Nestled on the coast of Jalisco state of Mexico is a collection of the best hostels in Puerto Vallarta waiting to be discovered.
Backpackers and solo travellers that enjoy party, beach vibes and adrenaline water sports will feel right at home here, no doubt.
There’s a wonderful blend of contemporary sculptures and cobblestoned streets lined with bars, lounges and nightclubs. Not to mention beautiful beaches and boutique shops galore.
Your shortcut:
- Casa Kraken – top pick for solo travellers
- Oasis Hostel – ideal for older travellers
- Ten to Ten Puerto Vallarta – best for couples
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This hostel collection is affordable and fun. Wait until you see the freebies and private pod-style dorm beds.
The only downside? You won’t find a swimming pool at any of these hostels. Bummer!
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
Just up the road (a one hour drive to be exact) you can also discover the best hostels in Sayulita, another gorgeous beach destination.
Five hours in the other direction are the best hostels in Guadalajara, Mexico’s 2nd largest city.
These are all part of our epic guide to the 40 best hostels in Mexico.
What we cover in this article?
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- cheapest hostels in Puerto Vallarta
- best hostels in Puerto Vallarta for solo travellers
- fun party hostels in Puerto Vallarta
- more hostels worth a mention
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- Flights
- FAQs
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Puerto Vallarta
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Puerto Vallarta cost 6€ – 14€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 12€ up to 27€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
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.
New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend reading:
- 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 Puerto Vallarta
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Puerto Vallarta.
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Casa Kraken |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Oasis Hostel |
| 👫 For Socializing: | Casa Kraken |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | Ten to Ten Puerto Vallarta |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | Ten to Ten Puerto Vallarta |
| 🧘 Cozy Hostel: | Los Muertos Hostel |
1. Casa Kraken (formerly Oasis Downtown Hostel)
Let’s jump in and introduce you to our absolute favourite hostel in Puerto Vallarta!
Whilst the name might have changed, Casa Kraken is still the place to go for a good party and to be looked after by super friendly staff.
“We like to see ourselves as a refuge for travelers; a safe, fun, and memorable place where life-long friendships develop.”
Whether you want to party with staff, relax by the beach or eat like a local, this is an ideal base in the city.
Guess what? There are only dorm rooms available here so you’re guaranteed this hostel mostly attracts a younger crowd.
Choose between an 8-bed female dorm, two 10-bed mixed dorms and a 4-bed mixed dorm. Each one has a fan and lockers (with a padlock).
So, after you’ve dropped your bags, what then? How about…
- Ocean views from the rooftop terrace
- Bar crawls
- Day trips to the beach
- Spanish lessons
That’s a lot to do in one day! Just make sure you fill up on the FREE breakfast first and you’ll be fine.
Important: There is an age limit of 18-50 years here.
To top it off, there is no curfew here so you don’t need to keep an eye on the time whilst enjoying the local nightlife.
Location: Situated between the main square and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the main area of Malecón is just a block away.
This is one of the best hostels in Puerto Vallarta for
- Solo travellers
- Party animals
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Oasis Hostel
Moving swiftly on, our #2 is a real home-away-from-home with a more relaxed atmosphere.
Oasis Hostel was actually the first hostel in Puerto Vallarta, opening back in 2005.
Little by little it has extended from the ground up, now boasting four floors with a mix of shared and private rooms, shower and several chill spots. It never feels too crowded here.
And this hostel obviously loves its freebies! Let’s show you just some of what’s included:
- Free breakfast (including pancakes)
- Free language exchange
- Free onsite parking
- Free water & kitchen condiments
- Free use of lockers + padlocks
Up on the rooftop terrace is ample space for morning yoga or simply starting the day with a hot coffee. The panorama views of Puerto Vallarta alone are worth it.
Fun fact: Female only dorms come with an ensuite. Oh yeah!
We just love the little onsite snack bar which has been designed for late night munchies. Grab some popcorn, cookies, candy and a refreshing drink.
Otherwise, you only need to step outside and you’ll quickly find many great food stands.
Location: Set in a tranquil and quiet part of the city just a 7 minute walk from the beaches and Malecón area.
This is one of the best hostels in Puerto Vallarta for
- Older travellers
- Female solo travellers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Ten to Ten Puerto Vallarta
Our final hostel recommendation is the sweet Ten to Ten Puerto Vallarta – a cosy space that’s best suited to couples and digital nomads.
Without doubt the centrepiece of this hostel is the bar lounge. This also serves as reception so you’ll get to check out the menu whilst you check in.
Grab a bowl of ramen and a green smoothie and set up your laptop to get some work done – the Wifi here is excellent.
Or, simply stare out the window and watch the world go by. Guests are also welcome in this part of the hostel.
As for where to sleep, there are 2 dorms and 7 private rooms on offer here.
Just be aware that some of the private rooms do not come with windows and every room has a shared bathroom.
Overall, the design is pretty no-frills and basic but you can expect everything to be very clean. The air conditioning system is also an added bonus!
Note: Reception is open limited hours, but there is no curfew.
There’s also a small kitchenette with fridge and hot plates for rustling up some basic food.
Location: Central yet away from the main hustle and bustle. It’s an easy walk to the beach, town and restaurants.
This is one of the best hostels in Puerto Vallarta for
- Couples
- Digital nomads
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
What about cheapest hostels in Puerto Vallarta?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. No need to look for a hotel Puerto Vallarta!
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 Puerto Vallarta.
- Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Puerto Vallarta
- 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 Puerto Vallarta for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Puerto Vallarta for solo-travellers?
That’s easy; Casa Kraken!
There is always something going on that all are welcome to join, and the entire hostel has been set up in a way to make socialising easy. ‘Nuff said.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Party Hostels in Puerto Vallarta
So you’re headed to Puerto Vallarta to enjoy a good party, eh?
In case you skipped straight to this part, you’ll be pleased to know that best party hostel Puerto Vallarta recommendation also happens to be our #1 hostel choice in this guide… welcome to Casa Kraken!
Casa Kraken is a real all-rounder, perfect for party people of any age (as long as you enjoy shared dorms as there are no privates here).
Speak to the staff and find out when the next party is – they will be joining you, after all!
Fill up on a free breakfast to cure your hangover and then jump on board and join the daily beach trips to catch some sun. Perfect.
Compare prices and check availability at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
More Hostels worth a mention
Hold your horses, we haven’t quite finished yet!
Whilst we understand you only need one hostel, it’s only fair to mention all of the hostels we deem worth checking out before picking your absolute favourite one.
Here are a couples more options:
- El Sunset Hostel
- Los Muertos Hostal
El Sunset Hostel
El Sunset Hostel is family run and has that added touch which makes you feel like you’re staying local.
It’s located in a lovely quiet area, yet still within an easy walking distance to the beach, bars and restaurants. In fact, the most famous nightclub – Mandala Nightclub – is a 15-minute walk if you fancy checking it out.
There are two adorable hostel dogs that love to play, a shared kitchen and spacious rooms with sturdy bunkbeds.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Los Muertos Hostel
Let’s hand over to the staff as they describe their hostel perfectly. Los Muertos Hostel is a…
“…small and quiet European style hostel with authentic Mexican charm where you will find the ideal place to rest, keep your belongings safe, clean facilities, and great spot to meet people from all around the world at a very reasonable price.”
Head here if you’re keen to sleep well in a quiet atmosphere. The beds have blackout curtains to help with that!
There’s also A/C, free WiFi and cosy commons areas to give travellers a chance to meet each other.
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:
- Casa Kraken: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Oasis Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Ten to Ten Puerto Vallarta: Booking.com | Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!
All of Puerto Vallarta 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 no special hostel discounts in Puerto Vallarta. I know, it’s a pity. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.
Airbnb Puerto Vallarta is another option. Here is our full review of Airbnb + discount code.
All 3 Hostels put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Puerto Vallarta 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:
- Puerto Vallarta Pier
- Marietas Islands
- Los Muertos Beach
- Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
- Playa Los Muertos Dock
- Mismaloya Beach
Flights to Puerto Vallarta?
We enjoy Skyscanner, Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Puerto Vallarta.
This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Mexico and find the cheapest rates for the area.
Here is our review of Kiwi.
FAQs
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
How safe is Puerto Vallarta for travelling solo?
Overall, Puerto Vallarta is a safe destination for solo travel and is popular with female solo travellers. There are LGBTQ friendly beaches and it welcomes millions of international visitors every year. This means you’ll get a nice balance of local and traveller immersion. Crimes rates are also a lot lower compared to other parts of Mexico.
What is the best and cheapest way to get from Puerto Vallarta airport to downtown?
The local bus is the cheapest way, though be aware that there isn’t tons of room for luggage. It’s best if you just have a backpack. It costs less then $1 and they depart every 5-10 minutes.
Avoid taking an Uber from the airport as the local taxi drivers are not happy about this and it could lead to unnecessary confrontation.
Do they have Uber in Puerto Vallarta?
Yes, Uber is available to use in this part of Mexico.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Puerto Vallarta.
Find all the best hostels in Mexico here.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations in Mexico:
- best hostels in Mexico City with Casa Pepe
- best hostels in Cancun
- best hostels in Holbox
- best hostels in Playa del Carmen
- best hostels in Cozumel
- best hostels in Tulum
- best hostels in Puerto Escondido
- best hostels in Bacalar
NEW: 3 Best Hostels in Oaxaca, 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
By now you’ve hopefully found ideal hostel Vallarta. Are you impressed with our chosen Puerto Vallarta hostels, or perhaps we missed one?
Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?
Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Puerto Vallarta 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.
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How to find cheaper Flights ✈️
The first websites we always check are Skyscanner and Google Flights.
Find our step-by-step process in our review about Skyscanner.
Travel Insurance made easy 🤒
We are currently using Safetywing and Hey Mondo. We wrote detailed guides about these insurances:
- Our review of Safetywing, compared to others
- a detailed review of HeyMondo Travel Insurance
Smartest Travel Tools you need to know 🤓
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- Omio.com - for all types of transport
Find all our recommended travel tools and websites here.
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