Are you in search of the best hostels in Playa del Carmen? Welcome; this is the only guide you need. We have been here and tested these places in person! This Mexican coastal resort town is a hot spot for solo travellers and party animals.
If you’re travelling to Playa del Carmen soon, you NEED to read this guide!
Playa del Carmen is a lovely compact place, meaning everything is within walking distance – palm-lined beaches, coral reefs, dance clubs, you name it.
As for the hostels; expect refreshing pools, modern design and super comfortable rooms.
Your shortcut:
- The Green Village Boutique Hotel – great for couples
- Selina Playa Del Carmen – top pick for digital nomads (with 5% Discount Code at Selina)
- Hostel Che Playa – top choice for female solo-traveller
In the area, we have also collected the best hostels in Cancún as well as best hostels in Tulum.
Read: 40 Best Hostels in Mexico
Money-saving Tip: Before making your reservation, compare all prices on major booking platforms for hostels in Playa del Carmen with Hostelz.com, and save lots of money!
Staying at one of these hostels? ❤️
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There is a great collection of party hostels in Playa del Carmen. From budget to crazy events; there is something for everyone.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when …
- tired of bad and crappy hostels
- want to avoid the “young party kids”
- happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience
Over in the capital make sure you check out the beautiful Casa Pepe in Mexico City.
What we cover in this article?
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- cheapest hostels in Playa del Carmen
- best hostels in Playa del Carmen for solo travellers
- best party hostels in Playa del Carmen
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- Flights
- FAQ
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Playa del Carmen
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Playa del Carmen cost 8€ – 16€ per night for a bed in a dorm. Private rooms starts from 20€ up to 60€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices in Playa del Carmen are pretty affordable!
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Ferry to Cozumel Island: Consider taking a 40 minute ferry crossing to the island of Cozumel to discover the 3 best hostels in Cozumel and spend a night or two there. It’s superb for scuba diving.
New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend to read:
- how to book hostels (and websites to use)
- 23 items for the hostel packing list
- Are hostels safe? 13 safety tips for hostels
The 3 Best Hostels in Playa del Carmen
Let’s jump right into the boutique Playa del Carmen hostels.
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
1. The Green Village Boutique Hotel
How do you fancy staying in a place that has been inspired by the natural beauty of a jungle? Climb a spiral staircase at The Green Village Boutique Hotel and admire living trees from the balcony.
This peaceful gathering place will have you become a part of the family in no time. Welcome to one of the best hotels in Playa del Carmen for couples!
What we love about this hostel is that it offers everything a traveller could want. Seriously.
Let us show you:
- Open-air vegetarian & kosher restaurant
- Movie & games room
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Rooftop terrace
The team also offer private tours such as trips to the jungle and lagoon tours. Like the name suggests, this is a boutique hotel. A hotel that also offers high-end hostel dorms for backpackers!
We certainly recommend this place to couples first, female solo travellers second.
There are two dorms, one for women and one for men. The sturdy wooden beds, air conditioning and balcony create a very comfy atmosphere.
Otherwise, get excited for King and Queen options that seriously impress. They include all of the familiar hotel amenities, with those warm personal touches thrown in.
During the week you can join film and pizza nights – meet new people and relax.
Location: The Green Village is 45 minutes from Cancun International Airport and 5 minutes from the ADO Bus Station. Walk a few minutes and you’ll find 5th Avenue, plus bars, restaurants and a supermarket. Mamitas Beach is 5 minutes by foot!
This is one of the best hostels in Playa del Carmen for
- Couples
- Female solo travellers
Compare prices, check availability and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Selina Playa Del Carmen (with 5% Discount Code)
Health freaks, location independent workers; Selina Playa Del Carmen is calling your name!
If you like the sound of…
- Daily yoga lessons
- An on-site bar on the rooftop
- Swimming pool and
- A common area filled with games
…this hostel is most likely going to become your heaven on earth.
It’s a superb place for digital nomads to meet and work. The designated workspace is well thought out and will do everything to inspire you to sit and power through.
Read: Selina CoLive & CoWork – how does it work?
Remember to
take a break to jump in the pool, grab some food from the restaurant and sign up for an evening social event.
Free WiFi? Of course.
There is a vast selection of rooms, all of which have been beautifully designed with bright colours and tons of space.
Choose from:
- 4, 6, 8, 10 and 20-bed mixed dorms
- 2 person privates: micro, standard, suite, loft
- Standard triple
- Standard quadruple
Just have a look at the photos. They speak for themselves, right? In case you’d like to save money, there is also a self-catering kitchen here.
Super cool: Selina is both pet friendly and child friendly. Whilst kids (under 5) are free, pets incur a $10 per night/per pet fee.
Reception is open 24/7, there is no curfew and breakfast can be enjoyed for 5 USD.
Location: In the heart of Rivera Maya. It’s surrounded by restaurants, bars and local boutiques and close-by to the bus station. Quinta Avenida is one of Playa Del Carmen’s trendiest hotspots. Of course, the beach is just a short walk away.
This is one of the top hostels in Playa del Carmen for
- Digital nomads
- Solo travellers
We wrote up more information about Selina Hostels here.
5% Promo Code for Selina
We’ve got you an exclusive 5% promo code for Selina Hostels and Hotels on all reservations. This discount code is valid for purchases made during 2021.
5% Promo Code for Selina
Discount Code: HOSTEL-GEEKS
valid for 2021 at Selina.com
How to apply?
- Visit the official website selina.com
- Choose your date and package
- Apply the discount on the payment page
That’s it! 🤓 🎉
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld | 5% Promo Code here
3. Hostel Che Playa & Bar
Our brand new number 3 on this list is Hostel Che! Let’s up the pace quite a bit and prepare you for a great party at Hostel Che Playa.
Start the day with a free breakfast and an organised trip to the beaches and cenotes. Head back to the hostel and relax on the rooftop, by the pool or grab a wee nap behind your privacy curtain.
By night, head to the bar for some live music, sip on a Margarita (or three) and tuck in to your complimentary pizza.
Just make sure you save enough energy to join in yoga, salsa and local parties!
We consider this place the top choice for female solo-travellers. It is a very safe hostel in Playa del Carmen with a good location, cool events, and a roof top terrace swimming pool. And yes, there is a hostel bar, too!
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about cheapest hostels in Playa del Carmen?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. Forget cheap Playa del Carmen hotels!
We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.
Why?
The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.
However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Playa del Carmen.
- Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Playa del Carmen
- Order the listing by price
Simple as that.
Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels
Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.
Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.
Best Hostels in Playa del Carmen for Solo Travellers?
Here’s a quick recap of our top 3 hostels:
- Best hostel for female solo travellers: The Green Village Boutique Hotel
- Best hostel for sociable solo travellers: Selina Playa del Carmen
- Best hostel for solo backpackers: Hostel Che Playa
Still keen for more?
May we suggest having a look at Tres Mundos Hostel.
This is a local, laid back friendly hostel with a colourful Caribbean theme.
Enjoy the abundant communal space including rooftop terrace, hammocks and BBQ area.
The team offer tours to local sights at affordable prices – it’s a great way to meet other travellers.
It’s a top choice for older travellers and adults seeking a quieter hostel which is still sociable.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
One other option is Sayab Hostel.
It’s especially appealing for scuba diving enthusiasts. “Good Vibes Diving” is the name of their private school.
There is an awesome outdoor pool and deck area. Hopefully there will be some live music during your time here!
Have a break from tacos and use the fully-fitted kitchen.
Rooms are basic, with dorm and private options available.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Party Hostels in Playa del Carmen
It’s no secret that Playa del Carmen is a hotspot for partying.
We’ve discovered some impressive Playa del Carmen party hostels for you to choose from. Forget the one mediocre option; in this guide there are four fun options!
Hostal MX 5th Avenue
Hostal MX Playa del Carmen is not technically a party hostel.
Instead, this is the best option to be close to nearby nightlife on popular 5th Avenue and Street 12.
Enjoy a peaceful atmosphere close to all the fun. It’s hard not to when there’s a lush tropical garden, hammocks and a jacuzzi.
There’s also a pool, BBQ area and foosball to get the good vibes flowing.
The on-site bar is a great place to have a few drinks at the beginning of the night before heading into town.
Taxes and breakfast is included.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Lobo de Mar Hostel
Looking for a budget party hostel? Lobo de Mar Hostel is the one for you.
Though that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on great amenities and service.
This hostel has so many cool things on offer, including:
- Rooftop bar with pool
- 1 hour of FREE drinks everyday
- Free breakfast on the rooftop
- Discounts in local bars, restaurants & activities
- Diving school w/ discounts
Once again, you’ll be just two blocks from 5th Avenue and 800m from the Caribbean Sea.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Hostel 3B Chic & Cheap
All day pool parties, international DJ’s and tequila?
Only at Hostel 3B Playa del Carmen!
This is the ultimate party hostel Playa del Carmen has to offer, there’s no doubt about it.
Did we forget to mention the swimming pool is on the rooftop? Now you know.
Breakfast is free and the beach is just one block away.
There’s a dedicated beer pong table and an Xbox to challenge your friends. From Wednesday through until Sunday, there is a free dinner for everyone!
See you there, party animals.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
How to book?
We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.
Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.
Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Here is the overview:
- The Green Village Boutique Hotel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Selina Playa del Carmen: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Hostel Che Playa : Booking.com | Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!
All of Playa del Carmen best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
Any Discounts?
Currently, we have a special hostel discount in Playa del Carmen for Selina Hostel.
You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.
Find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.
All 3 Hostels put on a Map + Sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Playa del Carmen hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
- Fifth Avenue
- Los Fundadores Park
- Playacar
- 3D Museum of Wonders
- Xcaret Park
Everything Playa Del Carmen is a wonderful resource website going in to depth about, well… everything you could wonder about Playa del Carmen!
Update: 3. The Yak Hostel closed in 2020
Due to the pandemic in 2020, The Yak Hostel unfortunately closed. We moved our review of the Yak Tulum to here and selected our new #3 hostel above, the Hostel Che Playa.
Here is their full statement:
Hi everyone,
We’re sorry it took so long to communicate this difficult message. We’re sad to announce that The Yak Hostel in Playa del Carmen has closed its doors and will not be reopening.
The past year and a half hasn’t been easy for businesses in Playa and the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic has created a situation that made it no longer possible to continue operating the hostel.
This decision was made with a heavy heart after months of consideration and debate. In the 7+ years of hosting guests from every part of the globe, we laughed, learned, and enjoyed amazing times together. Life-long friendships were made, people met their future husbands/wives, and together we had some crazy days and nights that will never be forgotten. The Yak is embedded in our hearts and even tattooed on some people’s skin.
All we have left to say is . We’re grateful to every single person who took part in turning an ordinary building in Playa into a home; a place where people from all over the world met and found common interests, shared good company, and just enjoyed life. The Yak was built with thousands of hands—workers, volunteers, and just plain good people who left their mark. Every person who walked through the gate contributed to The Yak experience and formed a part of our family. ❤️
Even though The Yak will no longer be there physically, we believe that we’re the owners of our memories and that they stay with us forever. So share your memories of The Yak with us! Upload photos, videos, or just the story of your experience so that we can take this opportunity to connect and look back at the fun we had together.
Some of our very first guests said it best:
There are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t met.
Much love ❤
The Yak Team
PS: For those who still want a chance to join The Yak Family, see our next post with information about The Yak Lake House in Bacalar.
The philosophy at The Yak, which we know you will relate to, is:
“there are no strangers, just friends we haven’t met yet.”
When you decide to join The Yak tribe, you’ll be welcomed with open arms into a chilled and social atmosphere.
In fact, you can choose to spend the day relaxing in a hammock.
OR, sign up to daily activities and join the fun vibes floating around.
Be aware that this hostel does enjoy a good party and is close-by to nightclubs and a noisy nightlife scene.
Here’s an overview of what to expect:
- Rooftop terrace w/ sunbathing space
- Hostel bar (cheap drinks)
- Fully-fitted kitchen
- TV Lounge + movie nights
There are a ton of freebies at this place, including breakfast and Wifi.
As for rooms? We like that there is a variety of dorms, from small to large. It just depends on how sociable you’re feeling.
Tip: bunks are basic so opt for a 4 or 6-bed if you prefer peace and quiet.
The 12-bed mixed dorm is great if you want to meet people!
If you’re travelling with friends or fancy some luxury, there is also twin, double and quad rooms on offer.
(Out of this collection, we’d say this is the closest to a Playa del Carmen youth hostel).
Location: Just 5 minutes from the beach, surrounded by restaurants, bars and shopping arcades. Coco Bongos nightclub is just 130m from the door. The main ADO station is just a 10 minute walk.
This is one of the best hostels in Playa del Carmen for
- Backpackers
- Small groups
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Flights to Playa del Carmen?
We enjoy Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Playa del Carmen.
This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Central America and find the cheapest rates for the area.
Here is our review of Kiwi.
FAQ
What is the best hostel in Playa del Carmen?
Of course we’re going to stick with our #1 hostel in this guide: The Green Village Boutique Hotel.
This is your chance to enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, rooftop terrace and seriously yummy food from the onsite restaurant. See you there!
Where can I get a quality pair of Huaraches in Playa del Carmen?
Head to well known Fifth Avenue and you’re sure to come across a good pair of Huaraches.
More Guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Playa del Carmen.
Here are all the 40 best hostels in Mexico to know.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:
- best hostels in Cancun
- 3 best hostels in Tulum
- best hostels in Mexico City
- the best hostels in Puerto Escondido
- best hostels in Sayulita
- best hostels in Guadalajara
- best hostels in Puerto Vallarta
Our BRAND NEW guide covers the 3 best hostels in Oaxaca in Mexico.
You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.
Over to you
There you have it; the best hostels Playa del Carmen has to offer!
Which hostel in Playa del Carmen will you choose?
Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?
Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Playa del Carmen hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.
Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.
Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.
At Hostelgeeks we will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. Our promise is to only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!
Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.
Have fun and safe travels!
Discounts for Hostels in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Would you like a promo code for any of the Playa del Carmen, Mexico hostels mentioned? Of course you do. Since you are a Hostelgeeks reader and part of the community, you can get access to discounts and special promo codes.
You can find all our fresh and valid hostel promo codes here.
How about we let you know once we get fresh promo codes? Simply leave your email and subscribe here to our newsletter. It it easy, free and you save real money.
Your Smart Packing List
It is time to see what you should pack in your backpack or suitcase. Make sure you always pick a quality hostel, it totally reduces the things you need to pack. Here is our ultimate hostel packing list. It features 23 items you should really throw in your backpack.
The most important things to pack are:- earplugs
- eye mask
- key chain flashlight
- the right backpack, we travel with Lowe Alpine Lightflite 45 Pack
- packing cubes
- generic padlock (fitting all locker types)
- quick-dry travel towel
- universal power adapter
- travel-sized toiletries
