If you are coming to check out Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, you will certainly have a stopover in Tulum.
Tulum is the most backpacker friendly town in the Yucatan. It is worlds away from the cheesy, over-priced spring break vibes of Cancun.
Perfect turquoise beaches, ancient ruins, and of course the mystical cenotes (sinkholes/freshwater caves) all come together to make Tulum, Mexico a special destination.
As I can personally attest, some hostels in Tulum are far better than others.
After a night in a totally unacceptable hostel, I decided to seek out the very best.
That is exactly why I wrote this guide to the best hostels in Tulum for 2019.
This hostel guide will be your compass to only the very best accommodation options for backpackers in Tulum.
By the end of this guide you will be filled with the knowledge and confidence you need to crush your travels.
I have organized each hostel into different categories so that you can be sure to find the perfect spot for yourself.
Let’s get to it… Vamos!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Tulum
- Overall Best Hostel in Tulum – Lum
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Tulum – Mama’s Home
- Best Party Hostel in Tulum – Hostel Che Tulum
- Best Hostel with a Private Room in Tulum – Amorcito Corazon Hotel y Hostel
The 7 Best Hostels in Tulum
Deciding where to stay in Tulum can be a real struggle. But we’re here to help! Instead of just blindly booking your accommodation, do some research and find out what you want to see and choose your hostel according to the location. You don’t want to end up miles away from the cool hotspots you wanted to explore. Trust us, your feet will thank you!
And as a side note: If you want to find even more epic hostels, have a look at HOSTELWORLD. You can also filter all of your personal travel needs and find the perfect place for you.
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Overall Best Hostel in Tulum – Lum
- $$
- Free Bicycles
- Bar
- Self Catering Facilities
The simply named Lum is super, super nice. Modern and design-focused (think potted plants set against grey polished plaster walls and you won’t be far off), this is the overall best hostel in Tulum not only because it’s possibly the coolest hostel in Tulum, but also because the facilities – including indoors and outdoors chill-out areas complete with TV and ping-pong table – are great and SUPER clean, and because the staff here are legends. They get to know everyone by name, which really is a nice touch! Easily the best hostel in Tulum 2021 – I mean, it even offers free bicycles for you to pedal around town. PLUS: location is amazing.
Second Best Hostel in Tulum – Oostel Smart Hostel
- $
- Ladies Walk-in changing rooms
- Swimming Pool
- Cashless environment
This hostel is so amazing that we just had to feature it. It’s one of the newer hostels in Tulum which means that you’ll get a shit ton of bang for your buck! From walk-in changing and make-up rooms for the ladies to the free beach shuttle and access to beach clubs, there’s hardly anything that this hostel can’t offer you.
There’s an on-site bar, a super cool backyard swimming pool (great for those hot days), a social area that also offers plenty of workspace for digital nomads, and some really comfortable beds. While it’s not the absolute cheapest hostel in Tulum, it’s definitely worth every penny!
Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Tulum – Mama’s Home
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- Outdoor Terrace
- Bicycle Hire
The staff are really friendly at this chilled Tulum backpackers hostel, which really helps you feel welcome pretty quickly – always good, especially if you’re not planning to stay for very long. They also put on a lot of activities; in fact, there’s usually something going on nightly at Mama’s House, really helping guests to get together, meet, make friends, all of that social stuff. And for that reason we say it’s the best hostel for solo travellers in Tulum – the atmosphere is just perfect for meeting people. Sure, it’s a little basic, but here the vibe more than makes up for that.
Best Cheap Hostel in Tulum – Hostel Sheck
- $
- Free Breakfast
- Self Catering Facilities
- Bar
This is basically a good hostel that’s close to everything – location-wise, of course. We all know that’s a good thing. At Hostel Sheck they also have a fully equipped industrial kitchen which makes cooking a lot nicer than doing it a crumbly half-decrepit outhouse of a kitchen – trust us, they exist. Hmm, overall this youth hostel in Tulum has a decent atmosphere, a decent bar, a decent garden to chill in. It’s not THE best hostel in Tulum, but with its helpful staff and WONDERFUL (really) free breakfast, it’s definitely a recommended hostel in Tulum.
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View on Osprey View on REIBest Party Hostel in Tulum – Hostel Che Tulum
- $
- BBQ
- Swimming Pool
- Free Breakfast
Very much so the best party hostel in Tulum, Hostel Che is ALL BOUT that party vibe. The music doesn’t stop till 1am, so if you’re not prepared for partying then we wouldn’t recommend coming here. However, if you are also all about that party vibe, then you’ll probably love it here. There’s a pool and swish little outdoorsy garden area which is great to chill in after a heavy night of drinking and dancing. They also put on live music, BBQ nights, pizza nights, as well as free tours, yoga and salsa classes. Deffo a top hostel in Tulum.
Best Hostel with a Private Room in Tulum – Amorcito Corazon Hotel y Hostel
- $$
- Free Breakfast
- No Curfew
- 24-Hour Reception
Cute and not-badly-priced private rooms at Amorcito Corazon Hotel y Hostel make it feel even more boutique than it already looks – it’s nicely laid out and decorated, which is a win in our books. But really, it’s the best hostel with a private room in Tulum because of its amazingly comfy beds, incredible service (the staff are just great here), tasty free breakfast – and, oh, did we mention the rooftop pool? No? Well, there’s one of those here too. If you need any further convincing of this recommended hostel in Tulum, the location is also tip-top.
Best Hostel for Couples in Tulum – Lucky Traveler Hostel
- $$$
- It’s All-Inclusive
No wonder this place is called Lucky Traveler: IT’S ALL INCLUSIVE. An all-inclusive hostel – what? Right? But you are reading this correctly. It IS all-inclusive. That means FOOD. That means BICYCLE HIRE. And yes, that even means DRINKS. Of course, it’s much more expensive than other offerings, but for this kind of thing it’s the best hostel for couples in Tulum – the private rooms are pretty much backpacking luxury, complete with own WiFi, Netflix, and en-suite bathroom (cleaned daily). Perfect as a getaway for a couple who doesn’t wanna do the normal boring couple stuff. Don’t worry: there are dorms here, too.
Lucky Traveler Hostel is one of our favourites in Tulum 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 Tulum 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 Tulum
All good things must end amigos: that’s right, you have made it to the finish line of my best hostels in Tulum 2021 list.
Now that you’re in the know, there is no reason for you to end up at one of Tulum’s shadier hostels (as I once did).
Tulum is truly a magical place (well truth be told the gems are really in the surrounding area) full of exploration potential and adventures to get into. Where you stay clearly matters. The last thing I want is for a fellow backpacker to experience the same disappointment I did in Tulum. Now that you have read my hostel guide, booking a great hostel is now all sorted.
You are now in firm possession of all of the best hostels in Tulum. Making the choice of where to book is now in your hands.
Still undecided? Feeling overwhelmed as if you were trying to pick out the best taco fixings at a street food cart? I know the feeling.
In times of uncertainty, I typically recommend that you just book my top overall hostel in Tulum: Lum. Happy Travels!
FAQ about Hostels in Tulum
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Tulum.
Travel Safety Tips for Tulum
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 Mexico and Central America
Hopefully by now you’ve found the perfect hostel for your upcoming trip to Tulum.
Planning an epic trip all across Mexico or even Central America itself?
Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!
For more cool hostel guides around Central America, check out:
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Tulum has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
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!
