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
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
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.
Volunteer Hostel
- Hostel Location: Located in the walled city, right in Old Town Cartagena.
- Hostel Perks: All day AC in the rooms (a rare thing in the very hot city of Cartagena!) Two blocks from TWO supermarkets. A really sweet (and playfully feisty) resident hostel kitten.
- Travel Tips: Proceeds from visitors support FEM, a non-profit organization that works to empower indigenous communities to undertake sustainable development projects. We love making sustainable and ethical travel choices!
- Hostel Cost: Dorms start at $8; Privates start at $35. Check current prices
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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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!
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What a great, comprehensive post! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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.
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!
You’ll have to check out San Gil and Salento the next time you visit Colombia! They’re wonderful.
I stayed at El Arsenal in Cartagena and it was amazing! A good mix of people and ages and great staff! Really loved it
That’s a great suggestion! We’ll check it out!
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 🙂 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/
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 🙂
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
Thanks for the recommendation! We’ve updated our post.
So many incredible tips – I’ve written them all down! Pinning for future reference 🙂
Thank you Laura!
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 😉 Pinned!
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 🙂
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?
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!
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.
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
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?
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!