Unfortunately, this hostel had to shut down because of the pandemic. If you’re looking for other hostels in Santa Marta, you can find them here. The Drop Bear Hostel in Colombia, owned by Australians, had a surprising history. Back in late 2012, when they rented a building in a nice neighborhood in Santa Marta, they had no clue about its past. They just saw it as the perfect spot for a new hostel. Little did they know, it used to be the headquarters of a Colombian cartel.
The mansion was constructed in the 1970s, during a time when the drug trade in Colombia mostly centered around marijuana. Situated in Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast, the cartel made money by smuggling contraband, especially whiskey, and later shifted their focus to drugs like cocaine in the 1980s. It’s quite unique to stay in a hostel that was once connected to one of the country’s infamous crime families.
What is now a cozy backpacker hostel with comfortable dorms and a large pool was once a part of Colombia’s shadowy past. While the drug trade still exists in Colombia, albeit more discreetly, the transformation of this building into a hostel symbolizes the changes in the country. Even the notorious Pablo Escobar frequented this place, using it as a hideout when things got tough for him.
During a stay at Drop Bear Hostel, visitors can take a tour that delves into its history, the cartels, and Colombia in general, offering a deeper understanding of the country’s recent past. Due to the massive amounts of money the cartels made in the 1980s, they had to find creative ways to store their wealth, often hiding it behind walls or in secret compartments like the ones found in the Drop Bear mansion.
The hostel still retains some remnants of its past, including secret hiding spots, an underground whiskey cellar, and escape tunnels. The courtyard even has the pedestal where a large satellite dish once stood, used by the cartel for communication. Since opening just a year ago, the owners have turned the abandoned building into a popular hostel with a unique vibe. Visitors are encouraged to join the fascinating tour of the building, offered every Sunday evening.
For budget travelers, there’s a rumor that there might still be hidden gold in the walls, so bring a hammer just in case. You can make reservations for this hostel through Hostelworld.com. The hostel has repurposed the cartel’s 1970s video phone as an ornament, adding to its charm.
