3 Best Hostels in Santa Marta – Swim, Sun, Snooze (and party) to your Heart’s Content

The 3 Best Hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia including party hostel Santa Marta
Photo by The Dreamer Hostel

I have spent an entire week in Santa Marta and brought back the best hostels in town for you. I actually visited them all personally – oh what a cool research this was. You may be about to have your socks blown off. For this collection on the Caribbean Sea of northern Colombia is very cool, indeed.

Oh, and make sure you check my guide to the coolest hostels in Colombia. Up the coast near Tayrona Park there is an epic hostel waiting for you.

There’s no shortage of swimming pools – each hostel has one. And that goes too for social vibes and relaxing spaces.

Your shortcut:

  1. Dreamer Santa Marta – perfect for solo travellers & couples
  2. Casa Avelina Hostal – great for older travellers
  3. Republica Hostel – top pick for female solo travellers

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

Santa Marta is your gateway to top sites in Colombia, pristine beaches and scuba diving opportunities. From here it’s an easy trip to Tayrona National Park, the home of 5 star Viajero Tayrona Hostel.

For those in search of the best party hostel Santa Marta has to offer, keep scrolling. We’ve got you covered!

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

Just down the road in Palomino you can also find the impressive Casa del Pavo Real. Here’s also our massive guide to best hostels in Cartagena de Indias and Cali. Read it, I added my best tips for an epic island hostel etc. These guides will change your whole backpacking Colombia experience. We also have a guide on the best hostels in Palomino if you want to go the other way along the coast!

Make sure to also have a look at our complete guide to the 43 best hostels in Colombia.

What we cover in this article?

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

Quick Introduction to Santa Marta

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Santa Marta cost 6€ – 9€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 10€ up to 62€ 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.

Safety in Santa Marta: Santa Marta has some safety issues, yes. Do not be that person running around at 2am, drunk with your phone and wallet in your hand. You can end up being robbed. The streets #11, #12 and #18 are known for being hot spots for robberies in Santa Marta. We had no issue, but felt uneasy when sun set. Best idea to stay in your hostel or at the main strip to have a drink at the bar. You can get a cab back home; they are cheap.

Lost City/ Ciudad Perdida: We highly recommend to take the tour to Lost City. However, our recommendation is NOT to go to any busy place when coming back from the Lost City. I felt completely overwhelmed by the music, dances and ambiance of Santa Marta after 4 days in the Jungle. Best idea would to go to Palomino, Costeño Beach or El Viajero Hostel in Buritaca.

Location: Most likely you already noticed, there is “three city names”; Taganga, Rodadero and Santa Marta. Santa Marta is really the main part. Rodadero is a district in the South, the safest place to stay in Santa Marta. Taganga is in the North and a backpacker hotspot. Make sure you pick your right location with the hostel.

2 Days in Santa Marta: Santa Marta itself has not too much to offer from the tourism point of view. The old town is very beautiful, and the main street is super cool to go out and have a drink. You will find many fantastic restaurants. I especially enjoyed the Lasagne at Bistroveg; highly recommended! 2 days are enough. Then most people move on to Tayrona Park, Minca or Palomino.

Read our guide to best hostels in Colombia with itinerary.

🎁 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 Santa Marta

Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Santa Marta.

  1. Dreamer Santa Marta – perfect for solo travellers & couples
  2. Casa Avelina Hostal – great for older travellers
  3. Republica Hostel – top pick for female solo travellers

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: Dreamer Santa Marta
🙎‍♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: Republica Hostel
🥳 Party Hostel:Masaya Hostel Santa Marta
👩‍❤️‍👨 Couple Hostel: Dreamer Santa Marta
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel: La Guaca hostel
👩‍💻 For Digital Nomads: La Brisca Loca Hostel
🧘 Cozy Hostel: Casa Avelina Hostal

1. Dreamer Santa Marta

Alright, we want to kick start this epic guide with an epic hostel. Dreamer Santa Marta is set to impress, that’s for sure!

It’s no suprise that Dreamer has been voted the Best Hostel in Colombia a number of times!

Honestly, there is a lot to keep you entertained here, which is why we deem this a top choice for solo travellers. There’s absolutely no way you could feel lonely at this hostel.

Here are just some of the highlights:

  • Large garden swimming pool
  • Outdoor hammocks
  • Tropical drinks @ The Coelhos Bar
  • Onsite Italian restaurant (pizza!)
  • Communal kitchen + 2 dining areas

A great way to meet people here is to join the free Spanish lessons and suggest a game or two of table pool or ping pong.

Make sure you also speak to the staff at the tour desk and have a look at joining a trip to the Lost City and main beaches.

After full days and too much sun, simply make the most of the awesome TV lounge and Xbox.

Everyone needs to wind down sometimes, right?!

Room choices are excellent, too.

Solo travellers can choose between 4, 8 and 10-bed mixed dorms, and couples can get cosy in a superior double with private bathroom.

Oh, and each morning you’re greeted with a generous buffet breakfast to fill up on before you start your day. Perfect.

Location: This is the closest hostel to Tayrona Park and Minca – less than a 30-minute drive away! The beautiful Bahía Concha Beach is 16km away. We suggest renting a bike to head to the beach!

This is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta for

  • Solo travellers
  • Couples
Book Dreamer Santa Marta here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Dreamer Santa Marta is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Dreamer Santa Marta is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Dreamer Santa Marta is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Dreamer Santa Marta is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia

2. Casa Avelina Hostal (central)

Casa Avelina Hostal offers an eclectic accommodation that has serious respect for community and environment.

Avelina means ‘small bird,’ chosen to pay tribute to the natural wealth of birds in Colombia. Their conscious efforts see that 49 solar panels provide a large percentage of the daily energy.

Get ready for graffiti, warmth and entertainment.

Certainly the #1 choice for sloths looking to veg out in beautiful spaces. Make use of the:

  • Outdoor pool
  • Ample indoor & outdoor seating
  • Hammocks
  • Games room
  • On-site restaurant

For the more active travellers; grab a free bike and explore on two wheels.

Breakfast isn’t included, but it can be enjoyed for a small cost. There’s yummy coffee on offer, too.

There’s a mix of private and shared rooms at Casa Avelina. They’re all incredibly bright and spacious, with that all important air conditioning and privacy curtain thrown in.

Dorm beds act as little ‘containers of privacy’ with everything you need to feel at home.

Location: A 15-minute walk from downtown and 5-minutes from the main bus station that brings you to Tayrona Park.

This is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta for

  • Older travellers
  • Backpackers
Book Casa Avelina Hostal here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Casa Avelina Hostal is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Casa Avelina Hostal is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Casa Avelina Hostal is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Casa Avelina Hostal is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia

3. Republica Hostel Santa Marta (Super Central!)

Immerse in the local life and culture of Santa Marta during your stay at Republica Hostel.

The centerpiece of this accommodation is a lovely pool, quite literally in the middle of the property.

Furthermore, you will find a neat on-site bar playing great music to set the mood. As the reception is open 24 hours a day, friendly staff are at hand to welcome you at whatever time of the day you arrive. They’re very knowledgeable, too.

Staying on the weekend? Excellent!

Make sure you have your favourite swimsuit at the ready for the pool party.

Note that you might have a tough decision when it comes to choosing which room to sleep in. There are so many options…

  • 6, 8, 14 and 16-bed mixed dorms
  • Deluxe double room
  • Superior double private

Both of the private options come with an en-suite.

Opt for a shared room and be surprised by the amount of privacy that can be enjoyed behind your curtain. Plugs, a light and locker is included.

Location: 3-minute walk from the ocean boardwalk of Parque Simon Bolivar. There are many bars and restaurants surrounding the hostel.

This is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta for

  • Female solo travellers
Book Republica Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Republica Hostel is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Republica Hostel is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Republica Hostel is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia Republica Hostel is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia

Best Hostels in Santa Marta for Solo Travellers?

What is seriously the best hostel in Santa Marta for solo-travellers?

Well if you stay at The Dreamer Hostel Santa Marta, you may feel you’ve accidentally stumbled in to a Santa Marta hotel.

Swimming, sunshine and snoozing is the motto of this beautiful hostel.

Take a Spanish lesson and improve your ‘hola’, before heading to the Coelhos Bar for a refreshing drink.

Get chatting with other travellers at Mexican Night and laugh a lot as you try your feet at salsa and afro-latin dance classes.

The terraced garden and hammock is an ideal place to chill if you want to wind down by yourself.

On the other hand, the pool and on-site restaurant are good places to meet others.

End the day in either a shared dorm or private room. Either way you won’t be disappointed.

Location: The airport is a 20-minute drive, and the train station a 5-minute drive. The immediate area doesn’t offer a great deal, so we suggest taking a taxi to nearby Rodadero. This place is also accessible to Tayrona National Park and the Lost City.

Book The Dreamer Santa Marta Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Dreamer Santa Marta is one of the best hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia for solo travellers

Best Party Hostels in Santa Marta

So dear reader, did you notice that so far all of the best hostels in Santa Marta have a pool AND bar?!

No doubt the party animals noticed this before anything else.

With that in mind, you could say that every hostel in this list is great for a party. And you wouldn’t be wrong.

Therefore, choose between our top 3 or have a look at yet another party hostel option below.

Alongside yet another pool and in-house bar, Hostel Masaya Santa Marta also offers live music, free yoga and dance classes.

Oh wait sorry, there are two pools here, not one! Not to mention a rooftop terrace and BBQ area.

Hang out in the games centre or wind down with a movie in the cinema room. Grab a coffee from the cafe and swing mindlessly in a hammock. The choice is yours!

Location: just a 7-minute stroll to Parque de Los Novios – a hub of bars, clubs and restaurants.

Book Masaya Hostel Santa Marta here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Masaya Hostel Santa Marta is one of the best party hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia

Masaya Hostel Santa Marta is one of the best party hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia

More Santa Marta Hostels worth a mention

Listed above are the 3 best hostels that are carefully reviewed and handpicked by our team.

Definitely, the
best areas to stay in Santa Marta. We know that this list may not work for you. So, we saved you the hassle of checking the Santa Marta Expansion map and look for other hostels  manually.

That’s how much we value you! Below is a list of outstanding hostels that you can find in Santa Marta.

La Brisa Loca Hostel

La Brisa Loca Hostel is built in a century-old colonial mansion that has been renovated to show the Caribbean spirit.

This place provides adult-only accommodation with a restaurant, bar, shared lounge, and a shared kitchen. This hostel also has a sun terrace with an outdoor and indoor swimming pool.

Right next door you find a coworking space. We have worked here for 2 weeks; a great place for digital nomads. However, you should be only sleeping here if you are okay with people partying until 2am.

I also want to give a shout-out to the indoor restaurant at La Brisa Loca. The prices are low and the quality is high: Best combo ever! You have vegetarian options, local foods etc. And again, very tasty!!

Perks at La Brisa Loca Hostel:

  • 2 swimming pools
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Restaurant (super tasty and on a budget!!!!)
  • Free WiFi
  • Bar

Location: Located in the middle of Santa Marta, this place is a 2-minute walk from the atmospheric beachfront. This place is also near Santa Marta Gold museum, Simon Bolivar Park, Santa Marta Cathedral, and the neares airport is Simón Bolivar International Airport which is 19km from the hostel.

Book La Brisa Loca here

Compare prices: Booking.com | Hostelworld

La Brisca Loca Hostel

Cacao Hostel

Cacao Hostel Santa Marta is one outstanding Santa Marta Colombia hostel. This place features an open patio with swimming pool, bar, fully equipped kitchen, laundry services and free breakfast.

This hostel has 4 dorm rooms and 2 private rooms and all rooms have air-conditioning. They also offer free parking for motorcycles.

Perks at Cacao Hostel:

  • 1 swimming pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Parking
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Fabulous breakfast

Location: Located in Santa Marta, this place is accessible to all the city’s attraction such as Santa Marta Cathedral, Santa Marta Gold Museum, and Simon Bolivar Park. Nearest airport is Simon Bolivar International Airport which is 18km from the hostel.

Book Cacao Hostel here

Compare prices: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Cacao Hostel

Viajero Santa Marta

Viajero Hostel features a terrace swimming pool and a rooftop bar with a city view. This place offers free wifi so travellers can take beautiful photos for the gram!

This hostel provides private and dorm rooms with airconditioning. Guests can enjoy a continental or a buffet breakfast, Brunch is available during the weekends.

Perks at Viajero Hostel Santa Marta:

  • 1 swimming pool
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Restaurant
  • Free WiFi
  • Bar
  • Very good breakfast

Location: This hostel is accessible to the city’s attraction. 1.4km from Santa Marta Gold Museum, and nearest airport is 18km.

Book Viajero Hostel Santa Marta here

Compare prices: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Viajero Hostel Santa Marta

La Guaca Hostel

Housed in a remodeled mansion, La Guaca hostel is furnished with vibrant colors giving you that tropical vibe. This place is perfect for backpackers and is accessible to all the popular attractions.

Everyday, this hostel serves homemade Colombian breakfast for free. This hostel also features a swimming pool and great for relaxing after exploring the city. Check availability now!

Perks at La Guaca Hostel:

  • 1 swimming pool
  • Free WiFi
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Air conditioning
  • Bar

Location: Ideally located in Santa Marta, this place is 700m away from Santa Marta’s Historic Centre. Nearest airport is Simon Bolivar International Airport which is a 20-minute drive.

Book La Guaca Hostel here

Compare prices: Booking.com | Hostelworld

La Guaca Hostel

La Tortuga Hostel

Economical and comfortable, these are the words to describe La Tortuga Hostel. This hostel offers an outdoor swimming pool, free wifi access and an on-site bar.

This place is 16 minutes away from Santa Marta and one of the best hostels in Taganga. This hostel provides ensuite dorms, private rooms, and an amazing roof bar where you can enjoy the sunset.

Perks at La Tortuga:

  • Airport shuttle
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Free WiFi
  • Pets allowed
  • Bar
  • Breakfast

Location: This place is located in Taganga and 6.2km away from Santa Marta, 15km away from Tayrona National Park. Nearest airport is Simon Bolivar International Airport which is a 44-minute drive.

Book La Tortuga Hostel here

Compare prices: Booking.com | Hostelworld

La Tortuga Hostel

What about the cheapest hostels in Santa Marta?

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 Santa Marta.

  1. Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Santa Marta
  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 Santa Marta 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

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

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Our Favorite Hostels in Santa Marta put on a map + sights

Let us have a look on the Santa Marta Colombia map. Below we list all three best Santa Marta 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:

  • Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino
  • Playa Rodadero
  • Tairona Gold Museum – Casa de la Aduana
  • Playa Grande, Taganga
  • Simon Bolivar Park
  • Cathedral Basilica of Santa Marta
  • Parque de Los Novios
  • Cerro Ziruma

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FAQ

Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.

Flights to Santa Marta?

We actually never took a flight to Santa Marta, is is not that common. Usually travelers fly into Cartagena de Indias and then take the buses up the coastline towards Santa Marta, Tayrona Park, Minca, Palomino and finally Riohacha.

Yet, it is always worth to check out options. Maybe there are new connections now that are convenient for you.

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

More guides

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Santa Marta.

As you know by now, Colombia has awesome backpacker places to stay. So, we have more guides for you:

Party hostels in Colombia:

And nearby:

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

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 Santa Marta 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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The complete guide and overview of the Best Hostels in Santa Marta, Colombia

CLOSED: Calle 11 Hostel – Former Mafia House (Rodadero)

Update: Our former 5 Star Hostel and #1 hostel in Santa Marta has permanently closed its doors.

The story goes that this old villa was once owned by the Colombian cartel. Once abandoned, Calle 11 Hostel Santa Marta transformed in to an instagrammable hostel.

And now it’s a highly recommended 5 star hostel in Colombia!

Located in the safest area of the city, El Rodadero, you can wind down with ease. This hostel is NOT directly in Santa Marta.

It’s really not very hard and won’t take long once you dip your feet in to the pool with a glass of wine!

Need more reasons to stay? Well, okay, we needed a reason to show off the amenities:

  • Pool side bar
  • TV room & lounge
  • Hammocks dotted around
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Helpful advice & tour info
  • Nightly social calendar (trivia night, sangria party)

By now you might have guessed that party is on the menu. The bar and pool were a giveaway, right?

Sure, you’re encouraged to have a good time. But what’s good is that Calle 11 is close-by to great nightclubs and bars. So enjoy the 2 for 1 happy hour cocktails, and then move the party to town. That way non party animals can rest in peace, and you’ll appreciate the quiet setting when you return!

And boy will you enjoy flopping down on the bed. Air-conditioning, privacy curtains and a personal light create a spot-on experience.

Privates range from superior suite and a garden double, to basic single and budget double options.

If you prefer sharing, choose between 6, 8 and 10-bed rooms all of which have an en-suite bathroom.

Location: A few minutes away from 3 of Santa Marta’s best beaches. Is Marta safe? Once again, Santa Marta Rodadero is the safest neighbourhood in Santa Marta.

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