The Best Beachside Hostels to Book in Colombia

San Andrés is a coral island in the waters off Nicaragua, although resolutely Colombian. Tucked away in a tranquil residential neighborhood in the north of the island is this simple, laid-back hideaway, immersed in sprouting pots of ferns and other tropical plants. The hostel is within walking distance of popular beaches and the city center. Room options range from spacious family apartments to sparkling clean doubles, triples and quadruples, all united by their simple, appealingly boho decor. Save on your budget by visiting the nearby supermarket for food and using the shared kitchen and outside BBQ area for cooking.

Consider a stay at La Perla Hostel during a visit to the bustling port city of Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. It’s just a few hundred yards from Santa Marta Bay, with a variety of appealing whitewashed rooms to suit every party size – choose basic dorms, private rooms or a mix of dorms and beds. With a shared fully equipped kitchen, a common area and four terraces festooned with colorful hammocks, the hostel has everything you need to wind down before heading onwards to Tayrona National Park – if you need information on this or other places you’re headed, ask the staff. They’re very helpful.

In the heart of Santa Marta city, Hostal Solymar is your best bet for access to sun and sea, just as the name implies. It occupies a colonial-style building, within easy reach of the beautiful parks and plazas of Santa Marta. You can also stroll from here to the Marina, seafront walkways and the bay. Solymar is a modest, but spick-and-span hostel, painstakingly cleaned, with basic private rooms and bunk bed-lined dorms. There’s also a small kitchen area, lobby and courtyard area where guests gather to socialize and swap travel tales.

The unfancy but colorfully decorated El Hamakero de Conchi takes its vivid look from Barranquilla – the nearby city celebrated for its flamboyant February-into-March Carnival, a riot of elaborate floats and all-night cumbia music. The hippie-dippie hostel, with its murals and ferns, basks amid nature in lesser-visited Puerto Colombia. For serenity-seekers, it’s a real find, with its vibrantly painted basic rooms, comfy beds, hammocks, courtyard and small pool.

Just like Cartagena, its home town, the riotously decorated Wonderland Hostel is full of character. It’s a sociable place where the lively bar breaks the ice with specialty cocktails. It’s a matter of minutes from the beach, so rent a bike and get to know Playa Marbella. At Wonderland, there’s a pool, plenty of areas for mingling with fellow adventurers, games including ping pong – even an air-conditioned TV room that’s equipped for streaming. For added privacy, the bunk beds are pod-style, but you could always book a private room. Best bit? The airport is within walking distance when you need to catch that flight.

With its setting, conveniently close to the white-sand beaches and crystalline island waters of San Andrés, this place can’t help but be friendly and welcoming – there’s a home-away-from-home, family-like atmosphere throughout. Rooms may be simple, but there’s a variety of sizes including family rooms and dorms. There’s a handy BBQ area, a restaurant and a bar. The owners go out of their way to make your trip special, arranging tours, activities and – when it’s time to go – airport transfers. In the meantime, try the dance classes offered by the owners, or kick back in the pool and whirlpool tub.

At the wellness-centric Selina, in the small Caribbean-coast town of Palomino, you’ll start the day in serene style, with a yoga session or a surf lesson. Beyond the standard fitness activities, pulse-quickening classes range from Afrobeat dance classes to lessons in the art of healing through plants that grow in the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains. About an hour from Tayrona National Park, this beachfront poshtel is super stylish, complete with a beachy rustic vibe, its appealing look created by bamboo and thatch among other natural materials. Homey private rooms and dorms are available, along with a pool and a yoga shala. Rare are the guests who, having experienced what’s on offer, only stay one night.