• Home
  • Start Here
    • Meet Lia & Jeremy
    • Our Year-Long Honeymoon
    • Read These Posts
      • Year in Review Posts
      • Travel Stories (& Travel Fails)
    • About Practical Wanderlust
      • Our Mission Statement
      • Meet The Team
    • Lia’s Book
    • Podcast
    • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Destinations
    • Browse All
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Nepal
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • Puerto Rico
      • United States
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • Panama
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • What to Pack for South America
      • 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
    • United States
      • Browse All USA
      • California
      • National Parks
      • Disney
    • Virtual Travel
  • Travel Tips
    • How to Plan a Trip
    • Travel Safety Tips
    • Travel Insurance Guide
    • How to be a Responsible Tourist
    • Long Term Travel
    • Family Travel
  • Packing Guides
    • General Packing Guides
    • Packing Lists by Destination
    • Product & Gear Reviews
    • Our Travel Essentials
    • Baby Travel Essentials
    • Browse All Packing Lists
  • Gift Guides
  • Lia’s Book
  • Podcast
  • Blogging Tips
  • Work with Us
    • Partner With Us
    • Press & Media
    • Write for Us
    • Coaching & Mentoring
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Practical Wanderlust

Responsible Travel on a Budget

  • Home
  • Start
    • Meet Lia & Jeremy
    • Read These Posts
      • Our Year-Long Honeymoon
      • Browse All Personal Posts
      • Travel Stories & Fails
      • Year in Review Posts
      • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel
      • 32 Things Nobody Tells You About Long Term Travel as a Couple
      • More Things Nobody Tells You…
    • About the Blog
      • Our Mission Statement
      • Meet The Team
    • Podcast
    • Lia’s Book
    • About Blogging
      • Income Reports
      • Pinterest Tips
      • Digital Nomad Tips
      • Write for Us
    • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Destinations
    • Browse All
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Nepal
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Norway
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • Puerto Rico
      • United States
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
      • Mexico
      • Panama
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • What to Pack for South America
      • 30 Things No One Tells You About Backpacking in South America
    • United States
      • Browse All USA
      • California
      • National Parks
      • Disney
    • Virtual Travel
  • Travel Tips
    • How to Plan a Trip
    • Travel Safety Tips
    • Travel Insurance Guide
    • Responsible Tourism Guide
    • Family Travel
    • Long Term Travel
      • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Quitting Your Job to Travel
      • Our Year-Long Honeymon
      • Digital Nomad Tips
      • What Not to Pack for Long Term Travel
      • How to Quit Your Job & Travel Book
      • Browse All Long Term Travel
    • Packing Guides
      • General Packing Guides
      • Destination Packing Lists
      • Product & Gear Reviews
      • Travel Essentials We Bring on Every Trip
      • Baby Travel Essentials
      • Browse All
    • Gift Guides
      • 50 Perfect Travel Gifts
      • Eco-Friendly Travel Gifts
      • Gifts for Hikers Under $25
      • Travel Gifts for Coffee Lovers
      • Funny Travel Gifts
  • Work with Us
    • Partnerships
    • Press & Media
    • Write for us
    • Coaching
Home ยป Best Hostels in Colombia: Where to Stay … & Where NOT to Stay!

Best Hostels in Colombia: Where to Stay … & Where NOT to Stay!

By Jeremy | Updated on: June 30, 2025

Best Hostels in Colombia Where to Stay
Ads are how we keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
4.5K shares

We spent a month backpacking through Colombia, from Cartagena to Minca to Medellin to San Gil to Salento to Bogota (ahem – and as you can see by my subtle link hints, we’ve written quite a bit about backpacking in Colombia). Needless to say, it was amazing – backpacking in Colombia was our favorite experience backpacking in South America!

During our month of backpacking, we slept in a LOT of beds in Colombia, and stayed at a LOT of different hostels. From cramped party hostels to isolated hilltop retreats, it seemed like no two hostels in Colombia were the same. Any seasoned backpacker knows that the accommodation you choose can make or break your whole stay. To make things easier for you, dear reader, we’ve come up with a list of the best hostels in Colombia: where to stay, and – because we make a lot of mistakes – where NOT to stay!

Table of Contents

  • The Best Hostels in Cartagena, Colombia
  • The Best Hostel Near Parque Tayrona, Colombia
  • The Best Hostels in Minca, Colombia
  • The Best Hostel in Salento, Colombia
  • The Best Hostel in San Gil, Colombia
  • Hostels in Colombia to Skip

Psst: We’ve got a ton of other resources for Colombia that you’ll want to look at before your trip:

  • What to Pack for Colombia
  • Colombia Itinerary: Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Colombia
  • A Complete Guide to Transportation in Colombia
  • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking in Colombia
  • The Best Colombian Food: What to Eat in Colombia
Where to stay in Cartagena Colombia
Gorgeous street art in Getsemani, the hip neighbourhood in Cartagena, Colombia.

The Best Hostels in Cartagena, Colombia

When staying at a hostel in Cartagena you want to stick to two main areas: Getsemani, and the walled city of old town Cartagena. Anything else is a little too far, in our opinion. We stayed in both (we actually slept in 3 total hostels in Cartagena).

We recommend prioritizing A/C and a filling breakfast for your hostel. Below are our picks for the best hostels in Cartagena.

Santo Domingo Vidal Hostal

  • Hostel Location: Located in central Getsemani, Cartagena, 5 minutes walking to the walled city of Cartagena
  • Hostel Perks: Friendly staff. Impeccably clean. Gorgeous street, with beautiful street art, mango trees, wild parrots, and a lovely patio. One of the most Instagrammable spots in Cartagena. Filling included breakfast.
  • Travel Tips: Getsemani is just outside the walled city of old town Cartagena, and is its ultra-hip artsy neighborhood. The hostel is close to several delicious restaurants in Getsemani! Read more about this Colombian hostel & Cartagena here.
  • Hostel Cost: Dorms start at $9; Privates start at $24. Check current prices.
READ THIS POST
What and Where to Eat in Cartagena, Colombia

Psst: Heading to Cartagena for the warm Caribbean water & sunny beaches? The best beach in Cartagena is actually on an island just offshore – read our guide to Isla Baru and Playa Blanca.

Eco Hostel - Hostels in Colombia
Eco Hostel Yuluka is just outside of Parque Tayrona on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. It’s one of the best hostels in Colombia!

The Best Hostel Near Parque Tayrona, Colombia

We originally planned to stay overnight in tropical Parque Tayrona, but once we arrived at this hostel, we extended our stay and planned on a day trip instead. This hostel is a must if you’re headed into Parque Tayrona.

READ THIS POST
Parque Tayrona, Colombia: How to Get There & Where to Stay

Eco Hostal Yuluka

  • Hostel Location: 2 miles down the road from the entrance to Parque Tayrona
  • Hostel Perks: A budget-friendly eco-resort hostel in a private tropical paradise.Pool with waterslide and waterfall! The best breakfast we had in Colombia – and it was included for FREE. Reasonably priced restaurant on site for lunch and dinner. Free shuttle to Parque Tayrona (about 2 miles away)
  • Travel Tip: The perfect place to stay if you’re visiting Parque Tayrona.Wifi only works at reception, but since this is a rain forest hideout, this kind of adds to the magic. Prepare to unplug and unwind. You can read more about Eco Hostal Yuluka here.
  • Hostel Cost: Dorms start at $11. Privates start at $53. Check current prices.
Where to stay in Colombia
The sunset from Casa Loma Hostel in Minca, Colombia is one of the most stunning and peaceful we’ve ever seen. Casa Loma Minca is one of the best hostels in Colombia!

The Best Hostels in Minca, Colombia

Tiny Minca, Colombia has been off the beaten path for years but is starting to gain notoriety as the main starting point for the Ciudad Perdida trek. We’ve visited Minca several times and fallen in love with it! From the mountain air to the jungle hikes to the waterfall swimming holes to the coffee and chocolate farms, Minca is simply wonderful. And there are two fantastic eco-resort style hostels in Minca!

Casa Loma Minca

  • One of our picks for Top 3 Best Hostels in Colombia! We love this eco-hostel in Minca, Colombia.
  • Hostel Location: 10 minutes walking uphill from “downtown” Minca, Colombia
  • Hostel Perks: Incredible mountain top view of Minca and Santa Marta. Varied lodging types including private rooms, dorms, forest huts, outdoor hammocks, and more. Cheap vegetarian meals served all day. Family style dinners. Friendly hostel pets. Knowledgeable staff that can help you plan day trips in the surrounding areas – and there are TONS of options for adventures!
  • Travel Tips: Casa Loma Minca is a short but intense hike up a hill and is intentionally Wifi free. However, the seclusion and disconnectedness is a blessing because it brings strangers together to socialize in a relaxed environment and provides a setting perfect for mindful relaxation! Plus, that hill is home to the best sunset anywhere in Colombia. Read more about our amazing stay in Casa Loma Minca and why Minca was one of our favorite destinations in Colombia!
  • Hostel Cost: Dorms from $10; Privates from $25; Hammocks from $6. Check current prices.
READ THIS POST
Why You Should Visit (and Fall in Love With) Minca, Colombia!

Sierra Minca

  • Hostel Location: 2 hours walking uphill, above Minca, Colombia. Not terribly close to town.
  • Hostel Perks: A mountain side jungle hostel with amazing views.  Each cabin has huge hammock nets to relax on and take in the view. Great bar onsite. You can also go ziplining, on safari and take bike tours.
  • Travel Tips: Cash only, bring cash from Santa Marta as Minca does not have ATMs. Intentionally Wifi free, so prepare to unplug and unwind! Getting here from Minca is not easy, but so worth it: your options are 1 hour by jeep, 30 minutes by thrilling moto-taxi (our favorite!), or 2 hours hiking uphill on a road through the jungle.
  • Hostel Cost: Dorms from $13; Privates from $45 Check current prices.
Hostels in Salento, Colombia
La Serrana Hostel in Salento, Colombia is one of the best hostels in Colombia! Original photo credit: “P1050183.JPG” (CC BY 2.0) by clandestino_20

The Best Hostel in Salento, Colombia

La Serrana Eco Farm and Hostel 

Update 2020: Unfortunately, La Serrana Hostel has closed its doors and is no longer open! It’s still one of our favorite places that we’ve ever stayed at and we’re sad that other travelers won’t be able to experience the magic of La Serrana as we did. We are told the nearby Las Camelias EcoHostel is really great, so check it out and let us know how it measures up!

  • One of our picks for Top 3 Best Hostels in Colombia!
  • Hostel Location: 15 minutes walking (or a short Willy ride) from the center of Salento, on a quiet road.
  • Hostel Perks: Panoramic views of Salento’s stunning famous coffee farms. Spacious common areas. You can stay in a romantic luxury “glamping” tent with breathtaking sunset views!
  • Travel Tips: Make sure to walk from La Serrana to Finca El Ocaso to tour an organic, sustainable coffee farm.  Oh, and don’t forget to hike the famous Valle de Cocora. You can read our full review of La Serrana here! 
  • Hostel Cost: Dorms start at $10; Privates start at $33; “Glamping” tents start at $29. Check current prices.
hostels in San Gil, Colombia
Relaxing in the rooftop pool at Sam’s VIP Hostel in San Gil, Colombia. One of the best hostels in Colombia!

The Best Hostel in San Gil, Colombia

Sam’s VIP Hostel 

  • One of our picks for Top 3 Best Hostels in Colombia!
  • Hostel Location: Directly on the main plaza in San Gil, a few blocks from the excellentmercado.
  • Hostel Perks: HUGEFully stocked kitchen. Rooftop pool. Amazing staff that will help you book your day trips and adventure sports without commission! Free hostel organized nightlife activities.
  • Travel Tips: You can book all of San Gil’s many amazing activities directly at the front desk. We recommend White Water Rafting (but we have mixed feelings about Waterfall Rappelling). Make sure to sign up for the hostel nightlife activities! Our night out playing tejo followed by karaoke was a highlight in our South America trip.
  • Hostel Cost: Dorms start at $7; Privates start at $23. Check current prices.
Where to stay in Bogota Colombia
Can you believe this is Bogota, Colombia? We took this in La Candelaria, Bogota, near our hostel.

Hostels in Colombia to Skip

I want to clarify that this section isn’t meant to scare you away from the below hostels in Colombia – none of them were terrible, dangerous, or a scene from a horror movie.

They just weren’t as awesome as the rest of the hostels in Colombia where we stayed, for various reasons. And considering how many wonderful Colombian hostels exist, we want to direct you to the best of the best!

So if you are staying in one of these hostels – or you had a better experience here than we did – that’s OK! Colombia hostels overall are some of the best in South America. Still, our goal is always to give the best and most honest advice that we can.

So here are the hostels in Colombia that we recommend skipping.

Mama Waldy Hostel in Cartagena, Colombia

  • Skip this Hostel Because: Half of the lockers in our room were broken. There was one ladder to share between three bunks (as a result I had to just jump off my bed in the middle of the night, and hurt my ankle). The included breakfast was just a huge bowl of fruit – appreciated, but not filling. Lastly, the owners were always busy and the other staffers weren’t allowed to handle the check in/check out and other tasks.
  • Try This Hostel Instead: Check out one of our two Cartagena hostel recommendations listed above. Santo Domingo Vidal is actually right around the corner from Mama Waldy.

Selina Hostel in Cartagena, Colombia

  • Skip this Hostel Because: After spending a full week here, we’ve come to realize that Selina hostels are all style and no substance. Sure, the hostel is gorgeous and in a fantastic location (albeit on a loud and busy street) and the promise of fast WiFi and “coworking spaces” made me all tingly with excitement. The rooftop pool and bar is nice, too. But when it comes to what makes a hostel great, Selina failed on all counts. Uncomfortable furniture, dirty bathrooms, keys that won’t let you into the dirty bathrooms, no toilet paper in the locked dirty bathrooms for 3 days at a time, unfriendly staff, expensive meals, no provided water, loud music late at night, our list of annoyances goes on and on. If you’re a partier and don’t mind a little discomfort and annoyance, Selina might be a good place to stay, but otherwise, steer clear.
  • Try This Hostel Instead: Santo Domingo Vidal is tucked away on a quiet, picturesque street around the corner from Selina.
READ THIS POST
Casablanca Valley: Budget Friendly Wine Tasting in Valparaiso (Without a Tour)

Hostel Esmeralda in Santa Marta, Colombia

  • Skip this Hostel Because: Santa Marta is a party town so naturally every hostel advertises itself as a party hostel. Esmeralda was no different; their rooftop bar was placed right in the middle of the hostel foot traffic, and they pumped out loud party music until 3 or 4 in the morning. The problem? There were NO people partying there! Sometimes the hostel is not where the party is, but Esmeralda refused to give up.
  • Try This Hostel Instead: Check out Santa Marta’s famous Dreamer Hostel! It’s located away from the main areas in town, but this always-busy hostel is the place to be if partying is on your to-do list. (And if you’re in Santa Marta, there isn’t much else to do.) The atmosphere is super social and you can’t help but have a good time – but it’s not so loud that you can’t sleep peacefully. They have a pool, bar, and even a party bus! Check current prices.

Psst: If you’re planning to visit or pass through Santa Marta, you’ll want to read our guide on how to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta & back.

Geo Hostel in Medellin, Colombia

  • Skip this Hostel Because: We had the world’s worst luck here as far as dorm roommates go (read the story here), but I won’t fault Geo Hostel for that. In fact, at first glance, this place looked nice! It’s located in the heart of Medellin’s hippest neighborhood, El Poblado, and it has a semi open layout. The problem is at night El Poblado is filled with loud clubs and rowdy gringos, so that open format and central location becomes deafening if you actually want to sleep past 11pm. The hostel is right on top of a loud club.
  • Try This Hostel Instead: Look into staying at a hostel on the outskirts of El Poblado – or at least on a quieter street. We’ve heard great things about Happy Buddha Boutique Hostel, as well as Casa Kiwi. If you really want to stay away from the party places, it’s best to stay out of El Poblado, which locals call “Gringolandia.”
READ THIS POST
A Budget Friendly Tour of Medellin, Colombia

Masaya Hostel in Bogota, Colombia

  • Skip this Hostel Because: Masaya looked great at first glance. There were plenty of places to hang out, it was clean, and the dorm pods were nice and private. But the beds were ridiculously uncomfortable.  It was cold at night thanks to the freezing Bogota temperatures and an open-air floor plan. There was no included breakfast – not even a bowl of fruit, which is really unusual for a hostel in Colombia. And worst of all, there were around 6 dorm rooms all sharing ONE bathroom. Sure, there were two stalls and three showers, but I still found myself waiting a lot. Not to mention you have to journey pretty far to reach the men’s bathroom.
  • Try this Hostel Instead: Book one of the many other hostels in the La Candelaria neighborhood, like Fatima Suites. It has a similar look as Masaya, but better facilities for the same price.

Psst: We’ve got a ton of other resources for Colombia that you’ll want to look at before your trip:

  • What to Pack for Colombia
  • Colombia Itinerary: Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Colombia
  • A Complete Guide to Transportation in Colombia
  • 30 Things Nobody Tells You About Backpacking in Colombia
  • The Best Colombian Food: What to Eat in Colombia

If you are looking for more tour tips during your visit to Colombia the amazing guys over at ViaHero will connect you with a local person who will share all their juicy knowledge and help you plan your perfect itinerary. Check it out here.

Booking a trip to Colombia? We’d love to answer any questions you may have! Leave us a comment below.

xo Lia & Jeremy signature graphic
FOLLOW US!


If you found our post about hostels in Colombia useful, would you consider sharing it on Pinterest? Click the “Pin It” button to share the full-sized version of the below images.

The hostels in Colombia are some of the best in South America. But which hostels should you stay in, and which should you skip? We went backpacking in Colombia for a month. These are our best Colombian hostel recommendations. #Colombia #BudgetTravel #SouthAmerica

Disclaimer: We paid for every hostel that we stayed in with our own money, in full. None of the stays were sponsored. That said, the links provided are Hostel World affiliate links which will give us a small percentage commission when used to book a hostel, at no extra cost to you. We really appreciate you supporting us by using our links!


READ THIS POST
Where to Stay in Paris for the First Time (& Where Not To Stay)
4.5K shares

Our Top Travel Tips & Resources

Here are our favorite travel tips & resources for saving money and planning travel logistics! For more tips, check out our travel tips resource page or our guide to planning a trip.
  • Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
  • Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they've got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we're not fans of Airbnb's unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
  • Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it - visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
  • Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
  • Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor's office or a walk-in pharmacy.
  • Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local's perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
  • Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
  • Luggage Storage: Whenever we're checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we're running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
  • VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you're connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
  • What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!

Accommodation Reviews Bogota Budget Travel Cartagena Colombia Hostel Reviews Medellin Minca Parque Tayrona Salento San Gil Santa Marta

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Matt says

    January 7, 2021 at 12:33 pm

    LOVE that selection – and the photos!!!! I only have not visited Casa Loma in Minca on that list; good reason to go back ๐Ÿ˜€
    Have you seen Viajero tayrona park? This place is epic, really. I think you’d love it too.

    Reply
  2. rebecca says

    January 30, 2020 at 6:58 am

    Did you always book your hostels in advance? And if yes, how much in advance? Do you think it’s possible to just find something on the day you arrive?

    Reply
    • Practical Wanderlust says

      January 30, 2020 at 3:22 pm

      We always book hostels in advance about 1 – 6 months out depending on the trip. Popular hostels will get booked up about 2 – 3 months out which is why we tend to book early in advance. A lot of hostels do let you book when you arrive, but we have had situations where we try to do that and have been turned away which turns into a huge hassle!

      Reply
  3. Gina says

    November 17, 2018 at 9:20 am

    Great post! I would only have about 9 full days in Colombia. Which cities/towns would you recommend the most? I’m reading a lot of conflicting recommendations online. I’d prefer an average pace- not too quick and not too slow.

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      November 23, 2018 at 5:38 am

      Depends on whether you’re traveling through the northern coast, in which case I’d recommend Cartagena/Isla Baru/Minca/Parque Tayrona, or traveling through the center of the country, in which case I’d recommend Medellin/Guatape/Salento/San Gil. We’ve got more information about everywhere we visited here which might help you decide: https://practicalwanderlust.com/2017/07/backpacking-colombia-itinerary.html

      Reply
  4. Rachel says

    March 21, 2018 at 8:40 pm

    When you travel as a couple: do you two usually book a private room or just two dorm beds? What are your thoughts on this quandary?

    Reply
    • Lia Garcia says

      March 22, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      It just depends on price, honestly. In Europe, we usually end up in a dorm bed because sometimes a private room costs as much as a hotel room and we just can’t justify the expense! But in South America you can find private rooms for around $20 a night so it’s well worth it to splurge. It also depends on how long the trip is – we spent a full 3 months in South America primarily in dorm beds, which sucked. But for a week long trip, it’s a lot more manageable!

      Reply
  5. Becky says

    January 25, 2018 at 7:55 am

    Great list! I would love to travel Colombia, it is number one on my travel bucket list haha! I pinned this for later, and will come back to this post when I end up going one day ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  6. Michelle | michwanderlust says

    September 6, 2017 at 7:08 am

    That’s a LOT of hostels! I liked that you also listed which ones to skip. I did stay at Masaya in Bogota and I really liked it though! I liked the privacy curtains and individual power points for each dorm bed. I did think they needed to have more toilets, although I never had to queue up for one. I guess I go during off-peak hours ๐Ÿ˜‰ Pinned!

    Reply
  7. Laura says

    May 26, 2017 at 5:10 pm

    So many incredible tips – I’ve written them all down! Pinning for future reference ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lia says

      May 26, 2017 at 9:06 pm

      Thank you Laura!

      Reply
  8. freshcoffeestains says

    March 16, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    Great choices! I’ve stayed in a few of these and some I’ll have to check out. In my opinion, I think Casa Elemento deserves a skip. It’s so touristy and the hammock is just so so ๐Ÿ™‚ But still cool! I love your other choice in Minca… we stayed in Casas Viejas. I’ll have to go again to Minca I suppose!

    Tam @ http://freshcoffeestains.com/minca-hammock/

    Reply
    • Lia says

      March 17, 2017 at 2:28 pm

      Interesting! Honestly, I’ve been to Minca twice now and haven’t yet made it to the hammock, but I just hear from everyone that it’s amazing so I had to throw it in. Next time I go I’ll check it out for myself! Thanks for the tip ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    • 8five2 says

      January 6, 2020 at 1:03 am

      Casa Elemento in Minca closed down at the end of December 2019. Sierra Minca is a new hostal on the same road with big hammock nets and a pool. V nice

      Reply
      • Lia Garcia says

        January 24, 2020 at 2:22 pm

        Thanks for the recommendation! We’ve updated our post.

        Reply
  9. Stacey says

    February 11, 2017 at 6:34 pm

    I stayed at El Arsenal in Cartagena and it was amazing! A good mix of people and ages and great staff! Really loved it

    Reply
    • Lia says

      February 12, 2017 at 11:47 pm

      That’s a great suggestion! We’ll check it out!

      Reply
  10. Bizarre Globe Hopper says

    February 11, 2017 at 3:31 pm

    Oh, we missed San Gil and Salento on our tour. Going to check out your articles about them, two more reasons to return! I remember checking out Yuluka while searching for accommodations near Tayrona. It looks very nice!

    Reply
    • Lia says

      February 11, 2017 at 4:57 pm

      You’ll have to check out San Gil and Salento the next time you visit Colombia! They’re wonderful.

      Reply
  11. Kelly says

    February 8, 2017 at 4:40 pm

    What a great, comprehensive post! Thanks for sharing. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Lia says

      February 8, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      Thanks Kelly! We’re well overdue for some hostel review posts considering the number of hostels we’ve stayed in during the last 8 months of backpacking.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Travel bloggers Lia and Jeremy in front of a colorful background with welcoming text.

In 2016 we quit our jobs, put our stuff in storage, and took off on a (disastrous) year-long honeymoon. Today, we share down-to-earth travel tips from our many (mis)adventures on our blog and podcast!

low-key stalk us here

Get a FREE Travel Planning Guide!

Need some help planning your next adventure? Sign up and we'll send you all of our travel tips, hacks, printable packing lists, and more!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

You'll also be subscribing to our monthly newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.

Footer

About Us...
  • Meet Lia & Jeremy
  • Browse Destinations
  • Travel Tips
  • Packing Tips
  • Contact Us & FAQ
  • Work with Us
  • Mission Statement
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
@practicalwanderlust

Get the Free Travel Planning Guide!

Need some help planning your next adventure? Subscribe and we’ll send you our FREE 22-page Travel Planning Guide. The guide includes everything from the hacks we use to save money on travel to printable packing lists. We’ll also send our favorite travel tips straight to your inbox!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Copyright ยฉ2025, Practical Wanderlust. Site by Pixel Me Designs
As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases
Back To Top