Backpacking in South America is a great idea if you want to experience a combination of nature and culture. It’s a fascinating continent where every day is unpredictable.
While there are some cheap destinations in South America, many of the main destinations are fairly expensive. In countries like Chile and Uruguay, plus the main cities of Argentina and Brazil, prices are somewhat equal to those in Europe.
So if you’re planning a long trip around Latam, hostels are probably your best bet. Along with low prices, you can easily socialize with other travelers. Even if you have a large budget to spend, hostels can still be ideal – simply for social reasons.
Here’s a list of the best hostel destinations in South America where we take into account factors such as:
- Quality of hostels
- Quantity of hostels
- Cultural scene
- Party atmosphere
- Safety
- General infrastructure
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires has a lot of high-quality hostels and overall, it’s a relatively safe city.
There’s a lot of culture to experience and you’ll find interesting free attractions.
While many of the hostels are located in neighborhoods such as San Telmo, Microcentro and Retiro, it is actually the neighborhood of Palermo that has the best nightlife. But don’t worry – going back and forth between the areas of Buenos Aires is easy, as taxis and Ubers are cheap.
Buenos Aires has two major airports (Ezeiza and Aeroparque) from which you can travel on to other South American destinations.
Recommended hostel: Viajero Buenos Aires
Florianopolis, Brazil
Florianopolis is the safest of Brazil’s major city destinations. It doesn’t quite rival Rio de Janeiro when it comes to parties, culture or beaches – but it gets very close!
The culture feels more European in the rest of Brazil. The reason is mainly that most people in the state of Santa Catarina are descended from Germans and Italians.
Florianopolis has a lot of cool events for foreigners, and the nearby nature is worth experiencing if you have time enough for some day trips. Prices are low in the winter, but you’ll probably have more fun in the summer.
Recommended hostel: The Search House Beachfront
El Calafate, Argentina
If you have to visit one place in Patagonia, it should probably be El Calafate. This Argentine city has all the necessary infrastructure in place for tourism, and it is surrounded by absolutely stunning nature.
The highlight will obviously be a visit to Perito Moreno, an incredible glacier that contains the largest icemass outside of Greenland and Antarctica.
In the summer, you can enjoy the nearby lakes and visit some ranches. In the winter, you can enjoy the snowy mountains but be prepared for the cold!
Hiking is possible whenever conditions are good, and you’ll likely notice that many hostel guests go to El Calafate for hiking.
Recommended hostel: America del Sur
Cartagena, Colombia
Colombia has multiple noteworthy travel destinations. We could discuss all day which one is best but for now, we’ll stick to Cartagena – at least as the best hostel destination.
Located on the northern coast of the country, Cartagena has a Caribbean vibe and feels a bit different than the interior cities.
Aside from a fun party atmosphere and a pleasant climate, Cartagena has incredible colonial architecture and must be considered one of Latin America’s cultural highlights.
Recommended hostel: Viajero Cartagena
Cusco, Peru
Peru has a bit of everything: History, culture, nature and obviously world-class gastronomy.
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Near the city, you’ll find Machu Picchu, the Inca city in the mountains that wasn’t re-discovered until 1911!
As one of the most popular destinations in South America, it’s easy to meet other travelers in Cusco, especially when staying in hostels. There are about a hundred to choose from in total.
Recommended hostel: Pariwana Hostel