the location is amazing, not for everyone since there’s no running water or light in the dorm, but i personally had an unforgettable stay. carols is so kind hearted and ready to share everything about him and his work, i had the pleasure to help him in the garden, planting mangroves and a lot more. i initially booked for 2 nights, but i ended up staying almost a week, that’s how great this place is. 100% recommend, 100% coming back.

If you want to be disconnected and really just relax, it is the right place for you.

It is really a perfect place for those who want to have some days off in nature on a beautiful Caribbean island. The hotel is really basic (shower with bucket, no real walls between rooms), but it is very charming for those who look for an eco friendly and simple stay in the nature. The host Carlos is super friendly and will help you wherever he can!

Viviana and Carlos are wonderful hosts, and their hotel is set right in the midst of nature, making the stay a true experience in itself!

Vibe is awesome. Staff was very helpful and kind. Hardworking people with love for the island, nature and animals. For sure the only real "eco" place on the island. Very nice place to stay and relax

“Authentic + rustic + adventurous experience, mucho relaxo!”

Everything! This place is rustic, adventurous and authentic! Carlos the owner is the loveliest person, speaks English well (which is really helpful as a non Espanol speaking person). The room is comfortable if you understand that there is no luxury here! Showers were with a bucket, this was an experience that reminded us how much water we waste, and it was oddly satisfying and refreshing! The property is super interesting with lots of the owners art making the place a happy and fun place to stay! The hammocks out the front of the rooms and in the common area provides an amazing place to relax and unwind. The property is remote (but close to everything as the island is very small) making this a very peaceful place to stay. The owner also offers breakfast and dinner for an added cost and this was amazing, he made us vegetarian burritos in a handmade egg pancake, delish! Cannot recommend this enough for an authentic experience giving back to the community! Muchias gracias Carlos and Mango!

After reading all the positive reviews here we were really underwhelmed. Carlos is a lovely host but it was too expensive for what it is, and the day trips/meals were extremely costly. The place itself is basic, which isn't bad in itself, but a bit grubby and not in a particularly nice setting. What we wish we had known beforehand is that almost all the coastal areas and beaches are owned by private hotels and cut off which means there is only one small strip of beach you can actually go to. This gets packed during the day with day trippers and plays thumping music. It feels quite claustrophobic.

“Lovely quiet place with very kind people”

Such a lovely place, with incredibly kind and helpful people. Hammocks are perfect for naps, the food was great, the dogs were adorable, it is quiet and close to the beaches, and to Orika. Keep it simple and stay for a few days.

“I had the most magical time spent at Arte & Advnetura Hostel ~ Carlos is a true gem!”

Gosh, where to begin… all the food was homemade by the Wonderful Carlos who has been running the hostel for the past 40 years! ~ he takes such great care of his guests and takes a genuine interest in each soul who passes through this place, also the food tastes of love & all the activities with Michael were just so serene

“Comfortabel and relaxing stay”

Peace and tranquillity. Most of the islands have noisy places. Carlos and Mario are very nice people. It's simple but adequate. Enough to eat in or around the area. We came for a mindfulness relax area. We found it!

Location on the island.

“Authentic, sustainable tourism I'll never forget”

It was authentic. Carlos really cares about the island. If you're after luxury, don't come here. If you want to see something real, contribute to sustainable tourism, and enjoy a near private Caribbean beach, this is the place. The unexpected tours were snorkelling, mangrove canoe and walking tour. Loved the mangroves, felt so far away from anything I'd experienced before. Carlos cooked for us on the first night, and also made breakfast. There was a nearby restaurant we ate at the following day. Would recommend with a friend or partner - you will meet other travellers but most are in pairs. It was nice for us to share the room together; we both got double beds! Amazing value for money on a beautiful island. Would recommend good level of Spanish, or travelling with someone who does. Definitely bring a power bank and cash; we could pay by card for the stay and activities, but if you want a pina colada on the beach it's cash.

We were doing a scuba diving course in a diving center on the island. The nearest dock is only 2 minutes away and therefore very well located. The accomodation is very basic but if you don't need much and love nature you will most probably enjoy it. The host is very friendly and cooks delicious meals!

The place is charming and the owner is super nice. The hostel is very close to the most beautiful beach. It's very basic but I didn't expect luxury so for me it was good.

Location on the island.

“Wonderful & peaceful stay on Isla Grande”

We had a fantastic time at Arte y Aventura. Carlos is a fantastic host, and he taught us about his work in conserving the mangroves around the island. It was super easy to book activites with him and there are quite a few options ie. Snorkelling, kayaking, bioluminescent plankton and others. He cooks lovely dinners and breakfasts also. The location is only a short walk to a lovely beach where you can watch beautful sunrise/sunset. Would definitely recommend to stay here for a peaceful and welcoming stay on Isla Grande.

located in a very cool spot in the forest so is all shaded which is important. it is very very close to a lovely quiet tranquil beach and next to some beautiful mangroves. the facilities are basic but that is what you pay for. A small fan above the bed was provided however it was not sufficient enough for the very hot weather. Very kind owner (Carlos), housekeeper (María) and dog (Mango). María cleaned our room every day and Mango joined us on most our adventures. The place is located on the other side of the island to the town however it is still only a 15 minute walk and there is a shop and a few restaurants only a 5 minute walk away. Right outside our room lived blue lizards. The island is abundant with wildlife; we saw every kind butterfly and bird and we saw an iguana. Carlos also offers and sorts tours in which we did multiple. Carlos also cooked us breakfast and dinner which was yummy.

No breakfast, location was amazing.

Don’t even get me started with the staff - we absolutely loved Carlos and the intern. Felt so welcome and the trip they arranged were super nice and cost efficient. Can’t wait to go back. All the best to Carlos and the team there ❤️

“Amazing.”

Loved the location and the vibe. The food was good and the staff was awesome. Very helpful and kind. It's like camping but with a rood and a bed!