What It’s Like Staying at Bigfoot Hostel in León, Nicaragua
If you’re traveling to Leon, Nicaragua you have most likely heard of Bigfoot Hostel. Bigfoot is known for its infamous volcano boarding and nightly events and parties. Here’s everything you need to know before staying at Bigfoot Hostel.
Facilities
Dorms
They have both 4 bed dorms and 9 bed dorms. The 4 bed dorms are typical dorm style with bunk beds while the 9 bed dorms are pods. The 9 bed dorm was the nicest hostel I’ve ever stayed in and it’s like your own little room. In each pod there is the bed, outlets, a light and plenty of space to also store your stuff. The rooms do get warmer during the day but there is AC at night which is super nice because Leon can get pretty warm.
The dorms range from about $12-14 USD a night.
Private Rooms
There are also private rooms available; they have both triple privates (a full bed and twin bed) and quadruple privates (2 full beds). With the privates you will still use the shared bathroom and they are about $33 a night.
Kitchen
There is a shared kitchen available for all guests. It has all the basic things you would need to cook. The fridge and freezer were not cold when I was there but this could be a temporary thing. From what I saw the kitchen was always super empty and most people went and got food around Leon especially because you can find some great budget friendly options.
Bathrooms and Showers
There are 2 different bathrooms. One that is in the main area that is accessible to anyone not just hostel guests to be used during the nightly events. There is then a large main bathroom that only hostel guests can use. It has about 7 showers, 10 bathroom stalls and 4 sinks. It is in the large “outdoor” area in the back of the hostel and mixed gender. You won’t find hot water here similar to the majority of hostels in Nicaragua but with the heat 100% not necessary.
Lockers
In the dorm rooms there is one big wardrobe with separate sections that can each be locked to lock up your valuables. There are also a lot of additional lockers scattered around the hostel so you can just find an open one anywhere and claim it. Make sure to bring your own lock for the lockers.
Guest Only Areas
After you walk past reception there is a gate and a volunteer or staff member checking wristbands and that you are a hostel guest. The dorms, bathrooms, showers, couches, hammocks and pools are all in the hostel guest only area so when there are parties going on non hostel guests can’t go in the dorms. It has several nice places to sit and hang out in this area.
Common Areas Open to The Public
There are several common areas that are open to the public and people from nearby hostels regularly visit. This includes the bar area, pool table room, some couches and a separate guest bathroom area.
Bar
Every night the bar is open and it’s not just for hostel guests it’s also open to the public. They always have great music playing. They are super strict on no outside drinks so anything you want you have to get at their bar but unlike most hostels they actually have better prices than any store or bar in Leon. It can get super crowded here depending on what the nightly activity is but if you are wanting to sleep all music off and everyone leaves and goes to bed by 10am so a good mix of activities while still getting sleep and being able to explore in the morning.
Pool Tables
You will also find a pool table in a separate room right next to the bar. This tended to only be used during the day and surprisingly not at night.
Wifi
There is free wifi available at the hostel. It’s not anything super fast if you work remotely and that is important to you when staying at a hostel. I wouldn’t recommend here but it’s great for someone who does not work remotely.
Safety and Security
Even though it’s a party hostel, Bigfoot feels safe. There’s 24/7 reception, security at the door, and lockers for your stuff. Also having the dorms and showers blocked off from everyone coming into the party is super nice.
Cleanlineness
I have read many reviews that it is dirty and gross here but when I was here it was the complete opposite. I don’t know if they have made changes recently due to the many reviews about that but they are now constantly cleaning. They have multiple people strictly cleaning all day long, you will see them mop 4-5 times a day and they make sure it’s always super clean and nice.
What Happens Each Day: Weekly Events at Bigfoot Hostel
- Sunday: Beer Pong Tournament
- Monday: Beach Clean Up
- Tuesday: Chicken Bus Pub Crawl
- Wednesday: Beer Pong Tournament
- Thursday: Beach Clean Up
- Friday: Different party every week
- Saturday: Chicken Bus Pub Crawl
Volcano Boarding, Leon Nicaragua
The main reason people come to Bigfoot hostel and Leon Nicaragua in general is for volcano boarding. For volcano boarding you hike up Cerro Negro and then go sliding down the volcano upwards of 50 kilometers per hour. After that, there was a party on the chicken bus and dinner at a local family’s house. There are different companies you can go with but Bigfoot was the first one and is the biggest one. They also make it a full day adventure, it starts around 12pm and you get back around 9pm.
The Experience
- 12pm check in at the hostel
- Take the chicken bus to Cerro Negro National Park (about an hour away)
- Quick briefing, then a 1 hour hike to the top (you can either carry your board up or you can pay one of the locals $5 to carry it up for you)
- Suit up and slide down the volcano (some hit speeds of 30–60 km/h)
- Take a chicken bus back into León (they light up the bus, play music and pass out drinks making it a party on the bus)
- Enjoy a group dinner at a local families house, bonfire, and party back at the hostel
- Stop by the bar at the hostel for some drinks and dancing and then join whatever evening party is going on.
It’s an 8–9 hour adventure and totally worth it. The tour costs around $35 plus the park entrance fee which is $10. You get all the gear (suit, goggles, board, bag, etc) to use for the tour, drinks, dinner, transportation and a t-shirt.
Other Stuff to do Near Bigfoot
When you’re not volcano surfing or chilling by the pool, there’s plenty to check out nearby:
- Climb the Cathedral rooftop
- Join a free walking tour
- Visit the local market
- Head to the beach Playa Peñitas
Final Thoughts
If you’re into social hostels, love a good party, or just want to go volcano boarding, Bigfoot Hostel is worth it. It’s lively, affordable, clean, central, and full of people looking to have a good time. Just don’t expect peace and quiet every night, but you can expect a calm night by 12pm or if you want to keep hanging out a lot of people head over to the local bar once Bigfoot shuts down.
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