My TOP 12 non-party hostels for couples in Latin America
Cacao Hostel Santa Marta
We spend a little over 6 months in Latin America as part of our world tour. And as a couple in their late 30's, we have different needs when it comes to staying in affordable accommodations. We are more in need of a decent kitchen and a quiet night, with a little socializing, but not the night bar hoping of our earlier years. Non-party hostels are not that easy to find. Then one might ask when are you too old to stay in hostels... but that's another story altogether.
Chile - Iquique
Although this hostel has a bar and a café onsite. Everything closes at 10pm and the music is quite low. These areas are great to hang out. There are plenty of common room. The kitchen is big and well organized.
This city is famous for bodysurfing and because the hostel is right in front of the beach where the best waves are, you will have a lot of locals and older tourists staying here to catch a wave.
The clientele we met, and had a great time with, were in their early 30's and later.
Argentina - El Calafate
In El Calafate the accommodations are extremely pricey, therefore this hostel caters to a very wide age group. ( we had a couple of hiking ladies in their late 40's in our small dorm and we saw families with kids ).
The kitchen and common areas are in a wing that is separated from the sleeping rooms by the reception. You are well away from people who chitchat late and any source of noises.
Bathrooms were spotless clean and cleaned twice a day. Breakfast was one of the best we had. Finally, it's walking distance from everything in town. An excellent hostel.
Bolivia - Copacabana
This is a brand new place ( in 2024 ), and has a small common room with kitchen on the ground floor. It also has a nice rooftop terrace for the view of the cathedral. It's very quiet and comfortable. People will say than it has no charm, but when it comes to a good night - you will be satisfied.
Peru - Cusco
This is a hostel that used to have a bar, but it has lost its luster. It's not a great place to stay, if I am being honest, the over all atmosphere is down. Kitchen is ridiculously small and lacks cutleries, and the showers were adequate but not practical.
Yet; if it's a quiet night that you seek - you will have that in this hostel. And another good thing was reception; opened late and very accommodating.
Peru - Trujillo
This very little hostel is clean and well run. The bar they used to have in on their rooftop along with the kitchen and some couches to hang out, but it's not working anymore. It means this is a quiet hostel with an amazing comfortable place at its top to hang on and work on your computer in the evenings.
Colombia - San Agustin
This is a small family run place, with only a handful of rooms and possibly the cheapest you will find in San Agustin. It's not the best place to stay. On the good side, their breakfast is great - that one family table where everyone eats is very nice and you can meet easily the few travelers staying there. The receptionist ( probably one of the sons ) speaks English.
The noises won't be human ones; but the roasters that are in the nearby houses. ( they can be annoying )
Colombia - Popayan
Possibly one of the best we stayed at in Latin America. Location is great; within the UNESCO city center and walking distance from everything.
They had the widest double decker bed we have ever slept in - and it was very comfortable.
No bars within the premises to bring in unwanted noises, yet plenty of common room to chill - the main one being away from the sleeping area behind the reception. ( there was a Columbia vs some other country football match and from the dorm I heard some cheers but not the TV ).
Extremely clean; well maintained and very large kitchen.
Colombia - Santa Marta
This hostel has a pool - which is awesome. The poolside bar plays very soft music until 5 pm. Then drinks and diner food start being available and it gets louder. However at 10pm sharp it all closes down.
The common area in this hostel are awesome - internet was one of the best one we had as well.
The dorms were the nice kind with privacy curtains and private plug to recharge your stuff. Very clean bathrooms.
Colombia - Bogotà
This hostel located in Candelaria district is in a colonial house. There are a lot of small corridors that breaks down any noises coming from people walking around. There is a bar on the rooftop but you don't hear a thing coming from it. It's also a nice place to chill with affordable options for diner.
Brazil - Foz Do Iguazu
Excellent dorm and even better breakfast. The indoor travel agent has very competitive tours to visit the Argentinian side of the falls. There is a nice swimming pool and the kitchen is isolated from the sleeping area at the back of the building.
This means that you will have a good and quiet night there.
Brazil - Olinda
This little gem has been built by the owner over decades. He still lives there and will be the one to welcome you.
The place is cute, has its little pool and the welcome is warm. The kitchen has everything you need. Olinda in itself is a quiet village except on Sunday when the music bands are rehearsing Carnival music. This hostel is not of the path. Close enough to do everything on foot but not close enough to be bothered by any noises.
Mexico - Guadalajara
Great and modern hostel, each dorm bed has a privacy curtain, it's own large locker, electrical plug, lamp and mini-fan.
The bar is on the rooftop and you won't hear any noises coming from it. The only thing that is annoying, is that if a particularly party like group stayed late at night, you might have difficulty accessing the kitchen, which is also on the rooftop.
In the morning; they clean the place around 7h30-ish. If you are attempting to prepare your breakfast, you might have to clean up some tables of their cigarette buds and other garbage that non-respectful guests might have left behind.
And here is my list of tried and tested place to catch a good night sleep at an affordable price accross Latin America ! I hope this helps you in your booking. It's been pretty funny to read the comments with bad rating complaining about " lack of atmosphere " and thinking: " that sounds great for me !" . Solo travelers, couples and "older" travelers have very different needs indeed !
