Latin America Hostel Reviews
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Check out my thoughts and ramblings about hostels I stayed in on my trip throughout Latin America.
Mexico
Mexico City
Cleanliness– The common spaces in the hostel I always found to be clean, but sometimes the bathrooms weren’t the cleanest. There was often an unpleasant drain smell from the toilets and one shower had a plant over the shower head which I found weird and annoying.
Location– The location was fantastic, right in the heart of the Roma neighbourhood you only had to walk 2 minutes to find a plethora of cafes and restaurants. It was about a 45-minute walk to the historic centre or Chapultepec Park and only 15 minutes from the Condesa neighbourhood.
Atmosphere– We didn’t find the atmosphere of this hostel to be social at all. The staff just checked us in and didn’t say much after that. Everyone was perfectly polite it just wasn’t a hostel with a lot going on.
Facilities– The kitchen wasn’t the best with a lack of pans, pots and plates also it took about 35 minutes to even get the water to boil and the fridge wasn’t working. So plan to eat out if you stay here. The plugs in the dorm room were sparse and far away from the bed which got annoying. The beds were so noisy that you would hear someone rolling over at night and don’t expect much in the way of a pillow. Wifi was good and stretched into the rooms which was a plus.
Overall this wasn’t an amazing hostel, but it was far from the worst. Hopefully, they revamp the kitchen soon. The location and the hammocks are what won me over here.
3 out of 5
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3 out of 5 〰️
Merida
Cleanliness– A super clean hostel, I honestly feel like they were cleaning the bathrooms every minute of the day. Common areas, dorms, bathrooms and the kitchen were spotless.
Location– A short walk into the centre of Merida about 15/20 minutes. A few restaurants were located on the hostel’s street but weren’t backpacker budget-friendly.
Atmosphere– The hostel had friendly volunteers who would run activities, but when we were there not many people attended them. Chilled vibe but people were friendly enough to have a conversation with and there was a WhatsApp group to keep up with what was happening.
Facilities– Well equipped kitchen, the TV room was a lovely touch and the pool was refreshing after a long sweaty day. Free drinking water, solid wi-fi, and each bed had a plug socket, lamp and curtain. Breakfast was included but it varied day by day what it was, some good and some not so good.
I enjoyed my stay at Hostik and would recommend it to anyone staying in Merida who was happy with a relaxed vibe. The staff were super friendly and helpful, it was good value for money. Also bonus points for the fun the foosball table provided.
4 out of 5
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4 out of 5 〰️
Hostel 48
Valladolid
Cleanliness– It wasn’t the cleanest hostel I’ve stayed in, the bathrooms and kitchen could have been cleaned more often. Also, there was an unpleasant drain smell in our room.
Location– The location was ideal, only a 5-minute walk from the centre and the bus station which is always useful!
Atmosphere– It was super easy to strike up a conversation with others in this hostel in our rooms or on the terrace. They also provided activities such as cooking classes and salsa lessons and helped organise bike/scooter rental.
Facilities– The kitchen was really small so often had to wait a while and there was not much room for food in the fridge. The showers were super cold and had no pressure on them. The wifi didn’t work in our room or on the terrace, which was a pain. There was one plug in a room for 6 people and the air con in our room quite often didn’t work which made it unbearable to sleep. There is a pool, but there was a crazy infestation of ants while we were there.
This was our least favourite hostel in Mexico, although the location was great the smelly hot rooms, cold showers, lack of plugs, wifi and kitchen space made it not the best stay.
2 out of 5
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2 out of 5 〰️
Che Hostel
Isla Holbox
Cleanliness– The bathrooms and common areas were cleaned every morning and were spotless as were the dorms.
Location– It was a slightly further walk to the beach and main street than some other hostels, but nothing too unmanageable. It was however close to the ferry port which was super helpful as you never want to carry your big bag too far.
Atmosphere– It was so easy to meet people here, with arranged activities all the time. They have an active WhatsApp chat to keep you updated if you are out and about. It is a party hostel with a free drink on arrival and booze flowing all night. But for those who don’t want to party the music turns off like clockwork at midnight and the party moves out of the hostel.
Facilities– The kitchen was large with plenty of room to cook, but if you didn’t want to cook for yourself there was a bar menu available. Wifi was great, there was a curtain and a plug socket for each bed. There is a pool, sunbeds, and hammocks to chill out in. The showers were the best I’ve had in a hostel, as a girl who has thick tangly hair the water pressure was fab and hot!
I would recommend this hostel to anyone attending Isla Holbox, with areas to chill, play ping pong, get a tan and have a cocktail or two.
4 out of 5
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4 out of 5 〰️
Bacalar
Cleanliness– Our bathroom could have done with a little more cleaning and the towels weren’t great, however, the rest of the hostel was pretty spotless.
Location– The hostel is right on the lagoon shores and it’s stunning at all times of day, whether you’re watching the sunrise or trying to catch a tan in the middle of the day. It’s also only a short walk into the main square, so centrally located.
Atmosphere– It was a sociable hostel with plenty of activity options and super-friendly staff. It was too much of a party for me with very loud music blasting out until 2 am in the morning.
Facilities– The showers were hot, the kitchen was well-equipped and there was a bar on the lakefront. Each bed had curtains, plug sockets, lockers and decent wifi. There were kayaks and paddleboards to rent but they came at a steep cost which I thought was unnecessary given the price of the hostel itself.
This hostel was PRICEYY and to be honest I don’t think it was worth the price tag. However, if you’re not tight on the budget and ready for a party this could be the place for you.
3 out of 5
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3 out of 5 〰️
Looking for more Mexico travel inspiration? Check out my Mexico blog posts ->
Belize
San Igancio
Cleanliness– Super clean dorms, bathrooms and common areas.
Location– It was a hilly walk back from the town to the hostel but manageable, it will take about 15 mins. Also, it’s only a 5-minute walk from the Cahal Pech ruins which is super handy.
Atmosphere– It was a chilled hostel but super friendly at the same time, the staff went above and beyond to help us arrange tours. My favourite part about this hostel was the dogs. Say hello to Coco and Ivy for me.
Facilities– Had a good kitchen and common areas, I particularly enjoyed the hammocks on the terrace. The dorms were spacious and each bed had a plug, locker and wifi. The only downside was the showers which unfortunately were cold.
I would 100% recommend this hostel for your stay in San Ignacio. I just loved the vibes here.
5 out of 5
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5 out of 5 〰️
Guatemala
Flores
Cleanliness– Both the rooms and bathrooms were kept very tidy and they even changed our sheets a few times whilst we were, as we stayed for a full week. The kitchen wasn’t the cleanest but it was workable.
Location– The location of this hostel was fantastic, everything you need on the island of Flores is within walking distance. And as it’s located right on the lake and the views from the terrace are gorgeous.
Atmosphere– This was a super chilled hostel and I loved that, there was no pressure to be super sociable and party. However, at the same time, there were plenty of lovely solo travellers, so there was an opportunity to meet people just in a more relaxed environment.
Facilities– The showers were hot and crazy strong so great for a hair wash day. The wifi was good, and we had plugs by our bed. The lockers were tiny which was annoying as I couldn’t lock up my laptop. The kitchen was closed until 12 every day as they served breakfast themselves. I found this super inconvenient, as I always prefer to cook my own meals.
I enjoyed my stay at this hostel, it was super chilled and had all the basic necessities. Just a little note, I would recommend you don’t book any onward shuttle here as the price we got was much higher than other hostels.
4 out of 5
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4 out of 5 〰️
Lanquin/Semuc Champey
Cleanliness– I did find this hostel to be clean for the most part, however, as it’s in the middle of the jungle/mountains there were a few creepy crawlies in the bedroom. The bathrooms and showers look out to the valley, meaning they have incredible views but aren’t the cleanest.
Location– The first time I saw the views from the pool area my mouth dropped, it’s unreal, with views through the valley both ways. It’s not the most centrally located but the hostel will pick you up from your shuttle and offers daily lifts down to the ATM for no extra cost.
Atmosphere– It was a little strange in the evening when some of the staff tried to push parties as there wasn’t much of a party atmosphere. However, it’s super easy to meet people whether you hang around the pool or go on one of the hostel’s daily activities.
Facilities– The wifi is rubbish here, you wouldn’t be able to work from here as sometimes I was unable to even send a message on WhatsApp. Our room didn’t have any lockers so we had to lock our stuff in the lockers by reception which I didn’t love. There were plug sockets close to the bed. No kitchen and overpriced/mediocre food and drink options.
I did enjoy this hostel however it was far from my favourite. The staff weren’t friendly and it felt like they were trying to get the most money out of you. I did love waking up and seeing the surrounding mountains though.
3 out of 5
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3 out of 5 〰️
Antigua
Cleanliness– The dorms and bathrooms were kept super clean, we can’t say the same for the kitchen. The kitchen was often left dirty not sure if it was from other guests or from when they made breakfast, it was normally clean by the evening.
Location– The location was very central, but don’t think you can go too wrong with a location in Antigua, everywhere is walkable.
Atmosphere– A chilled hostel not much going on in the way of activities but we stayed in the 14-bed dorm and everyone in the room was friendly and even set up a WhatsApp chat. They also had a family-style dinner for New Year’s and had sparklers, fireworks and a glass of fizz which was a nice touch.
Facilities– Each bed had a lamp, plug socket, locker and curtain which I always appreciate. The showers here were lovely, not too cold not too warm and not a piddle shower either. There were plenty of places to chill out, hammocks, workspaces, a TV room and a bar. They had free breakfast but it wasn’t organised the best Josh often asked and it never came or it came with stuff he had asked to be taken off due to allergies. However, they did offer free coffee and cookies between 3 and 5 pm which I loved.
As we were there over New Year’s it was borderline extortion for a dorm room. There are more budget-friendly options in Antigua but if you aren’t too worried about your budget and prefer a quieter hostel and like to have a kitchen, I would recommend it.
4 out of 5
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4 out of 5 〰️
Planning a trip to Guatemala? Read these Guatemala blog posts for tip and tricks ->
Nicaragua
Granada
Cleanliness– No complaints here, the hostel areas and rooms were super clean. Occasionally the kitchen was a mess but that was more other people leaving stuff than the hostel not cleaning.
Location– Perfect location, only 2 streets away from the main square.
Atmosphere– It was a super social hostel with activities and tours running almost every day. It would be the perfect hostel for a solo traveller. There were also social drinks between 6 and 7 where you could get 3 free Nica Libres every day!
Facilities– This was the biggest hostel I have stayed at during our Central America trip, there was plenty of space to chill out. It has a pool, bar, free breakfast, good wifi, gym and a kitchen. However, this kitchen massively lacked things like plates and cutlery.
Overall this hostel was fantastic, it was low budget even for a private room and plenty was happening. My only downside was the fact it didn’t have air-con, it gets HOT in Granada and sometimes the fans just weren’t cutting it, but that’s pretty standard in Nicaragua.
4.5 out of 5
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4.5 out of 5 〰️
Ometepe Island
Cleanliness– No complaints about the cleanliness of this place, you can expect to have a nice clean bed to rest your head.
Location– The hostel was based a 10-minute walk outside the town of Moyogalpa, which is where most of the ferries will drop you off, super handy for arriving and leaving the island. Ometepe was a lot larger than I first anticipated so it is best to get your own transport to explore.
Atmosphere– I loved the vibes here, everyone would head out and explore in the days and around 7 pm everyone was in the common area drinking, eating and sharing stories. You could meet plenty of people here as a solo traveller and the owners are super welcoming too.
Facilities– You’ll find good wifi, a bar and restaurant, laundry and help with tours or bike rentals here. I prefer having a kitchen to cook myself but this wasn’t an option in many places on Ometepe so I got over it. Josh enjoyed the food here and the portion sizes were more than fair. We stayed in a private room, but there were dorms as well.
Josh and I walked away knowing this was our favourite hostel we have stayed in yet and it was by far the most budget-friendly too. This is because of how welcoming the owner Roman was, he sat us down on arrival and gave us a full rundown of what the island had to offer, he was also super helpful in arranging our ATV rental and transport onto San Juan del Sur. I’ve never had such a great hostel experience, you have to stay here when you visit Ometepe!
5 out of 5
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5 out of 5 〰️
Discover 7 incredible things to do in Nicaragua ->
Costa Rica
Arenal Sloth Hostel
La Fortuna
Cleanliness– The cleanliness level wasn’t great, the kitchen was often dirty, and the bathrooms and rooms were outdated and needed a deep clean. For example, Josh says the soap they provided for hand soap looked like a yeti had used it.
Location– It was a short 10-minute walk from the shops and restaurants, so not completely central. It was located closer towards the free El Salto rope swing which was a plus.
Atmosphere– The staff were friendly and welcoming and there was a WhatsApp group to plan group activities and meet other travellers.
Facilities– The wifi only worked upstairs which wasn’t ideal, also there was a lack of seats to chill in. The dorm beds didn’t have plug sockets, so charging was a nightmare, also you will find the lockers in the kitchen, not in your room. The kitchen itself was extremely chaotic and when the hostel was full there was often a wait to cook and the plates, pans etc were often not cleaned.
My biggest beef with this hostel was the air con, just for context, it wasn’t super hot whilst we were in La Fortuna, low-mid 20s. However, the air con was on all day in our room, turning it into the Arctic Circle. And when we asked multiple times to turn it off the staff said they couldn’t do that. It got so cold at night that I was sleeping in multiple layers, I just didn’t understand the need for air-con 24/7. The upside of this place was it was super cheap, £8 a night for a dorm bed.
2 out of 5
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2 out of 5 〰️
Monteverde
Cleanliness– A little outdated but for the most part it seemed very clean. The only thing would be the blankets on the bed, I always get nervous about how often they are cleaned as they aren’t as easy to wash as normal bedding.
Location– A short 5/10 minute walk from the town of Santa Elena, it’s pretty well located to shops and restaurants. The bus station to San Jose is only a 20-minute walk away.
Atmosphere– Not your typical hostel atmosphere, I suspect there are more private rooms than dorm rooms here. There were quite a few families with young children which I didn’t love. Not the best place for a solo traveller.
Facilities– We stayed in a private room here as it was pretty budget-friendly, we shared a bathroom with another room and it was the first hot shower we had gotten in about a month, so safe to say we were very pleased. There’s a common area with sofas and a TV that has a balcony with a gorgeous view, especially at sunset. You’ll also find a fully equipped kitchen which gets chaotic sometimes but what hostel kitchen doesn’t. The wifi would cut out every now and again but didn’t cause too much of an issue. Also, there was a free breakfast every morning.
This place gave me massive cabin vibes, it was a fairly budget price and I don’t have massive complaints. I would say it would be difficult if you are a light sleeper, as a night all you can hear is the wind and it does sound like you’re about to take off. The staff were also super friendly and helped us book a lot of activities around Monteverde.
4 out of 5
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4 out of 5 〰️
Stray Cat Hostel
San Jose
Cleanliness– It was a perfectly clean hostel, nothing wild to report back.
Location– Convenient location as it was close to the bus stations, however, I wouldn’t have felt safe walking around the area near the hostel at night. So if you get to San Jose late I recommend getting an Uber here.
Atmosphere– It’s not a sociable hostel, much more common to find people spending just a night here before a flight or after a flight.
Facilities– We stayed in a private room here so I can’t speak for the dorm rooms. The kitchen was well equipped just quite small, but the whole hostel is small so this wasn’t a problem. There was free tea and coffee all day and free breakfast which was a win-win. The wifi was strong if you have any work or calls to make. The showers were very typical of Central America with lukewarm water being as hot as it gets.
I am pretty indifferent about this hostel it was nothing special but nothing horrendous either. One thing I would say is to watch out for the tax when you check in they hid that pretty well and it’s an extra 13%.
3 out of 5
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3 out of 5 〰️
Montezuma
Cleanliness– Considering this hostel has open-style rooms in the jungle, it was more than comfortable and the bathrooms and common areas were kept spotless.
Location– Although it was an uphill battle it’s only a 5-minute walk to the beach and main street in the town.
Atmosphere– The best part about the hostel, it has a super friendly and welcoming vibe. The staff are lovely and have some great recommendations, it does have the home away from home vibe. It would be very easy to meet people here as a solo traveller.
Facilities– There are lockers big enough for a laptop and a few other valuables, breakfast is included and there are a few different options. You have a well-equipped kitchen to make your own meals and a pool to cool off in after a day of adventuring.
This hostel was the perfect home in Montezuma for a week and I would recommend it. We spent a lot of time on the sun loungers by the pool just chilling. Another fabulous selling point of this place is the wildlife here, the monkeys come to visit regularly and we even spotted an anteater here one evening.
5 out of 5
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5 out of 5 〰️
Bogota
Cleanliness– The hostel was kept lovely and clean, my only negative was the horrible drain smell coming from our bathroom, which is not ideal.
Location– This hostel is in the La Candelaria area of Bogota. It is close to many restaurants, cafes, museums and meeting points for walking tours.
Atmosphere– It was a super welcoming atmosphere, with friendly staff. Also, there were different activities, like yoga, salsa classes etc where solo travellers could meet.
Facilities– The kitchen was small but did the job, they served an excellent breakfast for a small cost. The wifi didn’t work during our 3-night stay here which was super annoying, but on the plus side, they had a place to refill your water bottle.
We had a private room in this hostel and for the price we paid the only complaint I have is the lack of wifi. I recommend this hostel as a base to explore La Candelaria for a night or two. I loved that the hostel is covered in greenery and plants and the terrace had great views over the city, especially at sunset.
4 out of 5
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4 out of 5 〰️
Selina Parque 93
Bogota, Colombia
Cleanliness– The shared bathroom could have been cleaned more regularly, but nothing horrendous, just someone had flooded the sink area. Our room and the common areas were spotless.
Location– Personally this was my favourite location in Bogota, it’s just around the corner for Parque 93 with plenty of restaurants and shops nearby.
Atmosphere– It feels a lot more like a hotel than a hostel, I can’t say it would be super easy to meet other travellers here. However, they do have some activities and tours if you want to socialise more.
Facilities– A well-equipped shared kitchen, co-work spaces, movie room, bar and restaurant and chill-out areas, as with all Selina’s you have everything you need. The shower here was possibly the best shower I have had during my whole Latin America trip, fantastic shower pressure and the ability to change the temperature do not come around often at hostels in Latin America. The wifi didn’t always work here but that seemed to be a Bogota wide issue.
I loved this place and couldn’t recommend it more for couples travelling and spending a few days in Bogota, the price was budget-friendly for a private room with a shared bathroom. Another thing I appreciated is the fact they had lockers in the luggage storage room, so we could lock our valuables away instead of carrying them around Bogota on check-out day.
4.5 out of 5
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4.5 out of 5 〰️
Villa de Leyva
Cleanliness– I think the bathroom could have done with a deep clean and we did have to remove a cockroach so…
Location– Villa de Leyva is a small town so everywhere is super walkable from this hostel, only a few minutes from the main square.
Atmosphere– Not much of an atmosphere, I think we saw about 2 other people during our stay here. I also don’t recommend the tours they offer here the ATV tour was awful.
Facilities– The actual building was beautiful, there was a lovely pool area with sunloungers to chill. The kitchen was lacking basic equipment like plates or bowls. Also, half of our plug sockets in the room didn’t work so charging everything became a nightmare.
The outside aesthetic of this hostel was gorgeous, as you can see from the photos. But unfortunately, the room was just not great, it was so dark, with barely any lights and it looked nothing like the photos online, apologies I didn’t take a photo of the room. This hostel is far from the worst but neither is somewhere I would strongly recommend.
2.5 out of 5
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2.5 out of 5 〰️
La Guaca Hostel
Santa Marta, Colombia
Cleanliness– Overall we found everything to be clean, the only niggle was the kitchen but I’m not sure if it was just outdated or needed a deep clean.
Location– It’s located about a 15-minute walk outside of the centre of Santa Marta, but there are a few shops and places to eat nearby. Also, reception helped call taxis if you needed to head to the bus station or anything like that.
Atmosphere– The staff were super friendly and helpful but not the best hostel to meet loads of people.
Facilities– The kitchen was well equipped the only downside is it was so hot in that kitchen. There is a super small pool to cool down in and some hammocks to chill out in. Rooms were air-conditioned, wifi was a little patchy but in the common areas it worked fine and there is free drinking water.
I would highly recommend this hostel if you are going to do the Lost City trek or stay a night or two in Tayrona, because not only do they have a luggage storage room but there are also lockers so you can be relaxed knowing your valuables will still be there when you get back. It was a very budget-friendly hostel for both dorm and private rooms and they even had free breakfast with 2 options.
4 out of 5
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4 out of 5 〰️
Buritaca
Cleanliness– Other than there being sand almost everywhere, which can’t be helped, this place was pretty clean for being in the jungle.
Location– The hostel is just outside Buritaca a village between Santa Marta and Palamino. You are only a short bus journey away from the entrance to Tayrona National Park. Also, the hostel itself is almost like a resort on the riverside.
Atmosphere– You’ll find a lively atmosphere at this hostel, with activities throughout the day and into the evening. So you won’t have a problem meeting people. If you like a party you’ll find one here most evenings.
Facilities– The dorm beds all had their own lights, plugs, lockers and mosquito nets so props for that. The wifi is okay for the occasional scroll, but don’t rely on it for calls. Loved chilling in the hammock areas and down by the river we even took the paddle boards out, but I don’t recommend that as the boards were broken.
The hostel runs on a tab system for drinks, food and activities, I would say the prices aren’t the cheapest but they weren’t outrageous either. You have to eat and drink here as there aren’t other options. The food was mediocre but there was a fair bit of choice. Overall it was a hostel which was a destination in itself but be warned you will find so many Londoners here, which isn’t the vibe for me personally.
3.5 out of 5
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3.5 out of 5 〰️
Cleanliness– It was a super clean hostel, they cleaned the dorm rooms daily and gave you fresh bedding and towels.
Location– It’s a 10-minute walk outside the town of Minca. It is uphill but this shouldn’t put you off, everywhere is uphill in Minca.
Atmosphere– This place had such a homely feel, everyone was so friendly. Also, Miguel sat us down on arrival and gave us some recommendations for what to do in Minca and was super welcoming.
Facilities– You’ll find a well-equipped kitchen, the wifi works great, and they have lovely chill areas, even a BBQ. The showers were hot and amazing and they even had a hairdryer. You each get a spacious locker in the dorm rooms, the only niggle was there was no plug socket near my bed.
The highlight of this place is its sunset viewpoint, it’s well worth the climb, trust me. You also have access down to the river where you can cool off and swing around. This was easily one of the best hostels we have stayed in over 6 months in Latin America.
5 out of 5
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5 out of 5 〰️
Things I Look For In A Hostel
Central Location
This is key for me for a few reasons, it’s better for safety and helps spend less on transport.
Good Facilities
I always look for hostels with a kitchen to save money on food, decent-sized lockers, good wifi and plugs by the bed.
Some Activities
Even if I don’t participate in activities in a hostel I like the option, especially when solo travelling. It’s a great way to meet people and explore the destination.
Cleanliness Reviews
Hostels have a reputation for being unhygienic, but this isn’t always the case. I tend to check out previous reviews and see if there are many complaints about cleanliness.
Let us know your best hostel recommendations in the comments below.
