$350 pesos (bartered down from $380) per night, private double with ensuite, 23rd-25th July 2014

Vibe

In contrast to the rest of the somewhat sanitised Zihuatenejo, the owners have cultivated a laid-back surf beach vibe which is pleasant without being pretentious. Personal touches from the artist owner are everywhere, resulting in a colourful and vibrant setting.

Location

A little further from the central bus station than we usually like to haul our packs but that was before we realised you could get a bus directly from the station to the hostel for just $7 pesos. It is around 5 minutes walk, over the bridge, to the port side of town.

Best thing

The rooms are well-presented with quality furniture, comfy beds, individual wall murals, bright colours, flowers and other homely touches. The outdoor setting for the hostel is nicely balanced between quirky social areas and lots of greenery.

The staff are very conscientious, and will help provide you with anything you require for your stay in Zihuatenejo, as well as advice on travel around Mexico.

Worst thing

The kitchen was not functioning at the time of our stay. We were allowed to use the bar/cafe kitchen, but as this was clearly not intended for guest use, it sometimes felt a little intrusive to duck behind and use it like our own. With the guest kitchen fully operational, this would cease to be an issue.

Value for money

This hostel was one of the most expensive we have stayed in thus far into our trip and the cheaper rooms outlined in the guidebook do not seem to exist anymore.

Zihuatenejo is clearly a family holiday hotspot for North Americans and Mexicans, thereby bumping up average room rates, and the costs of running a hostel are of course higher here than elsewhere on the coast. Nevertheless, Rincon is still verging upon being a little over-priced for a backpacker-friendly hostel, which is a real shame as the set-up here is almost perfect.

Recommended for

Zihuatenejo is not designed for the young backpacker, and most accommodation is catered toward older couples and families. Rincon is therefore one of the very few hostel options in Zihuatenejo.

Top tip

Although a little pricier (approximately $100 – although this can be negotiated down if staying more than one night), the VIP rooms above the dorms and kitchen are significantly nicer, with their own sun-drenched terrace area and en-suite bathrooms.

Amenities

Kitchen, wi-fi, secure entrance, social area, pets, cafe/bar (breakfast, smoothies, beer etc), terrace, laundry facilities. There is usually a member of staff on-site who speaks English.