordered cab or boat, and so on. And was good that he also easily hang out with us, made us feeling at home. Room was okay, lake view is amazing.

I had a really Nice stay in the hostel and it's all because of Aravnd, the manager who create a total chill mood and make everything for people to meet together and having a good time ! He also been really helpfull to help me with the transportation and advices and he's doing his best for the travellers to have good time Location is perfect also to visit Munroe Island and you can organise tour directly from the hostel

The matress on the bed are really hard

The host showed unmatched hospitality, caring so well for us as guests. It was a very personal setting since the island is so calm and nothing much was going on. We had a good time with all the backpackers and the host. It's nice to be right by the water surrounded by peaceful nature. It's awesome that breakfast is included.

It is not the cleanest place and could be maintained a bit better. I recommend booking the more expensive rooms. But for the cheap price you shouldn't have very high expectations.

This hostel is in a beautiful location. Its very peaceful and tranquil. Perfect for a relaxing break. Really lovely and helpful staff. Right on the water so great for fishing, kayaking and cooling off in the heat.

Being right next to the water was amazing! Very peaceful.

The beds could be a little softer.

It was right by the waterfront and peaceful

This place is amazing ! The location is perfect, by the water, really quiet. Naijeen is literally the best ! So nice and helpful. I definitely recommend !

Naijin is an incredible host, a fantastic person to welcome you to Santa Maria and the view of the lake as you leave your room is phenomenal

The shower wasn’t great, poor water pressure and toilet wasn’t great

What a amazing place such a nice place and nice room everything is good very closer than hotel beach at all living place very beautiful

Nothing

Very peaceful and the stuff was great. Great place to relax and chill in hammocks :)

The location is awesome, best place to chill and meet people. The owner is lovely.

Amazing location with great views and good boating tours. Very relaxing atmosphere

Common sitting area is right in front of the dorms - so can get very noisy.

Beautiful place, i met nice people :) Possibility to rent bikes, which was very convenient !

I regret that there was no clean place to do yoga. And the AC in the room was way too cold !

amazing location, good staff,, clean, ac

It's a little far from market or restaurant

Excellent location, one of the best sunset of my life. really nice atmosphere, excellent for travellers, u meet lot of people everyday. Staff super cool and helpful Recommended

I would suggest more bathroom and something about maintanance / cleanliness

Very sociable hostel with a nice area to chill. The hostel manager is very helpful with organising transport and boat trips. Would highly recommend.

Great location, nice and very helpful manager, nice people and hammocks 😀

This hostel is a place out of time, where you can meet lovely people from all around the world and forget all your problems. Neijeen is the best man, so lovely and helpful, I will miss him! Definitely recommend this hostel if you want to make great memories!

I don't really have something to say there but maybe it's better to have a scooter or a bike if you stay there for a long time because the hostel is quite far away from restaurants and shops so it's a lot of walking.

Absolutely amazing location, staff, company, comfort and everything.

The kitchen could have been cleaner or the users encouraged to clean after themselves

Lovely location, by a quieter side of the lake, with a railway bridge within eyeshot. There's space to swim, laze around in hammocks, and even cycle around the island. The common area is adequately large and nicely placed, with breeze from the lake and trees for shade.

Beds are a little creaky/shakey and not so firmly held in place. More options for food and drink (arranged from outside if needed, or stocked up) would also be helpful.

Scenic view

Food was worse. Rooms were just ok

Only stayed one night but it was excellent! The owner was really great and organised a sunrise boat trip. The location is amazing - right on the water and the vibes are great too. Would highly recommend.

Best hostel ever! Beautiful community. The place is soo quiet, refreshing and beautiful. Just swimming, hanging in the hammock, paddling, boating and having good food for a couple of days. I extended my stay twice and will come back some day

Awesome location, great staff, peaceful environment, great hammocks area, waterfront, boat pick up at the hostel

Great location - right next to the lake, friendly and helpful staff, delicious food. Couldn't ask for more.

Location was perfect Food was fantastic Staff and people were super lovely Highly recommend

Right by the water where you have a great view for sunset. There are several hammocks and a nice common area outside to hang out. Social atmosphere. You can organize a canoe trip and other activities directly from the hostel. Breakfast is included and you can also use the kitchen to cook. Wifi worked well. Each bed has a power outlet/socket.

I don't think they change the bedsheets between guests because when I checked in there was sand or dirt all over my bed from the previous guest. The beds are also extremely uncomfortable, the mattress is so thin you feel like you're sleeping directly on the metal frame below. There's no possibility of taking a packed breakfast with you if you leave the hostel before breakfast time (which is 8:00 am), they won't even give you some fruit to take with you, I asked.

I came here for 1 night only but end up with 13 days here. If you are coming to kochi or varkala don't miss this place

The location was superb. Very quiet and peaceful place

The beds were awful, thin metal underneath a chapati mattress made sleeping a nightmare. The facilities mentioned in the description are very misleading, if it was a joke I might have laughed. The swimming pool was a fenced off section of the lake, a paddling pool full of mud. I guess that they could have called it an infinity pool/spa treatment centre to big up the below average hostel

GOOD

The hostel is right on the river front. It was so nice for swimming and relaxing. I met some lovely people and had a great stay.

Hostel was very dirty I was there 4 nights and nothing was cleaned. No light in the bathroom and bed was very uncomfortable. There were broken chairs and tables strewn about and basically staff didn't really care.

The location is amazing, Naijeen the host is very kind and always on hand to help and make sure everyone is having a good time and organising trips and meals. The people you meet here are also one of the biggest highlights so much so that we didn’t want to leave!

The best budget spot to stay in Munroe, location of the property is lit 💯