A laid-back town between two major stop offs on the Colombia backpacking trail, there’s actually loads more to Salento than first meets the eye. Basically, it’s much, much more than its town and you could quite easily end up wanting to stay here for weeks.
Here you can learn loads about local life, about coffee, try out a lot (and we mean A LOT) of delicious food; there’s also ample opportunity for some AMAZING hiking in this area, especially in the otherworldly beauty of Los Nevados National Natural Park.
But being such a small town, are there many places for backpackers to stay here? And it depends what you want to do: do you want to be closer to town and its amenities, or do you wanna stay in the middle of some natural beauty?
Whatever you want, we’ve got you covered. Yep, we’ve sorted through the best hostels in Salento and put ’em into handy categories so you can easily find the hostel that suits you the most.
So what are you waiting for? Check out the top Salento backpacker hostels below!
Quick answer: The Best Hostels in Salento
- Best Overall Hostel in Salento – Yambolombia
- Best Cheap Hostel in Salento – Cattleya Trianae
- Best Hostel for Couples in Salento – Hostel Tralala Solento
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Salento – Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Salento – El Viajero
The Best Hostels in Salento
If you’re looking for a place to relax during your backpacking Colombia adventures, Salento is the right spot. Whether you’re a coffee-lover, a food-lover, a nature-lover, or just interested in seeing different parts of the country, you’ll definitely like the charming city. In order to have the best time, you’ll need a place to rest your head. We’ve listed our favorite hostels in Salento below.
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Best Overall Hostel in Salento – Yambolombia
- $$
- BBQ
- Book Exchange
- Cafe
Why is it called Yambolombia? We don’t know actually, but we really like it. This place is an eco hostel, so if being kind to our planet plays on your mind then you might want to stay at this top hostel in Salento.
It’s a chilled out sorta place where you can look up at the stars at night, but there’s more to it than that, that makes this the best overall hostel in Salento. The vibe is strong here: super friendly atmosphere, very beautiful, fresh air, nice people, campfires… What more do you want?
Best Cheap Hostel in Salento – Cattleya Trianae
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Outdoor Terrace
- Security Lockers
This is a lovely family run place that’s a little bit further out of town than other top hostels in Salento, but it IS located right opposite a bus stop so getting into town (or around the area) is relatively easy.
They serve up a big free breakfast here, which alongside the decent room rates easily makes this the best cheap hostel in Salento. The showers here are nice and hot too, which makes a change when you’re backpacking through Colombia.
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View on Osprey View on REIBest Hostel for Couples in Salento – Hostel Tralala Solento
- $$
- Outdoor Terrace
- Restaurant
- Tours/Travel Desk
A traditional coffee house with rooms that overlook the coffee terraces themselves and windows with red shutters and hammocks to relax in… Sounds about right for the best hostel for couples in Salento so far, right?
But yeah, this place has a calm and comfortable vibe with a variety of rooms on offer so that you can find the one that’s best for you and your partner (and the third wheel: your budget). It’s also just a block away from town so you can easily get in and explore local restaurants, too.
Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Salento – Coffee Tree Boutique Hostel
- $$$
- Airport Transfers
- Free Breakfast
- Laundry Facilities
This top hostel in Salento really is nice. It’s a big, beautiful villa on the edge of town, with rooms that overlook the valley. It’s super nice – did we say that already? But it really is. There’s amazing spaces in the kitchen and on the veranda to get some work done on your laptop.
So yeah, being surrounded by beautiful nature and stylish modern design definitely helps this place earn the title of best hostel for digital nomads in Salento. Plus if you fancy getting out into that beautiful nature (not just staring it at from afar between emails) this is a great place for hiking, too.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Salento – El Viajero
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- 24 Hour Reception
- Bar
El Viajero is definitely home to the best private rooms in town. Set in an old house that’s been renovated to top-notch standards, the views of the mountains here are quite literally incredible. It’s also huge: there’s enough space here for 90 people to stay. 90!
But yeah, being the best hostel with a private room in Salento you can imagine that the rooms here are… well, they’re pretty dang dreamy. Just imagine waking up to those views, for a start – and the balconies are so cool. Everything’s kept super clean here and the staff are very friendly indeed.
Best Party Hostel in Salento – Luciérnaga Salento Food Drinks Music Hostel
- $$
- Bar & Restaurant
- 24 Hour Security
- No Curfew
Well, let’s be honest, it’s all in the name. Food Drinks is just our kinda vibe, gotta be honest. But yeah, it’s the best party hostel in Salento because of the fun atmosphere that bubbles around in this place. The onsite bar and restaurant definitely help with that feeling.
But it’s never gonna be a super mad party vibe in this sorta town, so bear that in mind. Aside from partying, the views from this place are pretty cool too. And the beds are very, very comfortable, so you can easily sink into ’em after a few beers in the evening.
Luciérnaga Salento Food Drinks Music Hostel is one of our favourites in Salento but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Salento – La Casa Hostel De Lili
- $$
- Bike Hire
- Laundry Facilities
- Luggage Storage
Kind, warm and welcoming – that’s just the sort of thing you want out of the best hostel for solo travellers in Salento, ain’t it? But other than that, staying at this place means learning more about Colombian culture.
The cheerful owner of this Salento backpackers hostel is so friendly that it’ll feel like coming home every time you return here – she’ll practice Spanish with you, watch movies with the guests, share recipes, and tell you everything you need to know about Salento.
La Casa Hostel De Lili is one of our favourites in Salento 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.
More Best Hostels In Salento
Refugio Puente de la Explanacion
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Yoga Classes (And Loads Of Other Activities)
- BBQ
Billing themselves as an eco lodge, this Salento backpackers hostel is 3km outside of the town itself and is set along a private stretch of riverfront. Yep, this one’s a bit of a natural getaway. They’ve even limited their number of beds for people to have a more ‘intimate experience’…
You can do yoga here, there are healing ceremonies and massages on offer, plus campfires, birdwatching and even a spot of live music. It’s the place to come if you fancy being social and getting to know some (probably) likeminded people.
Estrella Sin Fronteras
- $$
- Cafe
- Free Breakfast
- Book Exchange
A coffee farmhouse turned into a backpacker hostel, this recommended hostel in Salento has amazing grounds surrounded by nature. It’s not too far from the city, but far enough that it’s a good place to start some great hiking in the area.
There’s a kitchen here so you can make yourself snacks, but this Salento backpackers hostel also has a load of fun stuff to keep you entertained: think ping pong tables, hammocks to chill out in, a book exchange and things like that. Needless to say, the coffee here is pretty amazing.
Estrella Sin Fronteras is one of our favourites in Salento 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.
La Serrana
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Bicycle Hire
- Restaurant
Pretty dang luxurious, this is like a hotel and a hostel all rolled into one and it’s definitely one of the coolest hostels in Salento. Yep, this is a big ol’ Colombian hacienda (house) that you can now stay in and it’s all pretty stylish.
The incredible views and chilled spaces with comfy sofas are cool, sure. But this top hostel in Salento also features the opportunity to do a load of cool outdoorsy stuff like horseriding and trekking and mountain biking and trekking… all that fun stuff.
La Serrana is one of our favourites in Salento 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 Salento 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!
Why you should travel to Salento
Now you know a lot more about all the best hostels in Salento.
And wow – what a selection! We reckon you’ll easily find something that’s right for you.
Some of these hostels are more like cosy homestays run by families, where you can easily get into the town itself for some good food.
Other top hostels in Salento are set in amazing old coffee farmhouses and haciendas, making for incredible places to stay out in the depths of the town’s beautiful nearby nature.
So we can totally understand if you can’t decide on hostel – they’re all amazing!
And if you can’t decide, no worries. We’d recommend Yambolombia, the best overall hostel in Salento and a great choice for anybody.
Pack your hiking boots and prepare your tummy for tasty food – Salento awaits!
FAQ about Hostels in Salento
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Salento.
Travel Safety Tips for Salento
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.
More Epic Hostels in Colombia and Latin America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Salento.
Planning an epic trip all across Colombia or even Latin America itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around Europe, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Salento has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you’re planning on travelling further, you can be sure that you’ll always find a place to rest your head. There are amazing hostels all over Colombia, each offering a safe home-away-from-home, a chance to meet like-minded travellers and an affordable price for the night.
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
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!
Great article, however the picture use for the “pin me” section is in Salento, Puglia, Italy! That’s my city 🙂
O dio! Hai ragione! We’ll get that changed. Thanks for that 🙂