Colombia is home to some of South America’s coolest and most unique backpacker hostels, and some of the best are located on the country’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts. From beachside surf camps to hostels that are literally floating in the Caribbean Sea, here are the best beachside hostels in Colombia.
This excellent hostel is located on the Pacific coast beach of El Almejal near the little town of El Valle. The beach itself is great for surfing and offers some of the best sunsets in the country. Between June and October, it is common to spot humpback whales passing while you’re sitting at the bar. With great Pacific coast cocktails, fresh fish in the restaurant and comfortable cabins and dorms, the Humpback Turtle is perhaps the Pacific Coast’s best backpacker option.
The classic Colombian beachside hostel, Costeño Beach Surf Camp is normally booked solid with backpackers looking to enjoy some surfing, sunbathing and swimming. With a great bar and restaurant, an amazing location next to Tayrona National Park and a guest spot in Bomba Estereo’s classic song ‘Somos Dos‘, Costeño Beach is arguably the nicest beachside hostel in the Colombian Caribbean.
Just down the ‘road’ from Costeno Beach is La Brisa Tranquila, a new project from the owners of Santa Marta’s eternally popular Brisa Loca Hostel. Located on the same stretch of beach as Costeno, La Brisa Tranquila is a great alternative choice to its more established neighbour. With the beach on your doorstep and a nice selection of hammocks and outdoor seating, it’s the perfect chill-out beach hostel.
A new hostel from the folks behind Casa en el Agua Hostel, La Playita is a delightful seaside hostel on the off-the-beaten-track paradise island of Isla Fuerte. With the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean at your feet and sloths in the trees surrounding the hostel, La Playita is a newcomer to the Colombian hostel scene, but is surely destined for great things.
Another great new hostel on the Pacific Coast, Pacifico Hostel is located in Uramba National Park, a short boat trip away from Buenaventura. Surrounded by dense jungle on one side and the vast Pacific Ocean on the other, Pacifico Hostel has a real Robinson Crusoe vibe and offers whale-watching excursions in season, as well as boat trips through the jungle to lost waterfalls. This is probably the best beachside hostel in Colombia for escaping from the world for a few glorious days.
Why sleep near a beach when you can just step out of bed and dive straight into the warm Caribbean waters? Although Casa en el Agua is technically a floating island hostel, and doesn’t actually have a beach of its own, we reckon it deserves a spot on this list.
An innovative hostel collective on the Caribbean island of Isla Grande, less than an hour from Cartagena, Paraiso Secreto is a group of several different hostels housed in the abandoned mansions of former emerald barons. With delightful architecture, swimming pools, great food and a stunning seafront location, Paraiso Secreto is the best beachside hostel close to Cartagena.
