The Best Backpacker Hostels In South America – We traveled light, said yes to as many adventures as possible, made lifelong friends and saw things we only dreamed of. We did all this while traveling on a budget, often sleeping in rooms full of bunk beds.
To make your trip amazing, we’ve put together the following guide to our favorite hostels – the best of the best we’ve come across while backpacking South America.
The Best Backpacker Hostels In South America
There you will find countless others who are also traveling on a budget, all on the adventure of a lifetime.
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The camaraderie and friendship we experienced in these hostels was one of the most positive memories we took away from the trip. When you think about how amazing the rest of our trip was, it really proves how amazing our experience at these hostels was!
If you’re planning a long-term trip to South America or simply traveling on a budget, you’ll need to keep an eye on your accommodation bill. Luckily, backpacking doesn’t mean you’ll be scraping your bottom – quite the opposite!
During our six month trip, we occasionally stayed in luxury accommodations (EcoCamp, Mashpi Lodge, and our time aboard the Ecoventura I thought), but doing it for six months straight just wasn’t possible.
With so many amazing hostels offering clean, tidy and comfortable accommodation at great prices, there’s really no reason why people of all ages can’t travel South America – in fact, we think it’s the perfect place to start your hostel journey!
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You’ve probably heard horror stories about how backpacking in South America (and around the world) can go wrong. If you stick to the hostels we recommend in this post, you really can’t go wrong.
In our time backpacking South America, we’ve experienced everything from stellar accommodation (mentioned here) to hotels we really couldn’t recommend (and won’t, of course).
Don’t mess around and try your luck with whatever comes up first on Booking.com; follow the suggestions in this guide and we’ll see you around.
During our six months in South America, we were delighted to find many amazing hostels and would recommend every one of them. Below is our pick of the best – all tried and tested indeed!
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Chili Kiwi was the first South American hostel to really win us over, and in a big way! During our 2.5 week stay (that’s right, it was
Hard to leave), we became friends for life. With friendly staff, a wide range of accommodation options (we especially loved the hobbit holes), a stunning lakeside location and enough activities to keep you entertained for weeks, you’ll be hard pressed to find the best hostel in Pucon.
When traveling, we always look for hostels where travelers are friendly and chatty, but happy to let everyone sleep when the time comes. Chili Kiwi was the epitome of what we were looking for – a social hostel yes but not a party hostel – perfect!
Although Discovery Hostel is much more than a wonderful breakfast, it’s hard to think about anything else when you first pull up your chair in the morning! With pancakes, French toast with cinnamon sugar, fresh fruit, sauteed vegetables and the most amazing banana bread fresh from the oven, the included breakfast far exceeds what you would expect from a backpacker.
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Besides the breakfast (which we still dream about), we loved the location of the hostel (super safe, close to the metro) and the hostel itself seemed very friendly.
A 15-minute boat ride from Paraty, Happy Hammock, set on the shores of a semi-private beach, offers the most incredible hostel views imaginable. With friendly hosts (who are especially skilled in the kitchen) and plenty of hiking and swimming spots nearby, it’s the perfect place to relax.
Best of all though? When the sun goes down, Happy Hammock turns on the magic! Guests are invited to put on a mask and snorkel and jump off the jetty, where bioluminescent plankton illuminate the sea. Although we only planned to swim the first night, we couldn’t resist swimming on the second night as well… If you visit them, you will see why.
Located in the leafy suburb of Poblado, BlackPine is the perfect hostel for backpackers new to backpacking. With incredibly respectful guests, comfortable beds, tidy bathrooms and smiling staff, you’ll have a great night’s sleep without breaking the bank.
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With hot showers (which are in short supply in Colombia) and a selection of delicious cooked breakfasts every morning, BlackPine is a great place to relax. But if you want to go further afield, they are well located near budget restaurants (look for the Mexican ones – you won’t regret it) and the subway.
Any stay in Cusco is sure to be action-packed with so many amazing hikes, archaeological sites and activities in the region. At the end of a busy day, you’ll need somewhere to rest and recharge your batteries, and Magicpacker is just the ticket.
The TV set for streaming NetFlix, social guests and the most wonderful dinners on offer (on certain nights of the week) has very quickly become our home away from home.
Located right on the edge of South America’s only natural oasis, Wild Olive Inn is a super comfortable option for travelers.
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With comfy couches, another huge TV, friendly hosts and a delicious included breakfast (you can even order from their menu – oh what a choice!) it really is a great place to relax in a city that’s considered a bit of a party.
The first stop for us on the Quilotoa loop, a three-day hike, ended up being the real highlight of our time on the trail. The hostel itself was incredibly comfortable and served hearty food and delicious cocktails, perfect for replenishing our energy reserves. It also had a wonderful spa (although we didn’t think to take our bathers!), an incredibly massive (and beautiful) St. Bernard, and best of all, it attracted a sociable, friendly group of travelers.
The next two days we hiked with our newfound friends and although we didn’t find the hike itself as impressive as we had hoped, we didn’t regret it at all, thanks to Llull Llama and the new friends we made there. .
There’s nothing like a roaring fire when it’s cold outside…it’s even better if it’s in your bedroom and someone else lights it every night!
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Margpuya Patagonia Outdoor offered a respite from the cold while also being a comfortable, sociable hostel. The rooms themselves were a fair size and there were plenty of activities on reception, along with staff who were always happy to help with local bus information.
Although we arrived late at La Justino, Leonardo, the manager, was ready and waiting with lots of information to help us make the most of our stay in Bariloche. Throughout our stay, Leonardo showed every kindness to us and to our two friends who camped in town for free – he didn’t have to, but it was much appreciated.
The hostel itself was comfortable with a great space to relax and a large kitchen. The beds were comfortable and while we were there it was quiet enough in the hostel that we had a bedroom to ourselves – great!
Although travelers in South America love Spanish, it’s amazing how little Spanish is spoken in hostels. In the cases where we encountered someone who only spoke Spanish, it was often quickly and in an unexpected context, making it difficult to understand them.
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What a joy it was then to meet Victor, the owner of Hostal Princesa Maria. He spoke Spanish slowly, simply and with a lot of patience, which made us realize that our Spanish has really improved, we just haven’t had the opportunity to test ourselves at the right level so often.
The hostel itself was in a good location, close to town but away from the noise of the main square, and provided access to affordable activities with professional guides – and indeed Victor was the shining light of the property.
La Paz was a city that really took us by surprise – it was a busy, bustling South American city, but it definitely had a real soul.
Landscape International, located slightly outside the tourist center, offers excellent accommodation at very reasonable prices; so much so that we didn’t have to think twice about upgrading to a private double room – a real treat on our trip.
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Casa Relax Minca, a 15-minute walk outside the city center, was a wonderful escape from reality.
With friendly hosts and plenty of help from the staff in planning our day, it was a great base to explore the local area whilst relaxing.
Pro tip: If possible, request one of the downstairs rooms (if you’re there for the weekend) as the upstairs rooms don’t have their own ceilings, meaning the sound from the lounge carries over
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