The house
The Tía’s house
A big, white, hand-painted family house in a traditional Santa Marta neighbourhood. No lobby, no wristband: an arched door, a chalkboard that says HOLA and a host who, as guests tell it, is always looking out for you.
Who the Tía is
«Tía Chela Hostel es como si tu tía alcahueta te recibiera en Santa Marta; la costeña, la que cocina delicioso, la que conoce todos los planes y las playas.»
The Tía is the house’s character: the woman in the coral headwrap you’ll see on the door, the chalkboard and this site. We don’t invent biographies — the house speaks for itself through the way it treats its guests.
The tour
Come in, let me show you around
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01 The way in
A white house with a storybook balcony
Two white storeys, a curved balcony with a wrought-iron railing, gates crowned with fan motifs and, out front, a tree whose trunk is painted in colourful patches. Impossible to miss… unless you trust Google Maps.
the map pin is wrong: it’s Carrera 16C #7-14
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02 The lounge
Wicker, painted bamboo and a fan that never rests
Wicker sofas and armchairs with leaf-print cushions, a bamboo-and-palm mural along the wall, arched wrought-iron doors and a terrazzo floor with a star set into it. The place to read, chat or do nothing with dignity.
official nap spot: the wicker sofa
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03 The chalkboard
“Make yourself at home” (just no food in the room)
A huge chalkboard greets you with a flowery HOLA: check-in and check-out times, breakfast, bikes and the most honest ant warning in Santa Marta. That’s how the house talks: clearly, kindly, with a joke.
improvised ant party!
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04 The dining room
A long table to plan the day
A patterned turquoise tablecloth, high-backed rattan chairs and a jungle mural that grows across the wall. Breakfast happens here, bus tips get passed around and beach-versus-mountain gets decided.
decision time: beach or mountains?
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05 The kitchen
Watermelon, papaya and bananas… painted on the wall
The guest kitchen has a fridge, a stove, pots and a fruit mural that makes you hungry. Coffee for everyone and a counter for rice-with-whatever-there-is.
coffee for everyone
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06 The stairwell
A mural that climbs to the ceiling
Cut-out shapes in fuchsia, blue, orange, yellow and black dance across the stairwell wall and ceiling, above terrazzo steps and a wrought-iron banister. This website’s colours and shapes came from here.
climb slowly and look up
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07 The balcony
The hammock faces the mango tree
The curved balcony has wicker chairs, a little glass table, a rattan lamp and a striped hammock. Opposite, the mango tree’s leaves work as a curtain. Slow mornings guaranteed.
slow mornings, zero rush
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08 The patio
Murals, a hammock and conversation
Large painted portraits of Caribbean women, green chairs and a hammock for evening talks with other travellers. House rules apply: good conversation yes, parties no.
chat yes, party no
Walls that talk
Murals in every corner
Colour cut-outs on the stairwell, jungle and bamboo in the lounge and dining room, fruit in the kitchen, Caribbean women in the patio, and every room with its own painted wall. This website’s colours came from there.
Who painted the murals? It’s the story we most want to tell, but it isn’t published. Ask the house.
The architecture
Arches, wrought iron and terrazzo
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The curved balcony
A wrought-iron railing of circles and fleurs-de-lis, with the mango tree for shade.
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Arched doors and windows
Fan-topped gates at the entrance; arched windows with wooden shutters in the rooms.
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Terrazzo floors
Irregular black, grey, red and green stones on white; in the lounge, an inlaid star.
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The tree with the painted trunk
By the gate, a trunk painted in colourful patches you simply can’t miss.
To work and to talk
Coworking, a patio and a guitar
A coworking room with desks and Wi-Fi for those who travel and work, a mural patio with a hammock for evening conversation and a corner with a guitar. House rules: good conversation yes, parties no.
Los pequeños detalles importan. No es lujo, es cuidado.
The Tía’s chalkboard
House rules, with a joke
HOLA
- Check in:
- 14:00
- Check out:
- 11:00
Breakfast: ask the Tía
Explore on our bikes
Warning! Bringing food into the room may result in an improvised ant party.
Make yourself at HOME
Follow us @hostaltiachela
the original 👉
What the house has
No endless hotel checklist — this is what you’ll actually use.
Sleep cool
What guests are most grateful for after a hot Caribbean day.
- Air conditioning In all six rooms.
- Free Wi-Fi Throughout the house; guests say it’s good enough to work on.
- Bed linen included Beds are made when you arrive.
- Towels Hostelworld lists them for hire — ask when booking or bring your own.
Cook and share
A family home: the kitchen and dining room belong to everyone.
- Guest kitchen Fridge, stove, pots and utensils, under a painted fruit mural.
- Free coffee Coffee on hand in the house — one guest called it “24/7 coffee”.
- Breakfast Available at extra cost — ask for price and times.
- Mural patio A hammock, chairs and murals for evening conversation.
Head out
The Tía knows the plans, the prices and the travel times.
- House bicycles For exploring the neighbourhood and city. Ask about availability and terms.
- Local know-how Places, prices and travel times; help ordering transport.
- Free parking Private, on site. Tell us if you’re arriving by car so we can confirm the space.
- Luggage storage Leave the big bag and travel light to Tayrona or Minca.
Slow down
Corners to read, work, swing or do nothing at all.
- Balcony hammock The curved balcony looks into the mango tree’s canopy.
- Coworking room Desks and Wi-Fi for those who travel and work.
- Mini gym According to the house, for those who keep up the routine.
- Laundry Paid service — ask for the current price.