All photos this page: ©2007 Scott Doggett, Special to WhozHereNow.com

Named after its previous owner, an amiable German lady with a healthy obsession for cleanliness and order, the Hostel Heike is an excellent place to stay if you’re looking to save money while grooving to the laid-back backpacker scene.

Its manager and co-owner Laura Schiff, with help from her friend Kathrine Acorn, have supersized the original Heike, growing it from a secure, private-rooms lodge with 10 beds to a funky 60-bed commune packing dorms rooms with bunkbeds, shared bathrooms (cool water only, but clean and plentiful), an inviting and popular kitchen, a hammock room for unwinding, and cozy sitting areas, including a breezy rooftop crash pad that cries out for someone to pick up a guitar and start strumming (there's one available for guests' use).

Each guestroom contains a large fan (yes, no air-con, which is why you’re paying $8 a night, instead of $20 or more), the aforementioned bunkbeds, and décor supplied by its guests. (Ever wonder what's inside a backpacker's backpack? That's the décor we're talking about—articles of clothing, books, snorkel & mask, surfing gear, MP3 players, flip-flops and thong underwear—carefully strewn about like shrapnel from a bomb. The décor adds to the bohemian vibe, but it won't warm the heart of a neat freak.)

There's a reserve water tank on the premises, which means Heike guests have H²O to bathe, cook and flush with when Bocas Town's agua supply is so low that the rest of the town hasn't a drop. (At the time of writing, the town had gone 10 days without enough water to brush Goober's tooth with.)

There's also a balcony that faces Calle 3; it's furnished with chairs and a bench and make for a great place to people-watch, read or ponder big questions. The backpackers at Heike’s lean toward the beach and snorkeling scene. Surfers tend to congregate a few blocks away at Mondo Taitu, the owners of which also have a stake in the Heike (Laura and the three young guys who also own Mondo Taitu are buds from way back).

Laura likes to lock things up at 8 or 9—meaning, only guests can come and go, using keys she provides—and that's cool with most Heikeins, because they tend to drift to the funky bar at the Mondo Taitu at that time anyway.

Hostel Heike is located on main street at the center of town. Sometimes that’s a very noisy place to be (during festivals, especially). That said, balconies off Heike’s two front rooms make prime perches from which to watch passers-by.

Downstairs, guests are welcome to use the kitchen, which is equipped with a water-filtration system and the usual assortment of pots, pans, and dishes. Beds go for $8 a night. To keep costs down, credit cards are not accepted, and occupancy is on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are not taken.

Location

Calle 3 between Calles E and F, opposite the park

Bocas Town, Isla Colón

Bocas del Toro

Panama