Quito may be the capital, but Guayaquil is the biggest city in Ecuador. Right on the coast, it’s the hub of the country’s commercial activity. All flights to and from the Galapagos Islands stop in Guayaquil, but there are loads more to the city than just a few hours in the airport.
In fact, there’s a lot to seduce backpackers! Whether it’s strolling along the Malecón, exploring the colourful favelas, or enjoying the legendary nightlife, you’ll find something in Guayaquil for you!
We’ve decided to help you out by creating a guide to the best hostels in Guayaquil. This post considers your interests, travel style, and budget to help you find the best place to stay, and to properly experience Guayaquil!
To really enjoy this sprawling South American city, you need to make sure that you get a great location, fantastic facilities, all at a price that won’t cut short your South American adventure. So, let’s take a closer look at the best hostels in Guayaquil!
Quick Answer – Best Hostels in Guayaquil
- Overall Best Hostel in Guayaquil – Villa Maria
- Best Cheap Hostel in Guayaquil – Casa Michael
- Best Hostel for Couples in Guayaquil – Casa de Romero
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Guayaquil – Hostel Dreamkapture
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Guayaquil – Hostel Nucapacha
Best Hostels in Guayaquil
Since the possibility of ending up in Guayaquil during your backpacking Ecuador adventure is pretty high, we’ve listed the best hostels we could find to make the search a bit easier for you.
Overall Best Hostel in Guayaquil – Villa Maria
- $$
- Great location
- Quiet and Safe Area
- Fully equipped kitchen
Let’s kick off with the top hostel in Guayaquil. Villa Maria is an affordable Guayaquil hostel that offers a range of dormitories and private rooms. So, it’s perfect for solo travellers, couples, and even small groups of family and friends! You’ll be delighted with the quiet and safe area, and there are public transport links to take you to all the tourist hotspots in Guayaquil! If you’d prefer a night at the hostel there’s plenty to keep you entertained too. You can chat to other travellers in the common room and get competitive over a board game, or head back to your room for some me-time with something from the book exchange!
Best Cheap Hostel in Guayaquil – Casa Michael
- $
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Piano
- Close to the airport/bus terminal
If you’re travelling on a shoestring, you might sometimes be disappointed in a new place by a substandard hostel. However, that’s not the case here! Casa Michael may be a budget hostel in Guayaquil, but you wouldn’t know! There’s so much here to keep you entertained, including a 50 inch TV, superfast Wi-Fi, and even a piano! So what’s the catch? You’re compromising on location? No! It’s close to the airport and the bus terminal. If you’re travelling on a budget, there’s no higher recommended hostel in Guayaquil!
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View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Digital Nomads in Guayaquil – Dreamkapture Hostel
- $
- Patio and soaking pool
- Fully equipped kitchen
- English speaking staff
Digital nomads don’t expect a lot from their hostels, but Wi-Fi is a must. And happily, this place won’t let you down in that respect! When you want to take a break from emails, head out to the dipping pool or chill on the patio with a book and top up your tan! Breakfast isn’t complimentary, but it’s definitely affordable and it’s a great way to fuel up before a day of work or getting to know Ecuador’s second city. And should you have any problems you can’t sort yourself, the English speaking staff will be happy to help you!
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Guayaquil – Hostel Nucapacha
- $$
- Complimentary Breakfast
- Swimming Pool
- Dog!
We could have put Hostel Nucapacha in several of the categories above! But thanks to its extensive range of private rooms on offer, it’s in here. One of the best backpackers hostels in Guayaquil, it’s affordable, friendly, and there’s a swimming pool. If you’ve been missing your pet from back home, there’s even a dog… and we’re sure it’ll be up for some strokes and cuddles! There’s a fully equipped kitchen too, so you can keep your costs down by cooking here instead of eating out! Whether you’re a solo traveller, couple, or a big group of family or friends, there’s a room at Nucapacha for you. Privates fit up to 5!
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Guayaquil – Nazu City Hostel
- $$
- Awesome location
- Luggage storage
- Table tennis!
Travelling solo? If that’s the case, you’ll want a hostel in Guayaquil that makes it easy to meet other travellers and make friends to explore the city with. That’s exactly what you’ll get from Nazu City Hostel! There’s a cosy common area with sofas and laptop friendly workspace (great for digital nomads), but even better – there’s a table tennis player! All you need is to find someone to play with… Also, if you’ve got a late night flight and don’t want to drag your luggage around town, you’ll be pleased to know this place offers storage too!
Best Hostel for Couples in Guayaquil – Casa de Romero
- $$
- Complimentary Breakfast
- Airport pickup service (additional fee)
- Only private rooms
When you’re travelling with your other half, you won’t want to be in a smelly, sweaty, or noisy dorm. It just doesn’t scream romance! And yes, we know it’s not technically a hostel, but this B and B will give you the privacy and space that you need to properly enjoy each other’s company – and you won’t be spending a lot of money! It’s not only a lovely, comfy room you can enjoy either – you’ll get a complimentary breakfast each morning, the perfect fuel for exploring and sightseeing during the day in Guayaquil!
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Great Hostels in Guayaquil
Manso Boutique Guesthouse
- $
- Mix of dorms and privates
- Health Conscious Cafeteria
- Offers day trips
Don’t be fooled by the boutique guesthouse tag, Manso is still one of the best youth hostels in Guayaquil. Yes, there are plenty of private rooms but there are also four and eight bed dorms, so solo travellers will find a budget bed and other travellers to make friends with! The hostel is in a historic building just a hop, skip, and a jump from the famous Malecón. So, you’ll be able to enjoy some of the best city centre attractions without faffing about with public transport!
Casa Familiar GYE
- $
- Complimentary Breakfast
- Quiet residential area
- Lots of activities
Although it just missed out on the categories above, Casa Familiar GYE is still a highly recommended hostel in Guayaquil! It’s just a few minutes away from the airport and bus station, so you won’t have to spend ages travelling and finding where your bed is for the night once you arrive! It is in a quiet and safe neighbourhood with excellent public transport links to the Malecón and other top attractions. Breakfast is included and there are lots of cool activities that will help you get to know other travellers! And don’t forget it’s a top Guayaquil hostel near the airport.
Villa64
- $
- Private bathroom in all rooms
- Communal room with computer
- Hammocks!
We’ve had a look at the coolest hostels in Guayaquil but what if you’d like something a little more chill? This B & B is perfect! There are only private rooms on offer, but they offer rooms for up to 5 people. So if you’re with a group of friends or family, that’s still a great option! All rooms come with a private bathroom, so there’ll be no awkward encounters or queues in the morning. When you’ve finished exploring for the day, indulge in some me-time by listening to a podcast or getting lost in a book in one of the comfortable hammocks!
Jeshua Inn Guayaquil
- $
- Complimentary Breakfast
- Airport pick up service
- Air conditioning
Yes, you got us. It’s not a hostel, but if you’re looking for a budget hotel in Guayaquil, then take a closer look at the Jeshua Inn. Right in Downtown, it’s a stone’s throw from the Malecón, as well as some awesome museums and parks. Breakfast is included, and your comfortable room is equipped with air-conditioning and private bathrooms with hot water. This no frills Guayaquil hotel will tick all the boxes for a family travelling on a budget, or a group of friends who want to take a break from the late nights and parties that come with the hostel lifestyle!
What to Pack for your Guayaquil 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.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
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Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
FAQ about Hostels in Guayaquil
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Guayaquil.
Travel Safety Tips for Guayaquil
Guayaquil isn’t the safest city in Ecuador, so you’re going to want to be insured.
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!
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Final Thoughts on the Best Hostels in Guayaquil
So, that’s it from our list of the best hostels in Guayaquil. We think you’ll agree that there’s a lot to choose from. Hopefully, you’ll have found a hostel that perfectly suits your travel style and taste, but above all, budget!
If you’re still scratching your head (we know, we gave you a lot of options!), then chill out and scroll back to the top of the page. Then, book our top hostel in Guayaquil – Villa Maria. It’s the best combination of great value for money, a good location, and a friendly atmosphere.
Now, all that’s left is for us to wish you a safe adventure in South America. We hope you have an incredible vacation in Guayaquil!
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!
