‘Hostel Alley’

Rio’s hostels range from enormous party places with 40-bed dorms, bars and even hot tubs to laid back digs with an emphasis on friendly staff and helpful service. If the latter appeals to you, then your first port of call when arriving in Rio should be Rua Barão da Torre in Ipanema. Tucked away on a gated sidestreet is ‘hostel alley’ – six or seven dinky little backpacker havens each with dorms and private rooms. The first to open was Harmonia – a Swedish-owned place that today is particularly popular with Scandinavians. Right next door is Lighthouse hostel – another good option with friendly Brazilian/New Zealand owners and a very nice little double room alongside neat dorms. Opposite, Wave Hostel (which also has a larger branch in Copacabana) is a relaxed place that’s popular with a young, up-for-it crowd. Although these are the standout hostels on the street, all the options on ‘hostel alley’ are good thanks to the fantastic location just a couple of minutes’ walk from Ipanema beach. Security is very good – each hostel has its own night guard, and another keeps watch on the gated street. As guests at each hostel tend to congregate outside, the atmosphere is very lively – things quieten down at 10pm out of courtesy to some elderly neighbours, but luckily there’s an excellent street bar – Carolice – right next door. Prices on the street are a little higher than average for Rio, but the location, security and atmosphere make it worth the extra.