Central America Hostels
Welcome to our EPIC list of favourite hostels in Central America.
Whilst backpacking seems to be all about what you see and where you go, it’s actually the people you meet that leave the longest impression.
This is why it’s good to do some pre-planning for where you’ll be staying, as it’s a good chance the people you meet are those who you’ll be spending most of your time with during your stay.
The hostel you stay at plays a part in your experience, and take is from us; you don’t want to spend too many nights in a dingy hostel with nothing going for it.
Central America Hostels
In this guide we’ll explore some of the best hostels you can stay in the most popular destinations in Central America. From our experience these ticked mostly everything, so we know you’ll love them too.
Why stay in a hostel in Central America?
We’d like to start this off by reminding ourselves why we stay in hostels!
Are you backpacking for the first time and wondering why you’d stay in a hostel? See our ideas below for getting the most out of your hostel stay.
Setting a Good Central Base
When backpacking Central America and arriving in a new city or town, you’re going to be disorientated. Many of the great hostels (including the ones we’ve mentioned in this article) locate themselves in the best areas, which is normally in a popular, safer district.
As well as being close to everything, it’s also easier to get better acquainted with your surroundings and start building a solid reference point.
This is important as you’ll be less likely to get lost when coming back at night or after a few beers.
Meeting Like-Minded People
Everyone’s different, as this is why hostels are great to stay at; you’ll meet interesting people from all over the world with a different story to you, yet you’ll all have something in common already.
After arriving after a long flight or bus it also makes the transition easier to meet people.
Hostels tend to also be built in a way that makes it easy to meet others quickly, with dorm rooms, kitchens, open spaces, pools etc very easy to make friends and start making plans during your stay.
Good for the Wallet
The backpacking lifestyle tends to be low-cost, so it’s always good to try and save money where possible. Staying in a dorm room is 100% one of the best ways to keep your costs down, with some hostels costing as little as $4 a night.
An important caveat to mention here is to check reviews as sometimes the lower cost ones aren’t always good quality (not to generalise but just a good habit to make before jumping into a random hostel).
It’s also possible to get discounts, especially if staying longer-term in hostels once you get to know the owners and staff working there.
Hostels in Central America
Now let’s look at our favourite hostels to stay in Central America.
We’ve explored all of the best options, facilities included as well as our own experiences to provide our top recommendations below.
So without further ado let’s take a look at the best hostels in Central America:
Selina Antigua
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Great Location
- Variety of Accommodation Options
- Fast WiFi
Located close to many top sights, Selina is perfect for those looking for a balance between comfort and authenticity. Its home to many different accommodation styles, has many common areas and is a great place to stay for a more social vibe.
- 🏠 Address: 6a Avenida Norte 43A, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Centro Histórico
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Bus Terminal
De Boca en Boca Granada
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Free Breakfast Included
- Great Location
- Good Variety of Accommodation Options
De Boca en Boca is a great hostel for relaxing, and for also having as a home-base to explore the colonial heart of Granada. This cozy hostel has a great free-breakfast included, and is located perfectly next-door to Iglesia La Merced which has the best views over Granada.
- 🏠 Address: Calle 14 de septiembre
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: El Domingazo
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Calle 14 de Septiembre
Poco-a-Poco-Hostel
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Fast WiFi
- Great Location
- Social Atmosphere
Located in the heart of the historical district, Poco a Poco is a great hostel for those who value an authentic and social atmosphere. This hostel has several room types, an awesome rooftop area as well as fast internet.
- 🏠 Address: 2da calle NO. Iglesia Bautista
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Centro Histórico
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: 2da Avenida No
Tunco Lodge El Tunco
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Classic Beach Style Hostel
- Swimming Pool
- Good Location
Tunco Lodge is located in the heart of El Tunco, and is close to all of the best restaurants and nightlife. Its home to a neat swimming pool, comfortable yet high-quality rooms as well as a more rustic “beach” style feel. It’s the perfect place to relax after catching a few waves.
- 🏠 Address: 2da calle NO. Iglesia Bautista
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Centro Histórico
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: 2da Avenida No
Selina San Jose
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Perfect Co-Working Space
- Good Location
- Awesome On-Site Restaurant
As always Selina goes above and beyond with its great quality hostels. The Selina in San Jose has several different lodging options and is well located in a safer area of the capital, near the Zoological Park. It’s also got high-speed WiFi and a Co-Working space to get all of your work done before exploring this authentic and interesting city.
- 🏠 Address: Avenida 9, Otoya
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: San Francisco District
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Antigua Fabrica de Licores
Rocking J’s Puerto Viejo
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Located on the Beachfront
- Great Atmosphere
- Variety of Accommodation Options
Rocking J’s hostel is simply one of the best to stay at for a more rustic atmosphere, and for kicking back with Puerto Viejo’s chill vibes. It’s located on the beach with its own private section, has an on-site restaurant and is also well-located next to many amenities and bars.
- 🏠 Address: 256 70403, Limón, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Puerto Viejo
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Puerto Viejo
Selina Bocas del Toro
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Fantastic Location
- On-Site Activities
- Close to many Ammenities
Located on the beachfront, Selina is the ultimate place to stay in Isla Colon. It’s located right on the water edge, has daily activities such as Salsa lessons and Yoga classes as well as housing some high-quality rooms.
- 🏠 Address: Calle 1 B Bocas Town, Panama
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Isla Colon
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Isla Colon
Roatan Backpackers’ Hostel
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Variety of Accommodation Options
- Swimming Pool
- Close to Attractions
One of the few hostels in Roatan, meaning you’ll be able to save whilst exploring this incredible island. This hostel has a great natural setting, pool and an on-site restaurant. It’s also close to some cool attractions such as the botanical gardens.
- 🏠 Address: Side road by Solgas, between km 10 and 11 Sandy Bay Roatan
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Roatan Island
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Sandy Bay
Hostel Plinio Manuel Antonio
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Jungle Atmosphere
- Taco Bar
- Variety of Accommodation Options
Set in the jungle, Hostel Plinio is on one the original jungle hostels to be set up in Manuel Antonio. Its home to a nice-sized pool, awesome taco bar as well as a 3rd story viewing platform with incredible views of the ocean.
- 🏠 Address: El Cerro, Puntarenas Province, Quepos
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Manuel Antonio
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Plinio Sign (the bus tus along the route and you’ll need to pull the cord for the driver to stop there)
Free Cerveza Lake Atitlan
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Stunning Location
- Glamping Style
- Gourmet Mayan Restaurant
This awesome hostel is located on the more chill shores of Santa Cruz la Laguna, in the north of Lake Atitlan. With affordable prices, this glamping style hostel has some mesmerising views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes.
- 🏠 Address: Santa Cruz la Laguna, Lake Atitlan
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Santa Cruz la Laguna
- 🛳️ Nearest port station: Free Cerveza’s Private Dock
Selina Casco Viejo Panama City
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Great Rooftop Bar
- Well Located
- Authentic Vibe
Selina is always a good option, and the one in Casco Viejo is hands-down one of the best places to stay in the historic centre. The bar and rooftop pool are big pluses, and it’s also located in an authentic area where you’ll get a really good feel for the Panamanian culture.
- 🏠 Address: Calle 12 Este, La Esquina Entre Calle B & Calle 12
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Casco Viejo
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Barrio Chino
The Wave hostel Corn Islands
3 Reasons to Stay:
- Stunning Location
- Affordable Dorm Rooms
- On-site Bar
Located right on the beach, The Wave Hostel is simply one of the best places to stay in The Corn Islands. Due to its Caribbean location, here you can see both the sunrise and sunset from your balcony! The hotel has very clean and simple dorm rooms, accompanied with a neat on-site bar.
- 🏠 Address: CNear Corn Island Dive Centre, 5WMQ+47Q, Corn Island
- 🏘 Neighbourhood: Big Corn Island
- 🚌 Nearest bus station: Big Corn
Hostel Etiquette
Why use Hostel Etiquette we hear you ask?
When leading the backpacking lifestyle, it’s important to consider others. By following these guidelines you’ll do just fine, and also make friends a lot easier.
More importantly you won’t have any issues or run into problems in the hostel which is important!
Have your own Padlocks
This tip is arguably the most important from a safety and practical point of view. People seem to have a heightened perception of hostels being breeding grounds for thieves.
In reality it’s not as bad as most make out, especially when staying in reliable hostels like the ones we’ve included in this article.
However, there’s always a risk that someone will want to make off with some things that aren’t theirs, and I’m sure we’ve all heard stories of this happening.
This is why we recommend always having your own lock, as hostels tend to provide personal lockers for guests to keep things safe and out of reach.
Lights-Off in Dorm Rooms
This seems to be a big one among why people tend to get pissed off staying in dorm rooms, and having had this happen several times, I definitely agree.
After traveling all day on buses or planes, there’s nothing more rewarding than a good night’s sleep. Well that’s until someone bolts in at 3am and decides to turn the lights on.
As you can imagine this can easily lead to arguments, so if you’re coming back late and need some light, just use your phone’s flashlight to make your way back. Again put yourself in the place of someone who wants to rest and you’ll see what we mean.
Keep Things Clean
Let’s first be honest here; hostels are not the cleanest places on earth. If you’re after polished floors and origami towel displays, then you’re best off in an expensive hotel.
Having said this hostels and their staff generally make great efforts in keeping things clean, so it comes down to the guests in how clean things are kept.
Always try to leave spaces as you found them, such as bathrooms and kitchens. What you’ll find is guests tend to be quite impressionable; if you leave some mess the others will think it’s okay and then after time you’ll come back to a worse situation. Best avoided from the start!
Getting Freaky in Dorm Rooms
You’re traveling and will most likely meet someone (or a few) humans that you get on pretty well with.
It’s obvious that heading back to a dorm room will have its own challenges, but more so it’s about respecting the comfort and privacy of others there.
I’m not a betting man but I’d still bet that the person sleeping underneath you probably doesn’t want to hear everything going on.
If the dorm room is empty then it’s really up to you, but in any other case go for the private room (and not only respect others privacy, but also have your own comfort as well).
Use your own Shower Gel
This seems to be a big pet-peeve and complaint among hostel-stayers. I’ll admit I was naive when I first stated backpacking and treated the dorm bathroom like a private en-suite I’d have in a hotel.
The result? Most of my shampoo being gone within a few days. This is not to say everyone’s going to “borrow” of your special lotions, but it’s best to keep these in your own bags and leave the bathroom as you found it (see tip 3).
Please use your own stuff, as it can be obvious who the culprit is in a dorm-room, and again you’ll start making arguments out of unnecessary things.
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Hostels in Central America FAQ Guide:
Here we’ll take a look at the most frequent questions we get asked by our readers:
Hostels in Central America
And that’s all for our Central America hostels guide!
In this guide we’ve explored some important tips regarding hostels, why it’s great to stay at them as well as their advantages.
We’ve also looked at some advice regarding etiquette to follow to ensure you respect other travelers, avoid issues and also to make friends a lot easier.
We’ve also covered 12 of the best hostels to stay in Central America.
We have had great experiences staying in all of these, and can personally say that you will have an amazing time in each! They will also serve as a great base to then explore each city and the surrounding regions.
See this page on Central America on a budget to get yourself prepared for your trip.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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