Hostel Azul Cielo, a garden hostel in O Pedrouzo
Hostel Azul Cielo is a hostel in O Pedrouzo, Galicia, with a garden, shared rooms and bathrooms split by gender. It suits pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago and budget travellers who don't mind sharing a room. Reviews are very good overall, but some serious complaints about cleanliness stand out.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Hostel Azul Cielo.
Where Hostel Azul Cielo is and how to get to O Pedrouzo
Hostel Azul Cielo is on Avenida de Lugo, in O Pedrouzo, a village in the province of A Coruña, in Galicia. It is a hostel aimed mainly at people walking the Camino de Santiago, although it also suits anyone arriving by car who wants a simple base close to the city.
The older description highlights how close it is to Santiago airport and the cathedral, and several guests add that there are restaurants nearby for dinner. If you are walking, it is a comfortable stop before the last stage. If you are driving, confirm parking with them, as I do not have that detail.
What the rooms and common areas are like
Hostel Azul Cielo works as a hostel, with shared dormitory rooms and bathrooms split by gender. Reviews describe it as new, with spacious common areas and good taste in decor.
- The beds. Several guests value the curtain on each bunk, which gives a bit of privacy, and they talk about comfortable beds and pillows.
- The bathrooms. Reviews repeat comments about large, attractive bathrooms with several showers. They are shared, so do not count on an en-suite.
- The kitchen and lounge. There is a kitchen and lounge area that people like. The older description also mentions a microwave and fridge in some rooms.
- The garden. It has tables, parasols and sofas, and it is where people rest after walking. There is a washing area and clothes lines, although one review misses a washing machine and dryer.
Free WiFi and breakfast à la carte are also mentioned in the older description. Several guests say you can come in at any time with an access code, which is very handy if you arrive late after a stage.
What guests highlight
Google gives Hostel Azul Cielo 3.5 out of 5 from 102 reviews. The average sits low because opinions are very divided, with plenty of five-star reviews and some one-star ones.
What comes up most in the good reviews is the reception staff. Several people talk about friendly service, clear explanations on arrival and a real willingness to help, to the point that one guest says they were given a hand with a luggage problem. Others praise how clean the hostel is, how new it feels and how it seems to keep improving.
The garden and common areas also come up often. For someone who has covered many kilometres, being able to sit outside calmly counts for a lot.
What to know before booking
The drawbacks need stating clearly, because they are serious. Several critical reviews, some recent, talk about dirty sheets and bedspreads, bugs and even bedbugs, as well as showers and sinks that did not work. One guest also describes the beds as thin mats rather than mattresses, and the reception as curt.
| What guests like | What to know |
|---|---|
| Attentive reception | A recent review mentions curt treatment |
| Bunks with curtains and large bathrooms | Complaints about thin mats, cleanliness and broken showers |
| Garden to relax in | One room has a large window onto the street, with little privacy |
My reading is that the experience varies a lot from day to day. If you decide to book, check the most recent reviews and write in advance to ask about cleanliness and the room you will be given.
Who this hostel is for
I would pick Hostel Azul Cielo for pilgrims on the Camino and budget travellers who want a bed, a shower and a garden to stop in. If you have stayed in hostels before, you know what sharing a room and a bathroom involves.
I would avoid it if you need complete privacy, if you are very sensitive about cleanliness or if you are looking for a restful stay with no surprises. In that case you could look at Pensión Compas in O Pedrouzo, another option in the same village.
Things to do near O Pedrouzo
O Pedrouzo is mainly a stop on the Camino, so the natural thing is to carry on towards Santiago. The older description cites the cathedral, Monte do Gozo, the Palacio de Congresos and a viewpoint as nearby points of interest.
If your trip around Galicia continues towards the coast, you could check Hostal-Restaurante Luz de Luna in Vilanova de Arousa or Hostal Chocolate & Menta in Redondela. For a place to sleep in O Pedrouzo, Hostel Azul Cielo is a cheap option with a garden, as long as you read the recent reviews carefully.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
