8 Best Hostels in SAN JOSE, CR for Solo, Travelers, Party or Chill in 2023

If you want to travel the world, you don’t have to be a millionaire. There are many budget-friendly destinations, which you may visit without spending a fortune. And San Jose, Costa Rica, is one of those cities that will amaze you, but not bankrupt you.

If you want to meet friendly people, taste unusual tropical fruits, and immerse yourself in a brand-new culture, you should fly to San Jose. Even if you have only $100, you will have a great time here. There are a lot of nice affordable hostels in this city, and here is a list of the top 7 properties to stay at.

Check also:
– Best Hostels in Tamarindo
– Best Hostels in Jaco

Capital Hostel de Ciudad

HostelWorld (*8.8) Map Starts at ($19) for 8 bed-dorm

**prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (June)

Located in La Sabana – away from the crowds and yet close enough to downtown San José – Capital is the perfect hostel for digital nomads searching for quiet accommodation with plenty of common areas to work from.

They consist of a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, work desks, a reading area, an indoor patio, and a backyard with BBQ. You can also choose from three different types of rooms – ensuite private rooms, private rooms with shared bathrooms, and pods in dorms. Each pod comes with outlets, hooks, shelves, and a privacy curtain.

A very rich breakfast is included in the price – you can get coffee, tea, fruits, pancakes, and even omelets. There are also various shops and restaurants just minutes from the hostel.

Pros

• Plenty of shared areas
• Modern design
• Digital nomad-friendly
• Amazing breakfasts

Cons

• Pricey
• A bit further from the town

Selina San Jose

**SPECIAL 10% SELINA DISCOUNT* Use Our Coupon: “TRAVELING-SELINA” while Booking on Selina’s Website to Get Exclusive Discount.

HostelWorld (*8.8) Booking.com (*8.2) Map Starts at ($17) for 10 bed-dorm

**prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (June)

This fancy hostel is located not far from museums, restaurants, art galleries, and nightclubs. It’s a pretty safe place to walk around at night.

If you prefer to spend most of your time in the territory of the hostel, you won’t get bored. You may practice yoga on the rooftop, listen to DJ playing in the common area, or play darts at the bar.

This hostel is pet-friendly, so if you travel with a dog or cat, this property is the best choice for you. It’s highly unlikely that you will find another pet-friendly spot in the city.

Pros

• Beautiful rooftop
• Stylish interior design
• Great place for travelers of all age
• Pet-friendly

Cons

• Private rooms are a little bit pricey
• No air conditioners

TripOn Open House

HostelWorld (*8.3) Booking.com (*8.5) Map Starts at ($10) for 10 bed-dorm

**prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (June)

If you want to spend a few days in a quiet and safe neighborhood, this option is right for you. Here you can find lots of trendy places to eat out. However, if you want to explore the city center or other destinations, you will have to pay for a taxi or Uber to get to the bus station.

Travelers choose TripOn Open House because of its delicious and generous breakfasts, which are included in the price. Breakfast consists of fresh exotic fruits, sweet pancakes, and a cup of Costa Rican coffee.

Pros

• Friendly staff
• Delicious breakfast
• Free billiard
• Perfect for couples and solo travelers

Cons

• The hostel is located a little far from the city center
• You have to pay for towels

Hostel Pangea

  HostelWorld (*8.1) Booking.com (*7.4) Map Starts at ($12) for 10 bed-dorm

**prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (June)

This hostel has a perfect location. Museums, shops, restaurants, a central park, and the zoo are within walking distance of the property. The neighborhood is safe enough to go for a walk during the day.

Hostel Pangea is famous for its rooftop bar with a fantastic view. It’s the best place in San Jose to drink Costa Rican beer, watch the city lights, and chat with other backpackers.

While it’s not mentioned on most booking sites, Hostel Pangea also offers free breakfasts for all guests.

Pros

• Perfect location
• Amazing rooftop view
• Swimming pool
• Airport shuttle
• Great place for solo backpackers

Cons

• Rooms are pretty small
• Poor sound insulation

Hostel Casa del Parque

HostelWorld (*8.9) Booking.com (*7.9) Map Starts at ($12) for 10 bed-dorm

**prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (June)

Whether you travel alone or with family, you will enjoy staying at this family-owned hostel. Hostel Casa del Parque is located in the historic district. It will take you less than 10 minutes to walk to the museums, restaurants, zoo, and national theatre.

Unfortunately, this hostel doesn’t accept bank cards. So, make sure that you have enough cash to pay for your stay.

Pros

• Perfect location
• Spacious rooms
• Helpful staff
• Comfortable beds
• Perfect for both: families and solo travelers

Cons

• The hostel is a little bit noisy
• Cash only

Costa Rica Backpackers

HostelWorld (*7.9) Booking.com (*7.6) Map Starts at ($11) for 10 bed-dorm

**prices are shown for weekdays in Mid-season (June)

Costa Rica Backpackers is a tropical paradise island hidden in a noisy city. There are a beautiful garden and lounge area with a swimming pool in the territory of the hostel. It’s just a perfect spot to chill out and relax after a long backpacking trip.

When staying at this property, you can spend your time napping in a comfy hammock, reading in your bed, or chatting with travelers from all over the world. In the morning, you will get a portion of tasty pancakes. Breakfast is included in the price of the stay.

Wi-Fi is available in rooms and common areas, but the trick is that connection is rather unstable. If you need to use Wi-Fi for work, you may face some difficulties.

Pros

• Free continental breakfast in the morning, coffee and tea all day
• Comfy beds with USB ports and reading light
• Swimming pool
• Free transfer from/to the airport
• Perfect fit for solo travelers

Cons

• Slow Wi-Fi
• Poor cleanliness

Hostel Urbano

Permanently closed

This is the new modern hostel, which is located not far from the city center. So if you want to taste Costa Rican food, you just need to walk a few blocks to find a good restaurant. If you keep a diet and prefer to cook by yourself, you may use a well-equipped kitchen.

In the morning, you may enjoy breakfast, which consists of freshly made pancakes, tropical fruits, and coffee.

However, if you decide to choose this hostel, you should take into account one important thing. The front desk at Hostel Urbano works from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. To avoid any problems during check-in and check-out, you should plan your day ahead.

Pros

• Well-equipped kitchen
• Gorgeous outdoor terrace
• Free parking
• Perfect for couples and families

Cons

• The front desk is closed at night

Fauna Luxury Hostel

Permanently closed

If you want to stay at the fancy property, you need to look no further. Fauna Luxury Hostel will surprise you with the exclusive interior design of the dormitory, amazing open terrace, and nice pool.

All guests are allowed to go to the gym, located across the street. Also, every traveler can practice yoga on the terrace three times a week under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

If you like to eat tastily, you don’t even need to leave the property. Fauna Luxury Hostel has a great restaurant, where you can order a fresh salad or juicy burger for dinner.

Pros

• Great bar and restaurant
• Fantastic terrace
• Air conditioning in all rooms
• Pool and gym
• Great cleanliness

Cons

• A small portion of breakfast, which costs $6
• The kitchen is not well-equipped

In conclusion

Wherever you decide to stay in San Jose, you will enjoy the fabulous views of rainforests and volcanoes. For this reason, it doesn’t really matter whether your travel budget is $100 or $10,000 and whether you can afford a luxury hotel or not.

If you want to make your trip to Costa Rica unforgettable, pick any hostel from this list. Each of these options is definitely worth your attention.

FAQs about hostels in San Jose, Costa Rica

Author’s bio:

Daniela McVicker is a freelance writer, blogger, and a contributor to Topwritersreview. She graduated from Durham University and has an MA in psychological science. Her passion is to travel and finding ways to enrich students’ learning experience.