3 Best Hostels in Puno, Peru – On the edge of Lake Titicaca

Best Hostels in Puno

Looking for the best hostels in Puno? We got you covered.

On the edge of the majestic Lake Titicaca lies the port city of Puno – the proud home to indigenous Aymara and Quechua cultures. This quaint city is full of character and is a popular stop on the South American backpacker circuit. 

As one of Peru’s most enchanting regions, Lake Titicaca is renowned for its shifting waters, archaeological sites, and captivating indigenous culture. To make the most out of your experience, Puno is the ideal place to base yourself.

Here, you’ll find plenty of affordable and comfortable accommodations, some of which are the best hostels in Puno in this guide.

Our favorite hostels in Puno are:

  1. Iguana Hostel Puno - best for Solo travelers
  2. Terra & Lake Hostel - best for Backpackers
  3. Koala Hostel Puno - best for Social butterflies

Money-saving tip: Compare hostel prices with Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld, Booking.com and others with 1 click.

If you’re backpacking Peru we also have a guide on the best hostels in Peru and more city guides in Peru at the end of this guide.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…

  • are tired of crappy hostels!
  • want a social Hostel to actually meet people
  • are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Puno

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Puno cost $8 – $12 per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room has an average of around $20 per night. This is a rough average, just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on the season and holidays. Please always check the exact rates on Hostelz.com or Hostelworld.com.

Check-In and Check-Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3 pm), while the Check-Out time is before 11:00 (11 am). 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.

Safety in Puno: you don’t need to be overly concerned about safety. You can explore the city like you would any other. However, it is worth noting that Puno is prone to strikes and protests and if any large-scale demonstrations are taking place.

Internet in Puno: Visitors to Puno, Peru, often find that the internet connection is neither too fast nor too slow, meeting the average standards of most cities in Peru. Most accommodations, such as hostels and hotels, come equipped with Wi-Fi.

🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:

The 3 Best Hostels in Puno are …

Let’s jump right into the coolest hostels in Puno.

  1. Iguana Hostel Puno – best for Solo travelers
  2. Terra & Lake Hostel – best for Backpackers
  3. Koala Hostel Puno – best for Social butterflies

These are our favorite hostels in Puno. We want to make your life even easier, so we put all accommodations on a map for you. We even added our own tips for favorite restaurants, things to see, and more.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler: Iguana Hostel Puno
👯 For Groups:Terra & Lake Hostel
🎒 for Backpacker:Terra & Lake Hostel
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel: Iguana Hostel Puno
👫 For Socializing:Koala Hostel Puno

1. Iguana Hostel Puno

Iguana Hostel Puno  is the best hostel in Puno for solo travelers (in our humble opinion).

On-site, you’ll find:

  • Free Breakfast
  • 24/7 reception
  • A tour desk
  • A terrace
  • A shared kitchen
  • A common area

The Iguana Hostel has 15 rooms, each boasting beautiful views and plenty of natural light.

Travelers can meet other guests thanks to all their common areas, creating a social atmosphere. The hostel also offers additional services at reception to help guests join exciting excursions.

Book Iguana Hostel Puno here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Iguana Hostel Lounge

The staff at the Iguana Hostel are incredibly friendly and helpful. They organize some fantastic tours, such as a one-day kayaking tour on Lake Titicaca. 

The hostel offers a real family home feel, with comfortable beds and a delicious breakfast. The staff makes it an incredibly pleasant place to stay, with many adventure opportunities. 

Location: It is located in the heart of the center of Puno, one block from the main Plaza and principal street, near the banks, shopping, restaurants, supermarket.

The best choice in Puno for

  • solo travelers
Book Iguana Hostel Puno here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Iguana Hostel Dorms   Iguana Hostel

2. Terra & Lake Hostel

Terra & Lake Hostel is our top Puno hostel pick for backpackers.

Here, you’ll find:

  • A bar
  • 24/7 reception
  • FREE breakfast
  • Common lounge

At this guest house, each room is outfitted with its own private bathroom. Whether you’re a traveler visiting for business or pleasure, this hostel has everything you need to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.

It boasts two common areas, ideal for mingling with other guests or getting some work done. The 20 rooms all come with Tv, hot water, and comfortable beds.

Book Terra & Lake Hostel here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

TERRA & LAKE Reception

Plus, the friendly staff are on hand to provide you with advice and information about all the best places to visit in Puno.

Location: In close proximity to popular attractions such as the Puno Train Station, Estadio Enrique Torres Belon, and Plaza de Armas Puno, this cozy guest house is situated just a 15-minute walk from the main square, a 10-minute walk from the popular market and city supermarket, and a 20-minute walk from the port of Lake Titicaca.

A great choice for

  • backpackers
Book Terra & Lake Hostel here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Booking.com | Hostelz.com

  TERRA & LAKE Dorms TERRA & LAKE Balcony

3. Koala Hostel Puno

Koala Hostel Puno is our top pick for social butterflies. 

Here, you’ll find:

  • Sauna spa
  • Bar and super cheap drinks. (happy hour specials.)
  • FREE breakfast
  • Small gym space
  • Common areas
  • FAST Internet (a rarity in the area)

Koala Hostel Puno also offers a fun and social atmosphere perfect for travelers with excellent value for money. But the best thing about Koala Hostel Puno is its staff; they are super friendly and always willing to help.

Their tour to Lake Titicaca allows travelers to experience a different and beautiful adventure. With the combo of the tour and the kayaking experience, travelers are sure to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Book Koala Hostel Puno here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Koala Hostel Puno

To make new friends and enjoy an even more memorable experience, the hostel also offers daily social events, such as beer pong and football games. They also have a sauna SPA and gym, the only one of its kind in Puno.

Location: in the safest part of Puno city, close to top tourist attractions and the hottest nightlife, this hostel is the perfect destination for those looking to experience the city uniquely.

Guests can save money and explore the city on foot, as everything is within walking distance.

This is one of the best hostels in Puno for

  • social butterflies
Book Koala Hostel Puno here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

  Koala Hostel Puno Gym Koala Hostel Puno Dorms

Best Hostels in Puno for Solo Travelers? 

We think that the best hostel in Puno is Iguana Hostel Puno! It has great facilities with a good location that will allow you to explore a big part of the area. The staff is also incredibly friendly and the overall atmosphere is that of warmth and familiarity. 

Book Iguana Hostel Puno here

Check prices at:
Hostelworld | Hostelz.com

Iguana Hostel

More Hostels worth a mention

At the moment, we think you are all set with the hostels we just shared with you. We always try to keep our guides super fresh and up to date. We might add more hostels worth a mention here in the future if we feel that it could enrich your travel and hostel experience.

What about the cheapest hostels in Puno?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Puno.

  1. Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Puno
  2. add your dates
  3. Order the listings by price

Simple as that.

Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.

Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.

Any Discounts?

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.

It is completely free to join!

How to book?

The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Puno best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.

Download the Hostelworld App here

QR Code to Download your Hostelworld app with one scan
Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!

The best way to find hostels: Hostelgeeks website and Hostelworld App

Need an eSIM Card for Puno?

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Our Favorite Hostels in Puno put on a map + sights

We’re listing all the three best Puno hostels on a map to give you an idea of the location and distances between them.

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FAQs

Here we share with you the most asked question:

Any questions about hostels in Puno?

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Flights to Puno?

Puno does not have its own airport, but the nearest one is Aeropuerto Manco Capacin Juliaca, which is 45km (28 miles) away from Puno.

We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.

Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.

Our Step-by-Step Guide to Skyscanner

review of Skyscanner flight searches

By now you have found your coolest hostel in Puno.

Here are more guides for hostels in Peru:

For more cool hostel guides around South America, check out:

Find all our hostel guides around the world here.

Over to you

Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!

Your question will help us to improve this Puno guide.

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 will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.

Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks

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✈️ Cheap Flights: The first websites we always check are Skyscanner and Google Flights.

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