Hostels in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

43 hostels available. Prices start from $4.00 for a dorm bed.

Hostels in Cartagena de Indias

Beach Lovers Retreat Female Solo Traveller Party Hostel Solo Traveller
"…Reception hours 7:00 to 22:00 . No curfew. No pets allowed. We do not accept customers younger than 18 years of age." …"The best way to get to the hostel is by taking an official taxi at the … More

Life is Good Cartagena Hostel

Getsemani
Free Breakfast Privacy Curtains
Digital Nomads Female Solo Traveller Quiet Rest Solo Traveller
"…As more than just a place to stay, we act as a valuable information hub for travelers seeking insights into Cartagena and Colombia. Our concierge service is readily available to provide guidance … More
Female Solo Traveller Solo Traveller
"…or just chill. Casa del Puerto Hostel & Suites is located in Manga, a peaceful district in a central area of Cartagena de Indias, close to all the touristic points. In Casa del Puerto … More

CASA MOVIDA HOSTEL


Free Breakfast
Digital Nomads Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"In the heart of the Walled City and with facilities completely renovated in 2020, is Casa Movida Hostel, the establishment is located in the San Diego district and is part of the colonial landscape … More
Female Solo Traveller Groups (10+ people) Party Hostel Solo Traveller
"…There is seating by the main reception, but this is mostly empty except for breakfast. As you enter, there is a long and narrow, rectangular courtyard with deck chairs. The layout means there is a … More

Mama Waldy Hostel

Getsemani
Free Breakfast
Party Hostel
"…Casa Mama Waldy offers you free WiFi and coffee all day, a well equipped shared kitchen, lounge, patio and a very cosy terrace with bar. An oasis to relax in coming back from your adventures. … More
Couples Female Solo Traveller Solo Traveller
"REPUBLICA HOSTEL CARTAGENA. has a great atmosphere, amazing facilities, and a very central location. It has a great mix of chill-out spaces and social areas to meet people. The Location The … More
Digital Nomads Female Solo Traveller Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…Selina Cartagena is located in the neighborhood of Getsemani, near the nightlife area of Cartagena. To reach the hostel from the bus station it is about thirty minutes with taxi. The historical … More

Casa Del Pozo Boutique Hostel

Getsemani
Free Breakfast
Female Solo Traveller Solo Traveller Boutique Hostel
"…Taxes Not Included for Colombians. Taxes included for foreigners. Breakfast included. General: 24 hour Reception. No curfew. Non smoking. Age Restriction: 18+ years only. The maximum … More

Zion Beach House


Free Breakfast
Female Solo Traveller Solo Traveller
"…Zion Beach House Conditions and Policies: Cancellation policy: You can choose between non-refundable rates and standard rates. Check in from 14:00. Check out before 11:00. Taxes not … More
Family-Friendly Hostel
"San Jacinto hostel is a very cosy place where you will feel at home. Recently remodelled, it has new, clean and very striking facilities, the bathrooms are totally new and modern, rooms and beds … More
Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"Located in Cartagena de Indias. Casa Zahri Boutique Hostel provides accommodation with a restaurant. The hotel features a terrace and a 24-hour front desk. We are near to Bolivar Park, Palace … More

Hostal El Bando


Free Breakfast
Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…The two best beaches of Cartagena are just minutes away from us, The beach of Crespo, the neighbourhood beach, it's just 5 minutes walking, and Playa Azul, in La Boquilla, less than 5 minutes by … More

New Casa Dora

Barrio Getsemani
Party Hostel
"…2 km from Cartagena's Gold Museum and 700 m from Cartagena de Indias Convention Centre. We have gastronomy and tourist sites near the Boca Grande beach. We have private family and shared rooms … More
Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…000 COP and includes 3 lunch options, cab from the hotel and the boat to and from the island. The hostel has swimming pool, access to the beach, restaurant, bar. Meet Santuario Beach Hostel … More

La Buleka Hostel

Getsemani
Free Breakfast
Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…Amenities consist of A/C’s in each room, privacy panels, individual power, lighting, and locker space. We also have hot water available in all showers. Special bed size (200cm x 90cm), for … More

San Felicin Hostel


Free Breakfast
Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…24 hours reception. No curfew No smoking in common areas. Under 18 with an adult only." …"If you are traveling from the airport, we highly recommend using the authorized cabs (yellow cars) from … More
Party Hostel Youth Hostel
"…Breakfast not available General: 24 hours reception. No curfew Pet are not allowed" …"…4.5 km Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport 99 km" …Calle Larga 9a -25 0 calle 25 numero 9a -25 … More

Hostal Casa Torres


Free Breakfast
"…The Casa Torres hostel is not responsible for personal losses caused in the rooms No smoking in the rooms or common areas, so we have a smoking area, located on the terrace of the building. It … More
Party Hostel Solo Traveller Youth Hostel
"…Off this room, there is another room that is filled with books, a guitar, and keyboard and other entertainment. There is a small outdoor kitchenette for guest use, and they have two large beer … More

Hostels in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

43 hostels available. Prices start from $9.00 for a dorm bed.
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Neighborhoods in Cartagena de Indias

Looking for a specific district? Here you go:

Get to know Cartagena de Indias (no more "I wish I knew this before")

This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Cartagena de Indias.

Guess what? Cartagena de Indias is also named and spelled Cartagena, Tierra Bomba - It is the same destination. Goodbye confusion.

Cartagena (or called by its full name, Cartagena de Indias), is the fifth-largest city in Colombia with a population of nearly a million.

There is a distinct Afro-Caribbean feel to this northern city, different from other cities. Cartagena's tropical climate is hot and humid with rains in April and May and from October to December. Temperatures average over thirty degrees Celsius every day. This city must be included on every itinerary for backpacking Colombia.

In this guide we will walk you through all the basics you need to know before hitting the road. We have visited the city and had an amazing time.

Please note, the old town is also called the Walled City, and even Old City. It refers to the same part of the city.

Why you should visit Cartagena, Colombia

The moment you started planning your Colombia itinerary, you have started to see photos from this little pearl. Cartagena is an absolute must-visit. It is one of the most impressive and most beautiful cities in Latin America.

In a nutshell, here are 5 things you can expect:

  1. Gorgeous old town with its architecture
  2. Caribbean Culture
  3. Learn about Colombian history
  4. Great nightlife in Getsemani Area
  5. Access to islands in the area like Isla Grand and Isla Baru

You will learn so much about Colombian culture and understand its background much more in detail. You will learn more about the history, the colonization by the Spanish and how it affected the people until today. Cartagena's jewel is Cartajena Vieja, the Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As it's surrounded by high walls with colonial-style buildings by the Caribbean, walking through the gates feels like stepping into the scene of a pirate movie.

Buildings are painted bright colours, the narrow, cobbled streets are shared by cars and horse carts. It is very well looked after and arguably the nicest city in the whole of South America. There are street vendors selling jewelry and souvenirs and performance artists keeping visitors entertained. On warm days it is no problem to find a cafe for a cool refreshment or for some of Colombia's famous coffee.

Last but not least, from Cartagena you can kick-off your trip along the Colombian coastline.

There are many smaller villages as well as the big backpacker hot-spots and places to visit like Santa Marta, Tayrona Park, Minca, Taganga, Palomino, and finally Riohacha and La Guajira area in the North-East. It is very well connected. You can either take an Air-conditioned bus or a private car.

The bus is obviously much cheaper and they have a very frequent schedule. It is important to book your ticket in advance. Ask at your hostel reception for more information. They can help you wih this as most backpackers follow this itinerary.

How to choose Hostels in Cartagena Colombia

Most Cartagena Colombia hostels are located in either the old town or the Getsemani area of the city.

More hostels are opening their doors as the safety situation continues to improve in Colombia and tourists flock to the region. Our list here about Cartagena hostels always stays up to date automatically. It is very easy for you to pick your best choice for a hostel Cartegan Colombia without clicking through hundreds of sites.

There really is no need to view the best hotels in Cartagena old city, though you will also find hotels listed on this site.

So where to stay in Cartagena on a budget? I absolutely recommend keeping your eye on three major factors:

  1. Location
  2. Prices
  3. Facilities

1. Best Location to choose

Where is the best place to stay in Cartagena Colombia?

The best hostel location in Cartagena is in the Old Town or in Getsemani. Bocagrande is nice, but nothing too special and you won't find many hostels here anyways. Personally, we actually love both the Old Town and Getsemani.

Here are each of their own advantages:

The Old Town is spectacular. And the hostels here are usually located within an impressive colonial building that sometimes looks like a movie. Really, you can score some beautiful boutique and luxury hostels here. So you can sleep in an architectural masterpiece and in one of the most beautiful cities of Latin America.

Some wonderful hostels to consider in the Old Town Cartagena Colombia are:

Getsemani on the other hand has all its flair and vibes. I absolutely recommend to come here for a night out, enjoy the live music at the streets, eat at terrace, dance salsa in the clubs.

Cool hostels in Getsemani include:

2. Compare Prices

As said before, hostels in Cartagena are more expensive compared to the rest of Colombia. Then it is even more worth it to actually compare prices. On Hostelz.com we compare all hostel prices in Cartagena for you.

We compare prices on all the major booking sites.

Read all 7 reasons to find hostels with Hostelz.com here.

It is likely you can save a whopping $5 per night! You saved up a long time for your trip to Colombia, so stretch your money as far as it can go and use Hostelz.com every time for your hostel research.

3. Facilities

You will find anything from absolute cheap hostels in Cartagena to luxury hostels.

Since it is a very touristic city, it offers a really wide range of budget accommodation. When comparing prices, check also the facilities of the hostel. Some places come with beautiful rooftop terraces and their own tours and activities. Other common inclusions are:

Most hostels in Cartagena de Indias offer both dorm rooms and private rooms. Always check reviews to make sure amenities listed are actually at the hostel.

Nightlife in Cartagena

A popular activity at night is to do a "Rumba in Chiva" tour. These are old, colourfully painted buses with benches where you bring alcohol and the chiva bus drives around Cartagena, a great way for people staying at hostels to mix with locals! This chiva bus takes you all around from the walled town to Bocagrande and Getsemani.

It is almost like a sightseeing bus, just with loud music, drinks in your hand and at night.

Cartagena has plenty of nightlife and is a destination for many Colombians. The areas of Getsemani and the modern Bocagrande are good for a night out.

The old town also has plenty of bars and places for nightlife. But prices are much higher than compared to Getsemani. Since you are reading this article and most likely considering to stay in a Cartagena hostel, I recommend hopping over to Getsemani for a fun night out. It is just a 5 minutes walk anyways from the walled town.

We recommend staying at Viajero Hostel Cartagena for a fun time.

Safety Tips

Is Cartagena Colombia a safe and friendly place to travel solo?

Cartagena, and especially the touristic areas around Getsemani, the old town and Bocagrande are one of the safest areas in all of Colombia.

There is police all over the place, ensuring the safety of the people. It was one the cities we felt safest in the whole country.

Yet, there seems to be pickpockets and other smaller crimes occuring. Compared to other parts of Colombia, Cartagena is very safe. That being said, the general safety rules apply.

  • Do not carry with you a big amount of cash.
  • Leave your valuables at home in your hostel locker if you can.
  • Do not walk dark streets at night.

Taxis are also very cheap and usually help to get from A to B without walking in any sketchy areas.

Read: Are Hostels Safe? 11 Tips for Hostel Travel

But again, in Cartagena you should be staying either in Getsemani or the Old Town. It is a safe 5 minutes walk with usually many people around. I do not really see the need to take a taxi, but keep in mind it would be a cheap option. Always ask the price before you enter and drive off.

Cool Things to do in Cartagena

Now that we have sorted out your hostel situation and the nightlife experience, what is there to see in Cartagena? I want to share a few of the activities I enjoyed.

Bazurto Market

Near Cartagena you will find the most authentic market, the Bazurto Market. Get lost in the labyrinth of food stands and enjoy traditional Colombian food and drinks. The market itself is both dirty and enthralling, and really not a luxury experience, but authentic as it can get. I recommend to go with at least another hostel mate, or even a group from your hostel. You can take a taxi and it is only a 10 minute ride. There is also the option of joining a Bazurto Market tour with a local tour guide. I recommend to come here in the morning, around 10am.

Mud-bath in a Volcano - Volcan de Totumo

For a rather unique experience, leave your hostel, pack your swim gear, and book a tour to the Volcan de Totumo. This is a bubbling volcano, where you bathe in the mud pool at the top. You will be covered from head to toe in mud before cleaning off in the lake.

Day Trip to Playa Blanca

As stated earlier, Cartagena is really not a beach destination. Sorry, it's not! The two most popular beaches and islands in the area are Playa Blance (the White Beach) and Isla Rosario. There are water taxis that bring tourists out to the beaches at Playa Blanca or Rosario, as the beaches in Cartagena are not clean. Not too far from the centre is the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas, a magnificently preserved fortress built by the Spanish.

Day Trip or overnight-trip to Isla Rosario

The second option to chill at a beach near Cartagena is visiting Isla Rosario or Isla Grande. You can find a few hostels in Isla Rosario on Hostelz.com as well. The boat trip leaving from the main pier in Cartagena takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.

You can either come here for a day trip or stay overnight in any of the few hostels.

If you decide to stay, make sure you book beforehand. You cannot arrive and expect an empty bed or room for you. Space is very limited and most likely sold out. Plus, the accommodation will help you with your transport.

They can organize your boat transfer and tell you the price and schedule. Personally, I enjoyed staying 2 nights in Isla Rosario. You can dive in the area, visit the famous sunk airplane of Pablo Escobar and visit a half destroyed villa which belonged to Pablo Escobar as well; at least that is the legend here.

Kitesurfing

Just outside the city in the North of Cartagena you can enjoy great kite surfing. The best season for kitesurfing in Cartagena is from December to April. Many hostels can arrange this for you. You can rent the gear at a local school.

For the beginner, there is also the basic course. Colombia is a great place in general for kitesurfers. Along the coast there is many kitesurfing spots and throughout the country they practice kitesurfing at many beautiful lakes with almost perfect conditions.

Take endless photos

As you can imagine the Old Town in Cartagena is incredibly photogenic. The Old towns architecture really makes it feel like a time machine back to Seville in Spain in the 16th century. The tourists start to conquer the city by around 10am. For a touristic city, this is quite late.

After 10am, it will be impossible to take any photos without crowds.

I recommend to wake up a bit early and wander around at 8am. This way you can take beautiful photos with most likely not a single other person. The best spots to take photos in Cartagena are in the Old Town and Getsemani. The old town has its beautiful architecture and small squares. Getsemani, the backpacker district, has beautiful street art.

Watch the sunset

It is no surprise, Cartagena is located at the beach and the Caribbean sea. On top of that, the city faces the ocean to the west. This allows to watch beautiful sunsets and to see the sun "drop" in the ocean.

The best sunset spots are along the old wall in the old town. There are also a few bars on top of the wall. You have to come early though as seats will be taken quickly. In Bocagrande you can watch the sunset at the beach at one of the many beach bars. Always ask for the price beforehand. The beaches along Bocagrande are fun with all its music, street vendors and bars.

See the Bioluminescent Plankton - in season

You might wonder, what is this Bioluminescent Plankton?

It is a rare natural phenomenon that can only be seen in a few spots in the world.

Some plankton can glow in the dark. The word for this is "bioluminescence," which comes from "bio", meaning life, and "lumin" meaning light. You are swimming right within this Bioluminescent Plankton. In season, it feels and looks like you are swimming in stars.

However, it is not always season for this and does not happen every day. Some days the glowing is much stronger, others you cannot see anything at all. Before you join this tour, make sure it is a good day for this.

Otherwise it is a waste of time and money. You can either join a tour from Cartagena or in Isla Rosario.

Not-so-cool-things to Avoid in Cartagena

While Cartagena is one of the most beautiful cities in all Latin America, there are a few things that we did not enjoy. I think this is some good information to know beforehand to set your expectations right.

Old Town is pricey

Let us compare other destinations in Colombia to Cartagena. Compared with other coastal towns like Santa Marta and Palomino for instance, Cartagena is quite pricey. The old town really comes with a higher price tag.

Eating out without proper research where the locals dine, can be pricey. There are many luxury stores and boutique shops with beautiful products but again, a higher price tag.

Not the best budget destination

This makes Cartagena not really a budget-backpacker-friendly destination. Even the hostels are a bit more pricey compared to the rest of Colombia.

There are ways around this to find cheaper accommodation and restaurants. We will go into detail below.

Many street vendors and many cars

The city is gorgeous. But at some point, you might feel overwhelmed by all the cars driving along the narrow road and street vendors trying to sell you souvenirs every 10 meters. To be fair, it only gets annoying at around noon, the peak time. The good news is; the street vendors are not persistent at all.

Once you say no and decline, they will not bother you like we have experienced in other destinations.

Not really a beach destination

Sure, Cartagena is located on the Caribbean, but it is hardly a beautiful beach destination. The beach near the old town and in Bocagrande is dark sand and the waves are rough and unkind. With all the tall buildings of Bocagrande and the traffic, it is really not the best ambiance to kick back on the beach.

On the bright side, the beaches at Bocagrande are fun.

Locals come here with their music boxes to play loud, Caribbean music, dance, eat and drink. Also, from Cartagena you can take a day trip to Playa Blanca or Isla Rosario. This is where your Caribbean beach experience awaits.

The boats leave from the pier, near the main entrance of the old town. There are many street vendors selling tours and boat tickets.

However, I recommend asking at your hostel for some organized activities or tickets.

Budget Travel Tips for Cartagena

Do you enjoy a few gems and tricks to save money in Cartagena? Well, here you find our basic tips to save money in Cartagena.

Daily Menu

Many restaurants in Cartagena offer a daily menu for lunch. This is usually a very good deal with drinks included, maybe even dessert. Dinner is much more expensive. If you are planning to eat at restaurants, then go for the daily menus during the week and move your dinner plans to the hostel.

Choose a hostel with events

Many hostels in Cartagena are super social and great for solo-travellers.

One way to decide which is a good hostel in Cartagena, you can check out their their events. Do they offer their own pub crawl, dinner nights, maybe game nights or walking tours?

This could really impact your overall experience and even save money. Some hostels even offer cooking classes. Tours and activities with hostels are usually much cheaper. Keep this in mind.

Look for local restaurants outside the old town

The first time we came to Cartagena we were surprised about the prices of restaurants. We were wondering: Where can you find cheap restaurants in Cartagena? Well, luckily there are actually options. You just have to do a bit of research.

Most likely, you won't find any cheap eats in the Walled City - except the daily menus. Same as many tourist places, the limited space in an area result in higher prices. You can find cheaper restaurants in Getsemani area. Again, we have found many restaurants in the Walled City with good prices for their daily menu.

Street Food

Even cheaper than eating at a restaurant is street food. And same as basically any city and town in Colombia, you find endless options for street food. The most common one might be the Arepas, a traditional local dish. Cheap, tasty and filling. The perfect combination for a budget traveller.

Have a drink on the street in Getsemani

Same as restaurants, the bars in the walled city are priced higher. Here again strikes Getsemani and gets the extra points. You will find many bars and salsa clubs offering more affordable drinks like local beer and cocktails. The absolute cheapest option for having a drink might be getting a drink at the streets of Getsemani.

At night street vendors sell cold drinks. Just get a drink with your hostel mates and enjoy the squares, street art and and narrow streets of Getsemani.

Summary

This is our insider backpacking guide to Cartagena.

We hope it gives you a good insight on what you can expect and what you might want to avoid. There are many fantastic hostels, from boutique hostels to cheap and fun party hostels.

By now I hope you have learned what is the best place to stay in Cartagena on a budget. And how you can save your hard-earned money. Remember, here at Hostelz.com you can always compare hostel prices on all the major booking sites. This simple hack lets you save money and you can travel longer.

Good to know: In Spanish speaking countries you will find many hostales. Hostales in are budget accommodation, but not necessarily actual hostels. Make sure you pick the right type.

As always, we share our absolute insider knowledge. Please note that things may have changed over time. We do our best to keep this guide up to date. Help us by including your insider knowledge below!

Cartagena de Indias Hostel Cheatsheet

Above we list every single hostel there is in the city. Let us take a broader look at what you can expect - and what not. We created this cheatsheet for you to get a more complete picture of the hostel quality in Cartagena de Indias, average prices and types of hostels to choose from.
Total number of hostels 43
Average dorm price $22
Average private room price $75
Cheapest hostel in Cartagena de Indias THE MANGO TREE HOSTEL 4:20 with $8.5
Party hostels in Cartagena de Indias Los Patios Hostel (20 in total)
Most Cartagena de Indias hostels are located in Getsemani, Centro histórico, Manga
Average rating of all hostels 6.1

FAQ about Cartagena de Indias Hostels

We've collected the most common questions for hostels in Cartagena de Indias. The more you know, the better you can plan with confidence and ease, right?

Find your Perfect Hostel Match

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11 Hostels in Cartagena de Indias with Private Rooms

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Other Nearby Cities

Isla Baru (25 Km / 16 mi.)
Baru Island (32 Km / 20 mi.)
Rosario Island (35 Km / 21 mi.)
Galerazamba (51 Km / 32 mi.)
La Candelaria (59 Km / 36 mi.)
Juan de Acosta (72 Km / 45 mi.)
Rincon del Mar (73 Km / 46 mi.)

Travel Tips for Cartagena de Indias - from the Community

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