The Best Hostels in Mexico for Backpackers

Located in one of Guadalajara’s most fashionable neighborhoods, Hospedarte Chapultepec offers a hostel experience that feels genuinely upscale. With its clean and modern interior, fully-equipped kitchen and large garden with hammocks, the hostel is a far cry from the dingy haunts so often associated with backpacking. Ten minutes’ drive from the historic center, the room and dorm rate also includes a continental breakfast.

Mexico’s answer to the pod hotels that have exploded in Japan, the Capsule Hostel doesn’t quite have the edgy sci-fi feel of its Asian counterparts. Still, it has an interesting minimalist vibe and the cube-shaped capsules are a pleasant change from bunk beds. A good option for travelers looking for a unique, yet inexpensive place to stay in the capital.

Situated in an elegant building slap bang in the city center, this colorful Cancún spot is one of the liveliest hostels in Mexico. Staff are friendly, and a simple breakfast and dinner are included with the room. In the day, you’ll find guests lounging by the garden pool and at night the terrace becomes a hub of activity, with people chatting and drinking until around 11pm, when it’s time to hit the clubs.

Laid-back and hip, Tribu Hostel truly embodies the spirit of Isla Holbox, a tropical paradise in Quintana Roo. A stone’s throw from the beach, the wooden structures were built by hand, giving the complex an unorthodox but cheerful feel. Guests are free to cook in the communal kitchen, pull up a chair at the bar or spend the day lounging in one of the many garden hammocks.

Another destination that will win over beach bums, Selina Isla Mujeres (previously PocNa) is one of the best hostels in Mexico’s Islas Mujeres, a lush Caribbean island off the coast of Cancun. The hostel is next to a soothing beach, but the atmosphere is far livelier than you might first expect. At night the beach bar comes alive, with music played until late. The smaller, more expensive dorm rooms are positioned close to the bar and are best avoided if you’re not into late nights.

With Hindu symbols painted on the garden walls and Indian cloth lanterns hanging from the rafters, this laid-back hostel in Mexico wouldn’t look out of place in Goa. Smaller than most places you’ll find on the backpack trail, the cozy dimensions create a more personable atmosphere. The kitchen and dormitory rooms are kept clean and the pristine white beach is a just a short walk away.

Simply put, you won’t find a better youth hostel in Mexico than the Casa Angel in Oaxaca. Located in a spacious building, this stylish guest house is walking distance from most of Oaxaca’s main attractions. Management and staff scrupulously tick all of the boxes for what you would expect for a comfortable stay. The hostel offers a free cooked breakfast, a good kitchen and stylish common areas with plasma screen TVs and Netflix.

A night in a concrete drain tube might not sound like a tempting offer, but the TuboHotel in Tepoztlán is one of the country’s most original accommodation options. Inside each tube is a bed, a fan and a reading lamp, while the bathrooms are communal. The hostel also provides guests with breakfast.

Don’t be put off by the fact that there are other budget places to stay in Guanajuato closer to the main attractions, the Casa de Dante tops them all. This cozy hostel has clean rooms and welcoming staff, as well as a rooftop terrace that offers impressive views of its picturesque colonial surroundings. Breakfast is a traditional cooked affair, with fresh fruit and coffee.

This cheerful spot in the center of Mazatlán is a great place to unwind. With a swimming pool and hammocks on the rooftop terrace, Funky Monkey Hostel seems determined to pamper its guests. The building also has air conditioning, two communal kitchens, laundry facilities and free breakfast. What more could you ask for?

Looking for more hostels in Mexico? We’ve got you covered. Mexico City is the perfect destination for travelers on a budget. Explore the city from the comfort of one of these top-rated budget-hostels, or check into one of the best art hostels in Mexico City, all bookable with Culture Trip.