The Best Hostels in Antigua Guatemala

Just a two-minute walk from the city center, the Hostal Antigua makes sure you’ll experience the best of the town, while still staying within your budget. Pick a dorm or a private room, each filled with handmade Guatemalan furniture. The hostel also provides bag storage, a 24-hour reception and is pet-friendly (a rarity for hostels). You’re welcome to use the kitchen, but you’ll definitely want to stop in next door at the Chef’s Daughter, a hole in the wall serving up all-day dishes such as open-faced omelettes, quinoa bowls and drunken chicken parmesan.

We promise you’ve never stayed in a hostel like this. Selina Antigua breaks the mold, with options including a 20-bed Bedouin tent, rooftop yoga classes and a poolside converted-school-bus workspace (topped with a water slide, of course). Start your day with a fresh-brewed coffee in Selina’s co-working space or relaxing on an outdoor bed swing. By dusk, you’ll be dancing salsa with your hostel mates as the sun sets on old Antigua.

Ojalá is a peculiar Spanish word that means “hopefully.” It comes from Arabic, and can be translated more literally as “god willing.” That’s what Ojalá’s owners surely said before opening the renovated colonial space several years ago, and their dreams are now coming true with this luxury hostel concept, which pays homage to Antigua’s historic roots through details such as crown molding and a column-lined patio. Dorms include super-soft linen, blackout curtains and modern bathrooms.

Find your purpose at this hostel, which aims to create a network of sustainable businesses across the globe. Whether you bunk up in a dorm or opt for a private room, there’s a sense of community at the Purpose, which regularly offers volunteer opportunities around town. The hostel also promises hot showers, extra-large lockers and complimentary coffee, grown down the road on a neighbor’s farm.

Swap typical hostel bunk beds for the Hostal Antigüeño’s pod-beds, sleeping from eight to 12. The bright yellow, low-slung house is hidden on an unassuming backstreet away from Antigua’s historic center, but easily within walking distance of all the sights, including the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint. Play ping-pong or heat up the barbecue with your pod-mates, or opt for one of Hostal Antigüeño’s tours across the country.

This lodging offers a fresh take on what it means to be a hostel, with smartly designed solid-wood bunk beds, mid-century furniture, Acapulco chairs and handwoven Guatemalan huipiles (traditional tunic-like garments) throughout. Dorms sleep 4 to 14 people, with a female-only dorm and private doubles available too. Maya Papaya is within walking distance of both the Antigua bus station and the town square, so you won’t be hauling your luggage around all day.

This adults-only accommodation has everything you need under one roof, whether you plan to spend your time cooking in the kitchen, reading in the library or sunbathing on the patio. Choose from four-, six- or ten-bunk dorms (including female-only dorms), or a private quad for friends. You’re close to must-see central spots for Antigua newcomers, such as the Museo del Hermano Pedro and the nearby Casa de Arte.