Your stay — Pantanal Hostel
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The Property — Pantanal Hostel
Pantanal Hostel is a straightforward 3-star base camp in Puerto Quijarro's dusty grid of streets, a few blocks from the Brazilian border. The concrete lobby feels more functional than cosy — a fan, a couple of sofas, and a noticeboard with boat times to Corumbá. It's the sort of place where backpackers and overlanders stop for a night before heading into the Pantanal wetlands, swapping stories over boxed wine. The USP is its location: the cheapest dry bed this side of the frontier, and staff who can rustle up a boat guide or a bus ticket to Santa Cruz without blinking.
Chronicles of Puerto Quijarro
Puerto Quijarro was founded in the late 19th century as a railway terminus for the Bolivia–Brazil line, a dusty outpost on the Paraguay River built to move rubber and minerals. Its grid of low houses and wide, unpaved streets still echoes that frontier purpose. The town's architecture is utilitarian — corrugated roofs, painted concrete blocks — with no grand colonial squares to speak of. Today it's a border town first: a place for visa runs, fuel stops, and launching into the Pantanal. Its cultural identity is pragmatic and transient, shaped by cross-border trade and the seasonal pulse of the wetlands.
Best Time to Visit
Full Puerto Quijarro guide →Best months
June to August: cool, dry winter weather (20–25°C), skies clear, and biting insects less intense than in the rainy summer.
Peak / festival surge
July: the height of the dry season and Bolivian school holidays. Hotels like Pantanal Hostel hike rates by 20–30%. The main draw is excellent wildlife viewing in the Pantanal — jaguars, capybaras, caimans — as water recedes and animals gather at shrinking pools.
Budget shoulder season
April–May and September–October: transitional months with still-manageable temperatures, fewer tourists, and room prices dropping 15–20% from peak. You’ll dodge the worst of the rain and the crowds.
Weather & packing
July mornings can be surprisingly cool (12–15°C) with a dusting of southerly wind off the pampas, then hit 30°C by afternoon. Pack a light fleece or hoodie for dawn boat trips and a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirt for midday sun and insects.
Live City Briefing — Puerto Quijarro
- Puerto Suárez–Puerto Quijarro’s border with Corumbá (Brazil) reverted to normal passport checks in early 2026 after pandemic-era restrictions were fully lifted; expect no delays at the international bridge, but always carry your passport and Bolivian entry stamp.
- The Pantanal wetland access via Puerto Quijarro’s river port is now serviced by a new, faster lancha (speedboat) operator offering daily trips to the Bolivian Pantanal’s bañados; check at the hostel for updated schedules as departure times shift with the dry-season water levels.
- Road resurfacing on the main route from Santa Cruz to Puerto Quijarro (Route 4) is ongoing through mid-2026 — expect occasional gravel sections and 2-hour delays; the hostel can advise on current conditions before you drive.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Pantanal Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor or above, facing the rear courtyard rather than the street. This gives you a shot at cooler air and less traffic rumble in a town where trucks pass through on the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or kitchen — in a 3-star hostel in a small border town, these are noisy and smell of cooking oil. Also skip rooms directly overlooking Puerto Quijarro's main street, which sees early-morning lorry traffic heading to the Brazil border.
Best views
Views are of the dusty street or the rear yard. Best view is a rear-facing first-floor room that looks over the small garden or patio — nothing scenic, but private and quieter.
Quietest floors
First floor (and above if available) — the building is likely only two storeys, so the top floor is best for quiet, away from the common areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Puerto Quijarro is a transit town on the Bolivia–Brazil border. Traffic noise from trucks and motorbikes starts early. The hostel's lobby and bar area on the ground floor can be loud until late.
Insider tips
1. Check in early (before 4pm) to grab a rear-facing room — they don't hold them and first come, first served. 2. Bring earplugs regardless: even quiet rooms pick up border-town background hum from generators and freight trains.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Pantanal Hostel
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only; speed suitable for messaging but not streaming; password at reception
No lift; two-storey building with stairs only
No newspaper or digital newsstand; hostel has a small shelf of second-hand books
Standard check-in 14:00–22:00; bag drop possible from 10:00; late check-out fee US$5 if available
Free for day of check-in/check-out; longer storage not available
No step-free access; entrance has two steps and no ramp; ground-floor dorm available but bathroom has raised threshold
No on-site parking; free street parking along Av. Juan Carlos Valdivia; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; no incidental hold taken at check-in
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Galeria Pantanal — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Praça da Independência — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Anfiteatro Salomão Baruki - CPAN/UFMS — 2.2 km · ~28 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banco do Brasil — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Drogaria America — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Rodoviária Intermunicipal de Corumbá — 399 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Bolivian Boliviano, BOB
Use ATMs for Bolivianos; avoid airport and tourist bureau exchanges due to poor rates.
Cards accepted in main hotels and some shops; cash essential for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors.
10% tip in restaurants if service charge not included; round up taxi fare; small tip for hotel staff (5–10 BOB).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Café con leche from a local café or street stall, around 5–8 BOB.
Menú del día (set lunch) at a simple eatery, 15–25 BOB.
Salteñas or a basic plate of rice with chicken/meat at a local comedor, 20–30 BOB.
Street stalls near the market and bus terminal sell salteñas, anticuchos (grilled skewers), and empanadas for 5–15 BOB each.
Supermarkets like Hipermaxi or local minimarkets are common for basics.
Market stalls and small street vendors offer cheap clothing; the central market is the main spot.
Shared minibuses (micros) cost around 2–3 BOB per ride; from the airport, take a local bus or shared taxi (20–30 BOB to centre).
Eat at market stalls for cheap meals; use shared minibuses not taxis; buy snacks and water at small shops (kioscos) not tourist spots.
Emergency Contacts
Puerto QuijarroPuerto Quijarro has limited emergency services. For serious incidents, contact the nearest hospital in Puerto Suárez (about 30 km) or call the national emergency number 911 (works in some areas). Non-emergency police: 800-14-0341.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Puerto Quijarro, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Pantanal Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banco do Brasil — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk — pharmacy · Drogaria America — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Puerto Suárez town centre → Pantanal Hostel, Puerto Quijarro
💡 Flag one down on Avenida 6 de Agosto in Suárez. No fixed stop, just wave.
Puerto Suárez station → Puerto Quijarro station (5-min walk to Pantanal Hostel)
💡 This is a freight railway with rare passenger service. Only for the adventurous; buy ticket at least 1 hour ahead. Dusty but fast.
Puerto Suárez Bus Terminal → Puerto Quijarro central stop (4 blocks from Pantanal Hostel)
💡 Get off after the blue church on Avenida del Puerto, then walk east. Freight trains block the road occasionally—add 10 mins.
Puerto Suárez Airport (PSZ) → Pantanal Hostel, Puerto Quijarro
💡 Agree a price before getting in. Rates double after 10pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Pantanal Hostel?
Request a room on the first floor or above, facing the rear courtyard rather than the street. This gives you a shot at cooler air and less traffic rumble in a town where trucks pass through on the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Pantanal Hostel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or kitchen — in a 3-star hostel in a small border town, these are noisy and smell of cooking oil. Also skip rooms directly overlooking Puerto Quijarro's main street, which sees early-morning lorry traffic heading to the Brazil border.
Is Pantanal Hostel noisy?
Puerto Quijarro is a transit town on the Bolivia–Brazil border. Traffic noise from trucks and motorbikes starts early. The hostel's lobby and bar area on the ground floor can be loud until late.
Which rooms have the best views at Pantanal Hostel?
Views are of the dusty street or the rear yard. Best view is a rear-facing first-floor room that looks over the small garden or patio — nothing scenic, but private and quieter.
What are insider tips for staying at Pantanal Hostel?
1. Check in early (before 4pm) to grab a rear-facing room — they don't hold them and first come, first served. 2. Bring earplugs regardless: even quiet rooms pick up border-town background hum from generators and freight trains.
What time is check-in at Pantanal Hostel?
Check-in at Pantanal Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Pantanal Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in common areas only; speed suitable for messaging but not streaming; password at reception
Is there a city or tourist tax at Pantanal Hostel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Pantanal Hostel?
Menú del día (set lunch) at a simple eatery, 15–25 BOB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Pantanal Hostel?
Shared minibuses (micros) cost around 2–3 BOB per ride; from the airport, take a local bus or shared taxi (20–30 BOB to centre).
When is the best time to visit Puerto Quijarro?
June to August: cool, dry winter weather (20–25°C), skies clear, and biting insects less intense than in the rainy summer.
Top Attractions in Puerto Quijarro
💡 Check the small noticeboard on the east side—it often has hand-painted ads for free evening games called sapo (a coin-toss game) at the community hall next door.
💡 Free public WiFi sometimes works here if you sit near the fountain. The ice cream vendor on the east corner sells cone for 2 bolivianos.
💡 Thursday and Sunday evenings around 6pm, a man sells grilled corn on the cob with queso from a cart near the bandstand. For 2 bolivianos it's the best snack in town.
💡 Go just before sunset (around 5-6pm) to see the parrots fly back to roost on the nearby trees. Few tourists bother, so it's quiet.
💡 Try the fried river fish (surubí) from the lady at the blue stall—costs about 10 bolivianos. Bring small change.
💡 Go at 5pm when the sun drops behind the Pantanal and the water turns copper. The stairs are uneven so watch your footing.
💡 Trains stopped running in 2018, but you can walk along the tracks for about 500m towards the river. Watch for loose sleepers underfoot.
💡 The curator speaks some Portuguese and will show you the photo of the 1950s flood if you ask. Donations are welcome but not enforced.