The hostel · top floor, Carrera 10 #12-33

Two sides of SamS

Bulbs on.

The SAM’S HOSTEL letters light up, the water turns turquoise and the square below winds down. Feet in the pool, stories from the day, maybe the sauna first.

Night on the SamS rooftop: a guest’s feet at the edge of the small round pool, the lit SAM’S HOSTEL bulb sign reflected in turquoise water. — The rooftop after dark. · Photo: SamS

The rooftop by day: a small round blue pool on a tiled floor, wooden Adirondack chairs and the SAM’S HOSTEL letters against a blue sky. — The rooftop after dark. · Photo: SamS

01 / The sign

Look up. Bulbs on the roof.

Big marquee letters spell SAM’S HOSTEL over a small round pool. At night the bulbs come on, the town goes quiet-ish, and the roof turns into the best seat in San Gil.

02 / Rooftop days

Small pool. Big view. Sauna next door.

Back from rafting with your legs complaining? Up here there is a plunge pool with the mountains behind it and a sauna a few steps away. The pool is small and unheated — it is made for cooling off, not for laps.

From the edge you can watch the sun drop behind the hills. Guests say it is the best part of the day.

Terrace under a blue awning: iron chairs with leather seats around a slate-topped table, trees and a wooded hill beyond the railing.

03 / The terrace

Coffee first. Plans later.

Mornings start with free coffee and a table outside. Two shared kitchens mean nobody fights for the stove, so cook a market breakfast, spread the map out and decide between canyon and river.

The sunny terrace: wrought-iron chairs and tables on orange tiles, potted plants along the railing and mountains beyond the rooftops.

04 / The lounge

Where the day gets retold.

Sofas, board games, a book shelf, a guitar if someone can play, and a TV for the match. Some nights it is a whole crowd, some nights it is three people and a card game. Both are good.

The lounge under a pitched wooden ceiling: black leather sofas, a cowhide rug, a vintage television and glass doors to a balcony with trees outside.

A black leather sofa against an ochre wall hung with black box shelves holding jars, plants and old bottles.

05 / The square

Front-row seat to San Gil.

The balcony looks straight onto the main square, Parque La Libertad, with the cathedral a block away. The market, restaurants and the buses to nearby towns are all within walking distance.

The trade-off is honest: rooms facing the square hear it. Earplugs are cheap, and the view is worth it.

View from the hostel’s balcony: wrought-iron railing and plants, the street below with a yellow taxi, big trees on one side and green mountains behind the town.

The twin bell towers of San Gil’s Catedral de la Santa Cruz, honey-coloured stone against a deep blue sky.

06 / Arriving

Find the bank. Climb the stairs. Say hi.

You will find us at Carrera 10 #12-33, on the top floors above the BBVA bank on the main square. Expect stairs, and plenty of them, so pack light.

At the desk, a crew from San Gil books rafting, paragliding, canyoning and more with local operators, sorts out your bus tickets and tells you where to eat tonight.

The building from the street: a white colonial facade with wooden balconies, the BBVA cash machine on the left and the vertical HOSTEL sign by a yellow pillar at the entrance on the right.

The interior staircase: terracotta-tiled steps, a wrought-iron banister full of scrolls and a big potted plant on the landing.

Everything, listed honestly

What the hostel’s listings state, what recent guests mention, and what you should ask about — marked so you can tell them apart.

Up on the roof

On the listing: Small rooftop pool A plunge-and-float pool with a view, not one for laps. It is unheated.
On the listing: Sauna Guests used it all through 2026. Ask the desk about hours.
On the listing: Rooftop terraces with mountain views
On the listing: Balcony over the main square
Guests mention it: Hammocks and plants

Practical stuff

On the listing: 24-hour front desk (as listed) Arriving after midnight? Tell us in advance.
On the listing: Free luggage storage
On the listing: Big lockers in the dorms
On the listing: Private parking for cars, motorbikes and bicycles Car spaces depend on availability, so tell us in advance. Motorbikes need no notice.
Ask us: Parking cost Listings disagree on whether it is free — ask.
On the listing: Bed linen included
Ask us: Towels Guests mention a towel on arrival, but listings disagree — ask.
On the listing: Laundry (extra charge)
On the listing: Hot showers

The desk can help with

On the listing: Booking adventures: rafting, paragliding, canyoning and more Run by local operators; the desk sets it up.
On the listing: Bus tickets and route planning
Guests mention it: Tejo nights at a local court Ask which night it is on.
Ask us: Airport or terminal transfers Listed as available at extra cost. Ask for options.
On the listing: Spanish and English Listed languages. Guests say the team makes it work either way.

Good to know (the honest bits)

Guests mention it: Lots of stairs The hostel is upstairs, across several floors above the bank. No lift is listed — ask if stairs are a problem.
On the listing: Breakfast is not included The kitchens are yours, and the coffee is free.
On the listing: Fans everywhere except the Deluxe room Only the Deluxe is listed with air-conditioning.
Guests mention it: Street-facing rooms hear the square Traffic and music, sometimes early. Pack earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Guests mention it: The pool is small and unheated
Guests mention it: Bring a padlock for your locker
Guests mention it: Drinking water is sold, not free
Guests mention it: Narrow parking entrance on a busy street
Guests mention it: More relaxed than party Some weeks are busy, some are quiet. The nightlife is downstairs in town.

On the listing: Stated in the hostel’s own descriptions on booking platforms.
Guests mention it: Mentioned in recent guest reviews — worth confirming when you write.
Ask us: Not confirmed yet. Ask the front desk.

House policies

Registered

SamS VIP Hostel is listed in Colombia’s National Tourism Registry (RNT) as “SAM’S VIP HOSTEL”, number 20643, in San Gil.

RNT 20643

On the listing: Check-in From 15:00 until midnight (24:00).
On the listing: Check-out Until 11:00.
Ask us: Arriving late Arriving after midnight? Message us first so someone is ready to let you in.
Ask us: Payment Listings disagree (one says cash only, another mentions dollars, euros or PayPal). Ask which methods work today.
Ask us: Cancellation Depends on the platform and rate you book. For a direct booking, ask the desk for the terms before you confirm.
Ask us: Children Hostelworld’s policy says no children in dorms (book a private room). Other listings disagree on ages, so ask before booking.
On the listing: Pets Listed as allowed; charges may apply. Ask before bringing one.
On the listing: Smoking Rooms are non-smoking; there is a designated smoking area.
Guests mention it: Before check-in and after check-out Guests mention leaving bags early and even grabbing a shower before a night bus. Just ask.

On the listing: Stated in the hostel’s own descriptions on booking platforms.
Guests mention it: Mentioned in recent guest reviews — worth confirming when you write.
Ask us: Not confirmed yet. Ask the front desk.

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