Alajuela is the mountainside destination of your dreams. Situated 20 kilometres north of San Jose in Costa Rica’s Central Valley region, Alajuela is nicknamed the “City of Mangoes” (yes, there’s an annual mango festival here). It’s a clean, laid-back place to explore, with natural and historical sights in abundance.
Relatively small in size, there’s a ton of local charm here that’s waiting to be discovered. It’s all very easily accessed too, as Alajuela boasts its very own international airport.
There’s also a decent selection of hostels in Alajuela. We’ve made a list of the very best, so you can find the one that’s best for you!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Alajuela
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Alajuela – Abril de Paso
- Top Party Hostel in Alajuela – Mangifera Hostel
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Alajuela – Berlor Airport Inn
- Top Hostel for Couples in Alajuela – Hotel Pacande
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Alajuela – Private Room in Downtown
The Best Hostels in Alajuela
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Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Alajuela – Abril de Paso
- $$
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- 24-hour security
Everything at Abril de Paso is super clean and well looked after. The room comes with everything you need for a comfortable stay, including a private bathroom and shared kitchen.
It’s also ultra-safe with good security measures. The host lives just upstairs, so is always around in case you need anything. Location-wise, it’s just an eight-minute taxi ride away from the airport and in easy reach of the town centre. Eateries and bars are just a five-minute stroll from the property.
Top Party Hostel in Alajuela – Mangifera Hostel
- $$
- Outdoor terrace
- Communal lounge
- Bar
A colourful, friendly place to stay for when you want to discover this part of Costa Rica, Mangifera Hostel comes complete with a whole load of social spaces where you can get to know your fellow travellers.
Choose from either a private room or dormitory, all decked out with bright, modern furnishings and comfy beds. The hostel has ample room for garden BBQs, and it’s also less than 100 metres away from bars and restaurants.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Alajuela – Berlor Airport Inn
- $$$
- Outdoor pool
- Restaurant and bar
- Air conditioning
Airport Inn is ideal for travellers arriving on late-night flights, but there’s also way more to it than meets the eye. Rooms here comfortable and convenient, with private bathrooms, wifi, and cable TV.
Not only that, but guests staying at this top hostel also get the full run of an onsite swimming pool, a restaurant, and a bar too. It’s ideal for those who want a little more privacy than staying in a regular hostel in Costa Rica.
Best Hostel for Couples in Alajuela – Hotel Pacande
- $$$
- 24 hour reception
- Restaurant and bar
- Free breakfast!
Situated right in the centre of Alajuela, from here it’s equally convenient to either get to the airport or to hit up a bunch of sights in the centre of town. The accommodation itself is dotted with tropical plants and rooms with comfortable beds.
As well as being a cosy place for couples visiting Costa Rica, this hostel also comes with its very own (if compact) on-site restaurant. But you may be too busy exploring the wide range of eateries that are just on the doorstep!
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View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Digital Nomads in Alajuela – Private Room in Downtown
- $$
- Cable TV
- Free parking
- CCTV
This place is the ideal hostel for digital nomads visiting Alajuela. Staying here means you get an ideal base for everything you need during your trip – sleeping, sending emails and sightseeing. You’ll also get to experience local life since you’ll be staying in a family home.
Offering up great value for money, the hosts at this place are super friendly and will help you get to grips with the city in no time. Perfectly located for exploring Alajuela, you’ll be close to the Downtown district, as well as malls and supermarkets.
Overall Best Hostel in Alajuela – Alajuela Backpackers Airport Hostel
- $$
- Great pizzas!
- Rooftop bar
- Tours/travel desk
As the name suggests, our choice for the best hostel in Alajuela is pretty near the airport. Ordinarily, “airport hostels” aren’t so nice, but this one is pretty much gorgeous all round – and with an amazing social vibe to boot!
Accommodation here comes in the form of hotel-quality private rooms and cosy dorms, while fun can be had in the rooftop restaurant and bar. The pizza they serve up here is particularly awesome, so make sure to try it out!
Alajuela Backpackers Airport Hostel is one of our favourites in Alajuela but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Cheap Hostel in Alajuela – Flor de Katty Hostel
- $
- Communal kitchen
- Hot showers
- Free Wi-Fi
This is another top hostel in Alajuela that sits right by the airport. But more than just being convenient, this place is also nicely polished, making it great value for money and ideal for budget backpackers.
Here you can stay in a dormitory or private room. The rooms are bright and airy and boast comfortable beds. The hostel is safe, secure and sparklingly clean, and the owner is always on hand when you need anything.
Flor de Katty Hostel is one of our favourites in Alajuela but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
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What to Pack for your Alajuela Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from us, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straight forward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art we have perfected over many years.
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Travel Safety Tips for Alajuela
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hostels in Alajuela
Whether you’re in Alajuela for the Mango Festival or if you just want to soak up the mountain air and local life, staying in a hostel is a great way to experience the area.
If you’re still unsure, Alajuela Backpackers Airport Hostel is our top pick. or you might want something different. Whichever one you go for, tell us all about it! Let us know what you get up to in the comment section below.
Over to You
Do you own or run a kick ass hostel? Want to be featured in this list? Get in touch at [email protected]
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
