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
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
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.
4. El Barrio Hostal
Hostel, Boutique Hotel
Cartagena hostel locations don’t get better than the El Barrio Hostal, which sits right in the center of the old city. It has balconies overlooking the Spanish colonnades and courtyards of the University of Cartagena. There are no dorms, but the basic ensuite rooms are budget-friendly, and brightened with light cream walls and stencil art.
5. Be Lounge Cartagena
Hostel
6. El Arsenal Hostel Boutique
Hostel, Hotel
7. Viajero Cartagena
Hostel
8. Media Luna Hostel
Hostel
9. Casa en el Agua
Hostel
10. República Hostel
Hostel
Alex Robinson contributed additional reporting to this article.
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