What was once an unassuming mining town has blossomed into a center of art, history, and architecture in Bolivia’s highlands. Potosi’s colonial buildings, towering cathedrals, and unique culture alone has tourists coming from all over the world to experience this city’s beauty. With breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding countryside from the mountain of Cerro Rico and a showcase of Potosi’s charming city streets in the historic downtown, you will find that there are so many different ways to experience this once-booming mining town!
Although the architecture and culture of Potosi will have you looking at exploring this city yourself, once you start looking at backpackers hostels you will feel your heart sink. With little to no dorm rooms available in Potosi, many budget travelers would think twice before making the hike up to the Southern Highlands.
That is exactly why we created this one-stop guide! Now you will be able to find all the best hostels in Potosi as quickly as you can snap your finger! From dorm beds to private rooms, you will have the freedom to decide how you want to travel in Potosi!
So get your camera ready, your Potosi adventure begins after a few more clicks of the mouse!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Potosi
- Best Hostel for Couples in Potosi – Hotel Santa Teresa
The Best Hostels in Potosi
The charming cobbled streets and colonial splendor of Potosi await you! But first, let’s find that one backpacker’s hostel you will call home. With each stay a little different from the next, be sure to look for than one hostel that best fits how you like to travel!
Hotel Santa Teresa – Best Hostel for Couples in Potosi
- $$$
- Lounge
- Cafe
- Bar
If you and your boyfriend or girlfriend are looking for a place to cozy up into after spending weeks apart in dorm rooms, Hotel Santa Teresa will give you an upgrade from your average backpacker’s hostel and have you reigniting the romance in this historic homey hotel! Putting you up in a colonial home right smack in the middle of the UNESCO protected part of town, you could not ask for a more elegant stay in downtown Potosi! It is not only the boutique style and trendy decor that will make you fall in love with Hotel Santa Teresa, they also have their very own cafe and bar. This means you will never have to go too far to find a bite to eat or a cold beer!
Hostel Casa Blanca – Best Overall Hostel in Potosi
- $
- Shared Kitchen
- Bar
- Lounge
Hostel Casa Blanca stands as the model for all other hostels in Potosi. We all know that it takes a lot more than just a cheap dorm room to make a proper backpacker’s hostel. Hostel Casa Blanca is all about kicking back and chatting up the other guests and there is no better place to kick back and relax than in one of the cozy lounges or the sunroom! If you are starting to feel a little hungry, Hostel Casa Blanca has you covered with their onsite cafe serving up a cheap breakfast every morning. When it comes to ending another day in Potosi there is no better place to hang out than this hostel’s onsite bar! With everything from bike rentals to a location right by the Central Station, this is a hostel that checks all of the boxes!
The Koala Den – Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Potosi
- $
- Garden
- Lounge
- Cafe
When staying in Potosi, you, of course, want to be booking into a hostel that will have you staying by all the best sites in the historic downtown such as the Santa Teresa Convent Museum and the Plaza 10 de Noviembre. The Koala Den is by far one of the best places to base yourself out of in Potosi, not only for its great location but the cheap beds and all the comforts of home offered behind its doors! As a solo traveler, you will be wanting to find some space to hang out and mix with the other backpackers, The Koala Den has ample room to spread out in with its lush garden and lounge. If you are looking for a bite to eat, why not grab a meal at the onsite cafe? The Koala Den offers free breakfast every morning to get your day started off on the right foot!
Hostal Le Casona Potosi – Best Cheap Hostel in Potosi
- $
- Lounge
- Cafe
- Patio
There is no better way to truly embrace the traditional culture of Potosi than checking into this historic backpacker’s hostel with a history stretching back all the way to the 18th Century! You would think that Hostal Le Casona would be one of the more expensive stays in the downtown but in reality, this backpackers hostel situated in a renovated colonial home is one of the cheapest stays in Potosi! With its onsite lounge and patio, you will find that Hostal Le Casona is the perfect place to simply relax and enjoy the charming atmosphere of the antique home. Top it off with a cafe serving up free breakfast, you will never be wanting to check out!
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View on Osprey View on REIHostal Eucalyptus – Best Party Hostel in Potosi
- $$
- Bar
- Rooftop Terrace
- Lounge
For all of you travelers looking to go crazy and paint the town red, Hostal Eucalyptus will not exactly have you throwing the party of a lifetime. But they can hook you up with an onsite bar! With all the comfort of a hotel but the heart of a hostel, after spending time relaxing in your budget private room you will find that there is tons of room to kick back and chat with the other guests!! You will surely be spending most of your time taking in the views from the sunny rooftop terrace! Wanting to grab a drink? Hostal Eucalyptus is also home to its very own bar, making it an ideal place to nurse a beer and take in the Potosi skyline!
Hostal La Realeza – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Potosi
- $
- Cafe
- Terrace
- Breakfast Included
As a digital nomad, you will have to eventually put your travels on hold for a little bit in order to catch up on some much-needed editing and writing. Hostal La Realeza is not only one of the cheapest backpackers hostels in Potosi, but it will also give you photographers and writers plenty of room to spread out into and get to work. And this is just the beginning! Hostel La Realeza also will have you staying just a few minutes away from the Casa de la Moneda Museum and the main square! Top things off with an onsite cafe serving free breakfast every morning, there is no batter place to base yourself out of in Potosi!
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Hide Yo’ Money!More of the Best Hostels in Potosi
Casa de Huespedes Maria Victoria
- $$
- Cafe
- Lounge
- Breakfast 2 USD
If you are a budget backpacker looking to save every cent you got to stay on the road as long as possible Case de Huespedes Maria Victoria will put you up in some of the cheapest dorm beds in all of Potosi! Other than the price, this backpackers hostel will also give its guests a classic travelers experience with its scenic terrace, cozy lounge, and atmosphere perfect for mixing with the other guests. Putting you right next to the Cathedral of Potosi and the Society of Jesus Tower, you could not ask for a better location in historic Potosi! What will really have you sold on this hostel is the cafe which will have you jumping out of bed every morning to taste their delicious breakfast!
Los Faroles Hostal
- $$
- Cafe
- Patio
- Breakfast Included
Los Faroles Hostal may have the heart of a hostel, but this stay actually is a cheap guesthouse that puts up weary backpackers in some of the cheapest single rooms in Potosi! With a location putting you within a stone’s throw of famous sites such as the Santa Teresa Convent Museum, you will have the option of exploring the historic downtown yourself or booking one of the tours offered from Los Faroles Hostal! Even just relaxing at the hostel is one of the highlights! With patios attached to each of the rooms and a lounge, you will find that there is tons of room to hang out in! What will really have you sold is the onsite cafe that will start every day off right with a delicious free breakfast!
Calor de Hogar con Altura
- $
- Lounge
- Terrace
- Shared Kitchen
If you are a backpacker who is needing a break from all the socializing of the youth hostels, Calor de Hogar con Altura is a guesthouse that will put you up in your own private single room for not all that much more than what you would pay for a dorm bed! This homey stay is so much more than just a cheap bed to rest your head. You will also feel right at home in their cozy lounge and sunny terrace! Top it off with a shared kitchen where you can save a few extra Bolivianos by cooking your own meals, there is no better place to call home in Potosi!
Hostel Boulevard
- $
- Terrace
- Lounge
- Near Downtown
Hostel Boulevard may seem to be fairly bare-boned when compared to some of the other backpacker’s hostels in Potosi, but this cheap stay actually packs quite a punch when you take a look closer. Located right smack in the heart of downtown Potosi, this cheap backpackers hostel will have you staying within walking distance of the lively Plaza 10 de Noviembre and Santa Teresa Convent Museum. Other than the central location to some of the best bars and restaurants in Potosi, Hostel Boulevard will also give you tons of room to simply hang out in with its own terrace and lounge!
What to Pack for your Potosi 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
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
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!
Why you should travel to Potosi
Before you know it you won’t only be reading about all the great views and towering cathedrals found in Potosi, you will be actually witnessing them yourself! From all the great Bolivian food to the rich history found in Potosi, this is one city that you will be continually be finding new things to explore!
Are you still a little unsure about where to stay in Potosi? Let us help point you in the right direction! The one youth hostel in Potosi that will have you living that classic backpacker’s experience is Hostel Casa Blanca, our pick for the best hostel in Potosi!
FAQ about Hostels in Potosi
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Potosi.
Travel Safety Tips for Potosi
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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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Over to you
All the centuries-old art, ornate cathedrals, and rich history awaits you in the city square and winding back streets of Potosi! Get ready for an adventure unlike any other with you embarking on hikes to the surrounding mountains, experiencing the rich Bolivian culture in the city square, and tasting all of the local delicacies in the cafes lining Potosi’s colonial streets! With museums that will have you learning about the colonial history of the town and the streets that will literally have you stepping back into the past, you are about to embark on an adventure unlike any other!
On the surface, it may look like there are not that many hostels to call home while traveling to Potosi. We found that even backpackers traveling on a shoestring can also explore Potosi without shelling an arm and a leg in one of the many budget dorm rooms and cheap hotels found throughout this historic city!
If you have ever traveled to Potosi we would love to hear about your trip! Let us know in the comments below if there are any great backpacker’s hostels we may have missed!
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!
