The 8 Best Hostels in San José, Costa Rica (Updated 2025)
"I enjoyed the laid-back vibe at In the Wind Hostel & Guesthouse—the outdoor hanging area is great for BBQs and the staff are awesome and very clean, plus they serve free breakfast (including pancakes). There are both dorms and a wide variety of private rooms (including single private rooms for solo travelers), it’s super affordable, and while mattresses are thin and there are no privacy curtains, the vibe and value make it a solid stopover a bit further out from the city." - Matthew Kepnes
Best hostel in SAN José/San Pedro. Good security, great owner, good ambiance, clean place and nice pancakes. Beautiful rooms, lot of choice at cheap price. Laundry service and pancakes for breakfast. curfew from 22h to 7h00 so you sleep well.
Peter C.
Google
It's not a bad dig for a hostel. The owner is very welcoming and accommodating, and those pancakes are the bomb! I stayed in a private room, which was pretty clean and comfortable.
It was odd that the bathrooms do not have hand soap. Get into the habit of carrying hand sanitizer. Also, the bathrooms are shared, so it's not easy to leave your bar of soap next to the sink in case it gets used by others.
maxime van S.
Google
The hostel was fine for a short stay. The breakfast was good and simple, which was a nice start to the day. On arrival, the man at the reception came across a bit unfriendly, but the next day the interaction was better.
Overall, I think this hostel works well if you just need a place to stay for one night in San José, but I personally wouldn’t stay longer.
Niklaus L.
Google
Nice, friendly and for a hostel very clean! We had bunk beds and a room for ourself. A delicious pancake with a smile made from fruits is served daily as breakfast.
Luke W.
Google
Great little hostel if you need a place to crash for a night in San José. Marc was kind and attentive.
Bruera J.
Google
Had a good stay there, it's a quiet area, the place is well looked after, it's clean with all amenities, the owner is discreet but full of good intentions to make his guests comfortable. Appreciated the huge pancake for breakfast.
JoshuaW213
Google
My husband and I stayed here on our last night in Costa Rica, and I would stay here again. The rooms were small and simple, as you’d expect for the price, but they were clean and comfortable. The bathrooms were clean. There was a good im bit of street noise, but the hostel itself and the guests were quiet. There was a pancake breakfast that was good. It is easily walkable to several restaurants and a park. |The rooms all had unique names, and there was art on the walls. There seemed to be a focus on sustainability with recycling and areas to leave free food and toiletries for other travelers.
339hoped
Google
This is the perfect hostel to stay at to visit San Jose. Quiet, clean and great people. All around an amazing experience.