Hostels in El Salvador Hostels in El Salvador

You are looking for hostels in El Salvador? Good news, you have come to the right place.

On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your El Salvador hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking El Salvador.

All Cities in El Salvador

We list every single hostel in El Salvador and the world. In total, we have 14 cities in El Salvador for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.

All El Salvador hostels on a map

Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.

Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in El Salvador. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.

Our handwritten guide on Backpacking El Salvador

Many people traveling Central America miss El Salvador but that is a big mistake. El Salvador has some of the most beautiful scenery and beaches of the entire region, the people here are just as beautiful, and there are many inexpensive hostels.

The capital city is San Salvador and is a great place to spend a day. They have some lovely church buildings and while not pretty to look at, the main street with the markets has some interesting things to check out. It is also a great city to get some super cheap street food. Make sure that while you are in El Salvador you get your hands on a pupusa. It's local to the country and an amazing take on the different cuisine of the area. You can get lots of types of fillings but typically on the street it is beans and cheese. San Salvador has a large number of hostels that you can choose from as it is also a bus hub for people travelling from Guatemala through to Nicaragua.

Out of San Salvador you can go and hike the tallest mountain in the country, Santa Ana. It has some amazing views on a clear day and is one of the smaller of the mountains in Central America so doesn't pose as much of a challenge as some of the other tougher mountains. You will need a guide to climb the mountain. Ask at your Santa Ana hostel and they should be able to help you with this.

Head down to the coastal region. The most popular of the beaches with tourists is Playa El Tunco which features a couple of nice hostels. There are multiple hostels in this area and bars as well to chill out however most people who are seriously into their surf will forgo the bars and a hangover in favour of the early morning surf. The waves here are not exactly for beginners, but for more advanced surfers though at particular areas of the beach they do offer beginner lessons. It is a great town to hang about in for a couple of days to a week if you have the time. Along from here is the town of La Libertad and this is a great place to check out some of the fish markets along the docks. You can catch a local bus from El Tunco. This is the town with the second most number of hostels in the country. You will find that the hostels in the coastal region will be a little more expensive than the hostels inland but are still quite affordable.

Majority of buses leave in and out of San Salvador but many of the very touristy towns will arrange shuttle buses to go to Guatemala or through to Nicaragua. Make sure you ask at your hostel to get more information.

expert for El Salvador hostels

Handwritten by local expert for El Salvador hostels Globetrotter

Travel Tips for El Salvador - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking El Salvador. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of El Salvador. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

FAQ on Hostels in El Salvador

There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:

Finding Hostels and Prices

What hostel booking sites are best to use?

There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.

This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.

For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.

How much are hostels in El Salvador?

Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.

You can search for exacty hostel prices in El Salvador here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.

When to book hostels?

If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.

We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.

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Safety and Packing

Are hostels in El Salvador safe?

Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.

What to pack when staying in hostels?

There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.

  1. Padlock
  2. Earplugs
  3. Sleeping Mask
  4. Quick Dry Travel Towel
  5. Head Lamp

There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.

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