Casa Areka Hostel Review: What €10 Gets You in Panama City

I stayed at Casa Areka during my trip through Panama, when we needed somewhere affordable to stay for our first night in Panama City before continuing toward Bocas del Toro.

After staying in hostels all over the world, I’ve learned that what looks great online isn’t necessarily what matters once you get there. So, is Casa Areka actually a good place to stay in Panama City?

In this Casa Areka review, I’ll tell you what our stay was actually like, what we paid, what you get for the price and whether I’d stay there again.

Casa Areka Hostel Review: My Quick Answer

Yes, I’d recommend Casa Areka if you’re looking for an affordable hostel in Panama City. It’s nothing fancy, but our stay was good and for the price we paid, I was happy with it.

Would it be my first choice if I went back? Probably not. I’d personally choose Viajero Casco Viejo, especially if I was traveling alone and wanted somewhere more social.

My Experience Staying at Casa Areka

We only stayed at Casa Areka for one night. Our flight arrived in Panama City in the early evening and, in typical fashion for this trip, we hadn’t booked anywhere to stay.

Once we arrived, we opened Booking.com and looked for somewhere cheap and available for that night. We weren’t looking for the best hostel in Panama City or somewhere we’d want to spend several days. We literally needed somewhere to sleep before exploring the city the next day and figuring out how to get to Bocas del Toro.

My friend and I originally booked beds in the same mixed dorm, but when we arrived, there was only one bed available. He stayed there while I was moved to the female dorm upstairs.

For what we needed that night, Casa Areka did the job.

How Much Does Casa Areka Cost?

Casa Areka is definitely on the cheaper side for accommodation in Panama City. When we stayed, we paid 20€ in total for two dorm beds for one night, so it worked out at just 10€ per person.

For somewhere we booked literally after arriving in Panama City, I really couldn’t complain about that price.

Prices obviously change depending on the season and when you book, but you can generally expect a dorm bed at Casa Areka to be around 10€ per night.

→ Check current prices for Casa Areka

What’s Included in Your Stay at Casa Areka?

Despite the low price, Casa Areka includes quite a few things:

Free Wi-Fi
Lockers in the dorms
Shared kitchen
Common areas
Swimming pool
Breakfast included

Breakfast was pancakes and coffee when we stayed, which was included in the 10€ we paid per person.

Rooms and Dorms at Casa Areka

The dorms at Casa Areka are pretty basic. I stayed in the female dorm upstairs, while my friend ended up in the mixed dorm.

The beds are simple and don’t have privacy curtains, which is probably the main thing I missed. I always prefer having a curtain in hostel dorms, especially when you’re sharing a room with several strangers.

The dorms do have AC and lockers, and the room felt fresh when I stayed. The only annoying thing I remember was the door making noise every time someone came in or out.

I was also exhausted after the long flight from Europe, so that probably helped, but overall I had a perfectly acceptable night’s sleep. My friend wasn’t quite as lucky thanks to the snoring men in his dorm.

Pool and Common Areas

The common areas at Casa Areka felt more like being in a big shared house than the typical hostel setup I’m used to.

There’s a kitchen you can use to cook your own food, which would have been really useful if we’d stayed longer. There’s a supermarket on the street behind the hostel, so you could easily buy groceries and save some money instead of eating out for every meal.

There’s also a living room with a pool table and another common area with tables, chairs and sofas where you can hang out.

Outside, there’s a garden with a swimming pool. We didn’t use it because we’d apparently decided that doing a three-week trip through Central America during rainy season was a fantastic idea, so it rained pretty much the entire time we were in Panama City.

What’s the Atmosphere Like at Casa Areka?

Casa Areka felt very chill when we stayed there. It wasn’t one of those super social hostels where everyone immediately hangs out together, but it didn’t feel antisocial either.

The staff were also really nice and helpful during our stay.

Would I Recommend Casa Areka to Solo Female Travelers?

I wasn’t traveling alone when I stayed at Casa Areka, but I’ve traveled to 62 countries and done most of that as a solo female traveler. And yes, I would have been comfortable staying here alone.

I actually slept in the female dorm while my friend stayed in the mixed dorm. The hostel felt relaxed, the staff were nice and helpful, and I didn’t experience anything that would have made me uncomfortable staying there without him.

If meeting other travelers was my priority, though, I’d personally choose a more social hostel.

Casa Areka Location

One thing I really liked about Casa Areka was the location. It’s in the San Francisco/Punta Pacífica area of Panama City, which felt much more modern than I expected, with huge buildings and skyscrapers all around us.

There’s a Super 99 supermarket basically right behind the hostel, which is really useful if you want to use the shared kitchen, and we also found an ATM nearby.

You’re around a 10-minute walk from Avenida Balboa and roughly 15 minutes from the Cinta Costera and Multiplaza Pacific. We felt comfortable walking around the area during our stay.

What I Didn’t Like About Casa Areka

There honestly wasn’t anything I particularly disliked, especially considering what we paid. But there are a few things I’d change:

No privacy curtains: This was the biggest one for me. I really prefer having a curtain around my bed when I’m sleeping in a shared dorm.
The noisy dorm door: Every time somebody came in or out of my room, I could hear it.
I’d choose somewhere more social if I were traveling alone: Casa Areka was perfectly fine for this trip, but if I were backpacking solo, I’d probably choose a bigger, more modern and more social hostel where it would be easier to meet other travelers.

Would I Stay at Casa Areka Again?

Yes. If I needed another cheap place to sleep in Panama City, I’d happily stay at Casa Areka again.

That said, Viajero Casco Viejo would probably be my first choice next time. I’ve stayed at Viajero in Medellín, Colombia, and really liked their hostels. They’re bigger, more modern and much more social, which is the kind of hostel I’d personally choose if I was traveling alone.