The Best Hostels in Antigua, Guatemala

The Aussie-owned Doozy Koala Hostel is a popular choice for laid-back, sociable travelers. With its ever-flowing happy hours, live music nights and themed parties, you’re sure to meet many gregarious souls to hang out and pass time with. There’s an outdoor courtyard featuring a fountain and hammocks aplenty for downtime, too. You can choose between private rooms or a more budget-friendly dorm, all tastefully designed in a minimalist style to help soothe you to sleep.

Multicolored Guatemalan textiles take center stage at Yellow House Hostel, just a few minutes’ walk from La Merced church. Breakfast is a choice between continental or buffet, and Yellow House is full of nooks and crannies for reading, relaxing or taking in views of the city. If you’re seeking a home away from home, bursting with color and character, then base yourself here.

Hostal Antigua offers six private rooms and one large dorm, all adorned with handmade Guatemalan textiles and furniture. Its patio and terrace offer lush foliage and calming respite from the city’s streets. Located just a two-minute walk from Parque Central and Antigua’s exquisite 16th-century cathedral, Hostal Antigua is an ideal base for exploring all the city’s sights and then resting up once you’ve ticked them all off.

Whether you’re looking for a private room, a female-only dorm or even a bed in a Bedouin tent, community-oriented Selina has you covered. There’s a pergola-covered garden replete with hammocks, an outdoor pool with an accompanying slide (yes, really), salsa and yoga classes for the supple, co-working space for the diligent and a restaurant serving up contemporary Guatemalan cuisine. Your location is a short walk from Cerro de la Cruz, a cross-topped mirador (lookout) offering views over the city and the imposing cone-shaped Volcán de Agua.

Just moments from the impressive Capuchinas convent, Tunik is in a quieter part of town, but still conveniently central. With an outdoor pool and deck, a garden featuring hammocks and colorful murals, it’s an easy-going, bohemian sort of place. This adults-only hostel has shared dorms offering no-nonsense bunk-bed pods, each with its own blind so you can enjoy some privacy when it’s time to switch off.

Just two blocks from Parque Central, Ojalá offers a flourishing garden, elegant neutral interiors and craft cocktails for a more upmarket feel. Its dorm offers the winning combo of blackout curtains, a personal light, charge point and shelf for each bed and fluffy duvets for the ultimate night’s sleep. If you’re looking for even more privacy, there are eight private rooms offering garden or volcano views and immaculate ensuite bathrooms.

Set in an 18th-century colonial house, just two blocks from the main plaza, Adra Hostel is a hub for the environmentally conscious. Only locally grown produce is served in its restaurant and recycling is taken seriously. Its colorful design is inspired by geometry and you can choose between shared or private rooms, complete with custom-made beds and organic bath products. There are also regular yoga classes and creative workshops to complement your jaunts around the city.

With an emphasis on group travel, Lemon Tree Hostel is ideal for sociable travelers looking to meet fellow extroverts. It’s just two blocks from Parque Central and has yoga, salsa classes and karaoke on offer. A small airplane is casually on display in the central courtyard, showing that travel is at Lemon Tree’s core. Both dorms and private rooms offer a comfortable, no-frills stay so you can get a good night’s sleep after all the fun.

This hostel might not be situated in a jungle, but it certainly is the place to party. On most nights, one of the two bars hosts some kind of (often boozy) activity, and there are also regular family-style barbecues which are a great way to meet up with fellow travellers. For daytime relaxation, there are chill-out areas and a jacuzzi. Not the place to go if you want privacy and a good night’s sleep: but if neither of those sound that important anyway, head to Jungle Party.

The Three Monkeys is one of the most popular hostels in Antigua – which is impressive, given that it’s a relative newcomer on the scene. It’s just a couple of blocks from the main square, and with some of the city’s best bars, restaurants and cafes on the doorstep, and a convivial atmosphere. It isn’t the best party hostel in Antigua, but there’s usually people staying to head into town with. If you’re after something a bit more relaxed, there are plenty of hammocks and quiet corners to chill out in as well.

This highly rated (yet surprisingly inexpensive) hostel has plenty of options for both groups and solo backpackers. Female travellers can book into one of the women-only dorms, and there are semi-private rooms for those who want to spend time by themselves. The common areas are comfortable, the kitchen is well-equipped, plus there’s a bar for socialising and a hot tub to help your recovery. It’s located a little further from the city centre, in a quieter neighbourhood.

A popular destination among young travellers, Tropicana is a great place to catch the electric traveller vibe of Antigua. There are daily activities like beer pong or pub quizzes, large and open dorms, and plenty of chill-out areas (including a pool). When combined with the rooftop bar and an on-site restaurant, you might be tempted not to leave. Which would be a shame, given the hostel’s excellent location: just a couple of minutes’ walk from the Parque Central.

Wicho and Charlie’s is a volunteer-run hostel that’s a solid option for anyone who’s after a friendly place to stay that still offers a bit of privacy. The ‘pod’ beds come in handy when an early night is needed – they only open on one side, and come with a blackout curtain. For a great way to meet other travelers, sign up for the overnight Acatenango hike. It’s difficult but you’ll make some real friends along the way.