Hostels in Costa Rica Hostels in Costa Rica

You are looking for hostels in Costa Rica? 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 Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica.

All Cities in Costa Rica

We list every single hostel in Costa Rica and the world. In total, we have 81 cities in Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica. 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 Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the country that is going to steal your heart. Where most of Central America is rife with the most incredible mountains and beaches, the one card that Costa Rica holds over all of them is wildlife. As a wildlife lover, you will be in absolute heaven in Costa Rica and not even know where to start. So here's some tips on places to go and where to look for hostels.

If you are starting in the centre in the capital city of San José, you can literally go in any direction from here. While the city itself is nice enough, there isn't a great deal to do here, but you will find yourself coming back here again and again as all buses route themselves through the city. Find yourself a good hostel in San José and they can help you with information on how to get around and where to go. There are quite an abundance of hostels both in San José and the entire way around the country so you shouldn't have trouble finding somewhere to stay. The prices of hostels in Costa Rica are the most expensive in general of all of the hostels in the Central American region so make sure you check out costs and budget before you leave.

Heading northwest, you will find the small mountain town of Monteverde where you can go zip-lining, bungee jumping, or go on nature walks and get involved in a large number of outdoor activities. You can head on over to the small mountain town of La Fortuna, where you can go for a hike around the mountain or sit within some of the thermal pools here and relax. Going further west, you will find the coastal towns of Tamarindo and Montezuma. They have some great surfing on the north west coast and you will find an abundance of hostels in the small towns all along the coast.

On the north east coast is the Tortuguero National Park, home to one of the largest turtle migrations in the world. If in season you can organize a visit to the area, but given that in recent years there have been major issues with poachers, regulations on visits here are changing. Check out what is happening with your hostel when you arrive and they can advise you.

Head southwest towards Puerto Jimenez and use this as a base to explore the Corcovado National Park. Home to pumas, tapirs, monkey, red macaws, and a whole range other amazing animals, this is one of the best place to see these animals in the untainted wild on a two day hike into and out of the park. You will need to get passes from the National Park office before you go in Puerto Jimenez. The beaches in the Pavones around this area are also stunning and home to a range of different yoga retreats for those wanting to get in touch with nature and themselves.

On the south eastern side you will find the glorious town of Puerto Viejo. There area many hostels, hip cafes and restaurants around the area. From here you can explore the Cahuita National Park and head to the sloth sanctuary.

Of course there is way more to do here than we can fit in but to do all of this properly and actually enjoy it while taking your time you will need at least a month in Costa Rica. It is definitely time well spent.

expert for Costa Rica hostels

Handwritten by local expert for Costa Rica hostels Globetrotter

Travel Tips for Costa Rica - 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 Costa Rica. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Costa Rica. 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 Costa Rica

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 Costa Rica?

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 Costa Rica 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.

#

Safety and Packing

Are hostels in Costa Rica 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.

#
Unlock your Hostel Account to Freedom!

Unlock your Hostel Account to Freedom!

Sign up with Hostelz.com and get access to exclusive hostel content and much more.

Do you already have an account? Login
Home Pluz
Comparizon
Login