Hostal Iskanwaya

Where to even begin with Hostel Iskanwaya and Rodrigo’s hospitality. Admittedly this review is a few weeks delayed, but we have been singing Rodrigo’s praises to all our friends and family back home due to him going above and beyond in a fairly stressful situation - this may be long, but there aren’t enough words to highlight how grateful we were. Besides the later misfortune we ended up having whilst in La Paz, first and foremost, the reviews questioning whether Rodrigo sleeps are accurate because straight away on the first day when our bus got in at 5am, he was there to greet us and fortunately was able to let us into our room right away, meaning we could nap straight away after our overnight bus. Onto the more ‘extreme’ circumstances where Rodrigo came into his own - My partner experienced a combination of a potential head injury (from cycling Death Road) and severe altitude sickness, so much so he required medical treatment at a hospital. Obviously as tourists, we weren’t too sure where was the most suitable hospital for us and to add another obstacle, our stay coincided with miners’ strikes involving road blockades everywhere and dynamite being let off, making getting from A to B pretty difficult, not ideal with a medical situation at hand, but I can’t stress enough how much of an angel Rodrigo was at this time. Firstly he recommended a clinic (which was great), but most importantly he enlisted the help of his friends in the local area who were drivers to help us get to and from the hospital, as taxis were proving difficult to get hold of due to the blockades - this included having his friend waiting for us outside the hospital at 10:30pm just in case we didn’t have wifi to contact him when we were ready to arrange pick up, avoiding possibly being stranded at the clinic. Given the situation, we had to keep delaying our bus to Cusco as my partner could barely get out of bed, and we were so so so thankful that not only were we able to extend our stay so easily but we were able to stay in the same room the whole time (we were very fortunate that the guests after us had cancelled their visit at short notice). I don’t know if we were just lucky but our room was super spacious, with lots of light, a really comfortable bed and great bathroom - perfect for my partner who was forced to set up camp here for 4/5 days. Again, Rodrigo was understanding that my partner couldn’t make it downstairs for breakfast and was very accommodating in letting me take him up some food from the spread. He also had some great recommendations for chicken soup from a local cafe to help him feel better. Despite there often being guests requiring his attention for other queries, no matter how many times I popped my head into the reception (he was probably sick of hearing about room 20!), no question or request was too big, and really provided a thorough response to everything. I also don’t think our case was one off, as we heard a conversation between him and our neig

This hotel offers everything you need: very central location, spacious rooms with hot showers, great breakfast. However what made our stay outstanding was how the owner went out of his ways to help me get my eBook reader back which I had forgotten in a hotel in Copacabana. After lots of phone calls with the also very helpful hotel in Copacabana sorting out problems of shipping it by bus to La Paz I got it back. All in all, one of the best hotels we' ve stayed in offering excellent value for money. And if you have any question or problem you can definitely count on their help and assistance.

Good location, good value. If you’re staying at the Iskanwaya on a weekend, step out the door to one of the biggest street markets in la Paz. Weekdays, it’s the flower sellers district. Close by are numerous restaurants and shops. Try China Dragon, two blocks South, for good Chifa, or 1700 in the Coca Museum Courtyard, two blocks North, for great pizza, and unusual wall art. Or just ask Rodrigo, the hotel owner. Great resource. He hooked us up with taxis, restaurants, museums, cholita wrestling, Teleferico pass, etc. I can’t say enough about his help.

The hostel is really a wonderful hotel. Family operated I have to say, we were won over by Rodrigo's grace knowledge and commitment to our success navigating this delightfully diverse city. Daily breakfast of fresh eggs cheese and complement of fruit and natural juices were welcome and greatly appreciated after days trekking this magical place. On the most practical level travel to the center of La Paz was simple and quite walkable and as necessary Rodrigo was willing and quite capable arranging taxistas.

I was in La Paz for a little under two weeks and stayed at several places. Iskanwaya was where I decided to return to for my final nights as I found it to be the best value and best service of all. First of all, Rodrigo, the proprietor, is the man. Anything you need, whether it's a piece of advice, some help hailing a taxi, information about covid testing, restaurant recommendations, teleferico directions, etc etc etc, he has got you covered. He was always there for me, ready to whatsapp a restaurant for a reservation or to schedule a taxi to take me to a faraway destination at an odd hour. I've never met such a professional and dedicated hostelier! Besides the service, the location is fantastic and the rooms are great. Imagine walking out the front door to the hostel surrounded by a fresh flower market every morning. It's exactly the sort of scene you love to see traveling the world. The beds are new and comfortable, the pillows are fresh, the shower is hot, the towels are fluffy, the breakfast is robust, and the wifi is strong. What more needs to be said? It's the perfect place to be.

The location is very convenient. Easy walking distance to Mi Teleférico (Línea Morada), Plaza San Francisco, Sagárnaga Street, Zona Artesanal shops, restaurants, and other attractions. Fruit and vegetable vendors, and especially flower vendors, fill the street outside the hostal. My friends and I had comfortable rooms and enjoyed a family style breakfast each morning. The staff made us feel at home. Our host Rodrigo was excellent! He suggested museums, restaurants, mercados, and more places of interest around La Paz and the surrounding area. He told us how to use Mi Teleférico, arranged for taxi services, COVID testing at Hostal Iskanwaya, and helped with many details to make our visit more enjoyable. A possible downside if you don't have good balance or aren't yet accustomed to the altitude is the spiral staircase to floors above the entrance and the reception area. Rodrigo took our luggage up and down by elevator, so we didn't have to negotiate the stairs with our baggage.