The Best Hostels In Cartagena Colombia

With beautiful Spanish churches and shuttered mansions, Cartagena is one of the most popular stops on the Colombian backpacker trail. Ticking off the colonial city has become a rite of passage for the thousands of backpackers, drawn annually by its colorful history, coral-fringed Rosario Islands and long sandy beaches. It can be tricky to pinpoint a perfect base in this city, so with that in mind, here are the very best hostels in Cartagena, Colombia.

1. Casa del Pozo Boutique Hostel

Hostel, Chain Hotel

Casa del Pozo Boutique Hostel lobby with plants, colourful chairs and wood beam ceilings

Set on a cottage-lined backstreet, the cute, lime-green Casa del Pozo is less than a 10-minute walk from the walled city. The boutique hostel offers whitewashed dorms and doubles with simple, chipboard and pine pallet beds, colorful scatter cushions and Sevilla tiles. Enjoy the onsite bonsai bar and small pool.

2. Santuario Hostel

Hostel

Next to the Bulwark of Santa Bárbara and with views over the imposing Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas (which looks like it belongs in The Count of Monte Cristo), the Santuario Hostel is a 15-minute walk from the colonial center. It has bare, white doubles and dorms with cubicle bunks, along with an open kitchen where you can cook meals and connect with other travelers.

3. Hostel La Antigua Capsula

Hostel, Boutique Hotel

Hostel la Antigua Capsula pink exterior with creeper plants above door

As the name suggests, the dorm beds at the Hostel La Antigua Capsula are self-contained capsule spaces. Doubles are tiny and furnishing is sparse. However, the hostel sits in the heart of the lively Getsemani neighborhood, with plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs at your doorstep.

5. Be Lounge Cartagena

Hostel

Be Lounge Cartagena room with bare walls and concrete floor

Be Lounge is a beautiful hostel inside a 400-year-old house in the center of the old walled city of Cartagena. Its downstairs area features a lovely restaurant and garden bar, while the upstairs is home to private and shared bedrooms. This intimate little hostel also has a pleasant terrace ideal for sunbathing by day and stargazing by night. It’s just two blocks from the city walls and a stone’s throw from Plaza Santo Domingo, meaning you get a premium setting at hostel prices.

6. El Arsenal Hostel Boutique

Hostel, Hotel

El Arsenal is a winsome boutique hostel that gets all the little details right – including a private light and socket by each dorm bed – and is equidistant between the Getsemani neighbourhood and the old walled city. Among the other draws are an excellent little swimming pool in the central courtyard – a very welcome amenity in such a hot city – and a couple of private rooms with private balconies and sea views, a rarity in Cartagena hostels.

7. Viajero Cartagena

Hostel

Lobby at El Viajero with tile floors, seating and mirror on wall

While Viajero is a chain hostel, it’s up there with the best that Cartagena has to offer. With charming touches such as free classes in salsa, bachata and champeta dancing, as well as a pair of lovely colonial patios, the hostel occupies a privileged location in the heart of the old town, just a few blocks from the relaxed Plaza Fernández de Madrid. It was also ranked the best hostel in South America by Hostelworld in 2013, so has the credentials to back up its popularity.

8. Media Luna Hostel

Hostel

Welcome to the ultimate Cartagena party hostel, sitting in the artistic neighborhood of Getsemani – it’s a favorite among backpackers wanting a quality night out. The lovely sunny patio is great for relaxing on by day, but becomes a dance floor by night, so if you want peace and quiet, think twice about staying here. If you want to socialize however, you’ll also be in a perfect position to dive into its celebrated Media Luna Mega Party every Wednesday.

9. Casa en el Agua

Hostel

Floating on the Caribbean Sea’s sparkling blue waters, Casa en el Agua is the definitive fantasy stay for beach and sea devotees. The only way to get there is through a boat transfer from Cartagena. With not much to do other than sip your way through cocktails on the deck, splash around idly or chill out in a hammock, it couldn’t be a dreamier. A Caribbean-castaway fantasy at a backpacker rate.

10. República Hostel

Hostel

República is an excellent hostel in the old town near Plaza Fernández de Madrid. Its appeal is in its lovely pool and bar area, where you can relax away the day, chatting with fellow travelers over cold beers in the sunshine. There is a main bar, too, on the second floor, with a slightly more pronounced party atmosphere. Each dorm bed is set in a separate cubicle space, so you needn’t worry about noisy drunken roommates waking you when they crash following a raucous night out.

Alex Robinson contributed additional reporting to this article.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.