The 5 Best Hostels in La Fortuna: 2026 Edition

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Deciding where to stay in Costa Rica can be tough. But when it comes to choosing whether to visit La Fortuna or not, the answer is pretty clear. Hell yes! If you’re a nature lover, this place will look like paradise to you so check out the following hostels in La Fortuna.

1. Argdivan Hostel – Best Hostel Overall

• Price: $
• Best for: Social travellers who don’t want a wild party
• Highlights: The 3 Bs: bar, board games and bike rentals
• Dorm (mixed): From $11
• Private Room: From $33
• Address: 200 mts sur del redondel y 20 mts oeste, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

I found this is one of the closest hostels you can get to town. It’s a five-minute walk from the bus station. Book yourself a bunk bed in one of the dorms that sleep between four and ten people or splash out and get a private room. The staff are friendly and helped me with a lot including private parking and getting to San Jose. 

You can tap into the free Wi-Fi when you need to call home or update your socials. Breakfast is optional. I didn’t select it, but some of my friends said it was quite filling.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Quiz night: Jess is the GOAT of quizmasters, she really knew how to get this place vibing
• The bar: This place struck a perfect balance between the coldest beer and the warmest people
• Hot Showers: Sometimes this is a luxury in Central America, and they have them here

The bar sells cold beer daily, which was enjoyable after a sweaty day of hiking and checking out the local wildlife.

The Argdivan Hostel is around the average price for La Fortuna hostels and comes with better-than-average service. From the staff to the facilities, everything is clean and inviting. I really loved my time here, and it was one of my fave Costa Rica hostels across the entire country!

2. Alpha Arenal – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers

• Price: $
• Best for: Solo travellers and budget backpackers
• Highlights: The tours, and free coffee
• Dorm (mixed): From $9
• Private Room: From $45
• Address: Fortuna San Carlos, 150 Noroeste de la Iglesia Católica, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Alpha Arenal is one of the great hostels here – everything you need and nothing you don’t. Sometimes you want to keep it simple when you’re travelling solo. Many hostels are in the immediate area of La Fortuna so it can be hard to know which is best for you and your needs.

This is my top pick for solo travellers as there’s beautiful staff and volunteers to help you out with anything you need. They also run 24-hour security which makes me feel safe when I travel alone as a solo female traveller. There are lots of people around the place to make friends with and plan missions together which I love.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Free coffee: I get tired travelling non-stop, so this was a welcome perk when I stayed here
• The tours: They help sort excursions to the hot springs, Arenal Volcano, and much more
• Hot Showers: Again, hot showers can’t be taken for granted out here

Everyone loves hot showers once in a while right? These guys have them on lock, not always the case when you’re travelling on a budget. All of the private rooms have their own complete private bathroom ensuite while the dorms have toilets en suite and shared showers outside.

There are self catering facilities so you can cook up a storm for missions with other guests. The host, Wilson is always keen to give advice on when and what volcanoes to see. And, there’s free coffee!

Just 150m from the city centre, Alpha Arenal is easy to get to if you catch the bus into town. The area is quiet at night and the perfect place for travellers with an adventurous spirit who love the rustic vube. This hostel has a great games area set up, epic for breaking the ice with the other guests and getting the familiarity rolling.

3. Hostel Batzu – Best Cheap Hostel

• Price: $
• Best for: Budget backpackers looking to save some cash
• Highlights:
• Dorm (mixed): From $10
• Private Room: From $25
• Address: 150 m. este de la Asada de la Fortuna, Frente al B, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Hostel Batzu is the essence of La Fortuna hostels epic hospitality, a space where shared mixed dorms provide a local living vibe. There’s a social atmosphere and a fun vibe with fellow travellers here. The rooms are air conditioned which is a valuable touch and there are all the essential modern amenities.

There isn’t exactly a full kitchen here but there is a fridge and a microwave if you want to self cater. There’s an outdoor terrace to enjoy the ambiance and free Wi-Fi to plan the next steps in your trip.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• The price: We’re looking out for broke backpackers here, and Hostel Batzu ticks every box in that sense
• Seeing wildlife: Toucans, iguanas and monkeys sometimes pop in to say hi here
• Shared kitchen: I save a lot of money by cooking in hostels, and that’s possible here too

I loved the garden in particular where wildlife just rocks up. They also had table football which helped pass the time in the evening.

This admittedly isn’t the flashiest place I’ve ever stayed. It’s calm, it’s humble, but most importantly, it’s cheap.

4. Arenal Backpackers Resort – Best Party Hostel

• Price: $$
• Best for: Party lovers
• Highlights: The on-site bar, pool table, and outdoor pool
• Dorm (mixed): From $24
• Private Room: From $58
• Address: 350 meters west of central park, towards volcano, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

If you want to stay in La Fortuna and party, then book yourself a bed at Arenal Backpackers Resort. Even in off season this place has party vibes. And yes, it can get pretty wild.

That’s probably down to the awesome happy hour (partly, anyway). Shots all round! No wonder it’s the best of the La Fortuna hostels to party in.

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Outdoor Pool: Sweat it out whilst hiking around the volcano, then cool down in the pool – perfect combo
• On-Site Restaurant: I didn’t have to waste time hunting for a place to eat whilst here, and the food is GOOD
• Pool table: You can hop out of one pool, then smash your mates at another

To ease your hangover the next day, you can chill out with some food from the on site cafe. Simply stare at the views of the Arenal Volcano – or take a dip in the outdoor pool, your call. Actually, you can do both!

Hostels here with outdoor swimming pools are few and far between so if that’s important ot you, book it now. It’s such a lush way to refresh in the tropics in my opinion. There’s free Wi-Fi so you can stay in comms with the rest of the world and stay here forever if you want… Viva la fiesta!

5. Arenal Poshpacker Boutique Urban Tropical Hotel – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads

• Price: $$
• Best for:
• Highlights: Good work spaces, an outdoor pool, and the bar
• Dorm (mixed): From $15
• Private Room: From $41
• Address: 700 metro este de la Iglesia catolica, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Well, if you’re looking for somewhere to work and play – here’s the place, Arenal Poshpacker! Surely one of the coolest hostels that La Fortuna has to offer, this place has pretty much everything you could want as a digital nomad. The staff are amazing and can help you organise tours and activities, such as visiting the hot springs. 

Why you’ll love this hostel:

• Pools & garden: They have 2 pools here, one with natural water, and one that’s heated up
• Serious about security: Central America has its dodgy spots, so I felt much safer with proper security here
• Good work spaces: It’s sometimes hard to find hostels where you can work easily, but I had no issues here

There’s not one but two outdoor swimming pools, hammocks to lounge in, you can get food on site, do laundry, and reception is open 24/7, all meaning you can organise things efficiently throughout your stay.

These perks make it a top contender for best hostel for digital nomads in the area. Thanks to its stellar location you can walk just a few minutes and explore the town, or rent a bike and take a ride outside of town.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting La Fortuna

Everyone needs good hostel travel insurance, get yours so you can viva la fiesta in peace! Remember that La Fortuna is home to a volcano and some wildlife which can be harmful. So get insured just in case something bad happens.

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.

The hostels here are a little less polished and a little more intertwined with nature, compared to the more corporate-style chain hostels you’ll find in bigger cities.

My guide takes in everything from the chilled to the not so chilled. From the super budget-friendly, to the luxurious, so there’s a lot going on here for you to think about!

If it’s all too much, don’t panic, stay at what I would call the best hostel overall here. Booking a bed in Argdivan Hostel guarantees an amazing stay in this mountain town.

Wherever you decide to stay in La Fortuna, you’re sure to be lucky and love the place. This is one of Costa Rica’s most popular destinations for good reason!