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The 10 Best Backpacker Hostels In Quito: Price Comparison
| Hostel | Location | Cheapest Dorm ($) | Cheapest Private Room ($) | Breakfast Included? | Best For... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community | Historical Centre | 12.50 | 30 | $2 | All-Round |
| Masaya | Historical Centre | 7.92 | 26.74 | No | All-Round |
| Secret Garden | Historical Centre | 9.63 | 17 | $2 | Party |
| Minka | Historical Centre | 8.73 | 21.60 | Yes | Relaxed |
| Rebel | Historical Centre | 8 | 22.40 | Yes | Relaxed |
| Casa CarpeDM | Historical Centre | 14 | 30 | Yes | Luxury |
| Huasi Lodge | Historical Centre | 6 | 17 | $2.50 | Budget |
| Revolution | Historical Centre | 7.50 | 17 | $2 | Budget |
| Selina | La Mariscal | 13.18 | 37 | Yes | Luxury |
| El Patio | La Mariscal | 10.80 | 28 | Yes | Relaxed |
*All prices taken from Hostelworld.com, Booking.com or hostel websites in July 2021
Here’s a summary of the best backpacker hostels in Quito from the above list:
- The Best Party Hostel in Quito – Secret Garden Quito
- The Best Hostel in Quito For a Relaxed Vibe – El Patio
- The Best Luxury Hostel in Quito – Selina
- The Best Budget Hostel in Quito – Hostel Revolution
- The Best All-Rounder Hostel in Quito – Community Hostel/Masaya Hostel
Choosing The Right Backpacker Hostel For You In Quito
First, ask yourself what you want to get out of your time in Quito.
Many come for the party, others to see the equator and others for the excellent trekking opportunities like climbing Pichincha Volcano.
We advise being well-rested when taking on big excursions such as day trips to Cotopaxi National Park or Mindo. These are fun activities, but they are intense days for which you’ll want all your brain cells intact. This might encourage you to stay somewhere more comfortable and peaceful, rather than in a party hostel.
We’ve categorised our hostel choices into ‘Party’, ‘Relaxed’, ‘Budget, ‘Luxury’ and ‘All-Rounder’ so you can pick the one that suits your vibe the best.
Party
- The best pick for the younger travellers looking for some late nights and solo travellers interested in meeting people. Don’t stay here if you are looking for a good night’s sleep.
RelaxEd
- Slightly more upscale than your party hostel with comfortable communal areas and quiet spaces where you can relax. Stay here if you prefer a good night’s sleep over a party.
Party
- Choose luxury if want to stay in a hotel but pay hostel prices. These hostels usually focus on single and double private rooms with their own bathroom—best for couples.
Budget
- No-frills accommodation. Doesn’t mean it will be horrible or dirty, just a bed in a dorm and usually a free breakfast. Perfect for budget travellers.
All-rounder
- This type of hostel has the best of everything. Nice dorm rooms and cleanliness, usually free breakfast, and a social atmosphere so you can still meet other travellers. The all-rounders usually end up being our top pick.
If you haven’t decided what activities you are going to do in Quito yet, then make sure to check out our posts below to help you plan your time:
Where Is The Best Area To Stay In Quito?
There are two popular areas with to stay in Quito – La Mariscal and the Historical Centre (also known as Old Town).
The Historical Centre is where most of the tourist attractions are and you will be spending most of your time here during the day, however, at night it isn’t as safe and most of the streets are abandoned by tourists.
The Historical Centre also has the best backpacker hostels so if you are a solo traveller looking to meet other backpackers then we would recommend staying here.
La Mariscal is the residential area of Quito filled with lots of hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs. It is a much safer area to wander around at night because there is so much going on. This is the best area to stay in Quito if you are concerned with safety.
The two areas are about a 20–25-minute walk from each other or around 10 minutes in a taxi.
Quito’s Best Backpacker Hostels In The Historical Centre
1. Community Hostel Quito
All-Rounder
- 4-bed dorm – $12.50 a night
- 10-bed dorm – $10 a night
- Private – from $30 a night
Community Hostel is a perfect all-rounder with something to suit every traveller’s needs.
They create a welcoming and social vibe with organised nights for meeting other travellers. Or if you just want to take a break from it all, there’s a wealth of spacious communal areas if you are just looking to relax.
On top of being a great hostel, they work closely with the local community and contribute 10% of their earnings to support community projects.
It’s a fantastic place to stay if you’re looking to keep busy and you can join in with a variety of social nights such as free salsa classes, happy hours, and communal dinners. They have something going on every night of the week and Saturday is their popular bar crawl taking you to the best bars and clubs around Plaza Foch in La Mariscal district.
If the nightlife isn’t for you then they also run a great free walking tour and their tour agency found next door can help you book day trips to popular places outside of Quito such as the Otavalo or the Quilotoa Crater.
If you do decide to stay close to the historical centre, then this is one of our top picks.
Community Hostel: Hostelworld.com / Booking.com / Website
Community Hostel is a chain and they also have a fantastic hostel in Baños which is in the south of Ecuador. Be sure to check them out along with our guides if you are travelling that way:
2. Secret Garden Hostel Quito
Party
- 4-bed dorms – from $9.63 a night
- 8-bed dorm – from $6.08 a night
- Privates – from $17 a night
Secret Garden was awarded Best Hostel in Ecuador 2019 which should tell you everything you need to know about this place. It’s a local run hostel located in a quiet, authentic cobble-stone street in central Quito, a few blocks away from the main plaza.
The highlight of the hostel is the fantastic rooftop terrace with a bar, hammocks, and nets to lounge in and enjoy the amazing views out over the city: it’s a great place to meet fellow travellers or just relax with a book or a beer.
They also have our favourite pod-style dorm beds with a plug socket and locker next to your head and a curtain for that added layer of privacy.
Like Community Hostel, they have a roster of activities every night. They serve cheap delicious dinners from $5 and run numerous happy hours and activities such as salsa and Spanish lessons. Secret Garden might be the better choice if you are looking to tear it up in Quito for more than one night though as they run beer pong nights at the start of the week and a party bus from Wednesday to Saturday.
Secret Garden Hostel could have easily been classified as one of our all-rounders but it’s the best place for a party in our opinion, so we’ve awarded it that instead!
Secret Garden Quito: Hostelworld.com / Booking.com / Website
Secret Garden Quito also has a sister hostel in Cotopaxi National Park which has also been voted as one of the best hostels in Ecuador. If you are making your way south after Quito and want to stop off at Secret Garden Cotopaxi on the way, then the Quito hostel runs a free shuttle bus.
Read our full review for why you need to stay at this hostel below:
3. Masaya Hostel
All-Rounder
- 4-bed dorms – $9.90 a night
- 8-bed dorm – $7.92 a night
- Privates – from $26.74 a night
Masaya Hostel is set in a huge colonial-era mansion with a wealth of open spaces and a large garden to relax in. The rooms and dormitories are bright with pod-style beds for when you want to shut yourself away from other travellers for the day.
They also have a restaurant/bar where they will run a program of activities such as Monday yoga classes and Saturday chocolate tasting.
This would be our pick if we were staying in Quito for longer than a few days and wanted a nice place to relax to escape from the city.
The private rooms are all ensuite and are a good price: perfect for couples who are looking for a comfy space but who also want to get involved with activities and meet other backpackers.
The atmosphere is also great, especially when the hostel is busy, and you will be able to meet other travellers and enjoy nights at the bar which is why we’ve classified it as an all-rounder. But backpackers looking to relax will be just as happy here as there’s so much space.
Masaya Hostel: Hostelworld.com / Booking.com / Website
For more great hostels with a fantastic social atmosphere, check out one of our most popular posts below:
4. Minka Hostel
Relaxed
- 8-bed dorm – $8.73
- Standard twin room with shared bathroom – $21.60
- Private double room with ensuite – $31.72
Located close to the famous Basilica (one of Quito’s most popular tourist attractions), you are in the perfect location when staying at Minka Hostel.
They provide free home-cooked breakfast every morning and the super friendly staff will help you with tourist information, airport transfers and make you feel more than welcome during your stay.
The dorm beds come with surround curtains for extra privacy and a sound night’s sleep. Minka is a great choice for backpackers who want a nice, relaxed hostel without too much going on in terms of partying and late nights.
Minka Hostel: Hostelworld.com / Booking.com / Website
5. Casa CarpeDM
Luxury
- 4 bed dorm – $14
- Twin or private with ensuite – $30
Casa CarpeDM is located right next to the entrance of Quito´s Old Town so the location is ideal.
The hostel has a 24/7 reception meaning you can check-in at any time which is perfect for travellers who are arriving late to Quito, and to make your arrival even easier, they offer a transfer pickup service from the airport.
They have 15 rooms so this is the place to stay if you want somewhere quiet to escape the backpacker crowds. Whilst the 4-bed dorms are a little expensive compared to other hostels on this list, you are paying for that extra level of privacy.
The extra-large lockers are also great for ensuring all your valuables are locked away and stored safely, and they also have a charging outlet in them for charging cameras and phones. Top tip – book directly through their website to get the private rooms for $26 instead of $30.
Then if you are looking for a social vibe, then Casa CarpeDM has partnered with Secret Garden Hostel, and you can visit in the evenings to join in with all the revelry such as the salsa classes or bar crawls!
The hostel is also part of the CarpeDM Adventures Travel Agency – a well-recommended tour company in Quito. If you stay with them, you will be able to join the walking tour for free and they will also help you with booking day trips in Quito, or something more extravagant like an Amazon tour or finding last-minute deals to the Galapagos Islands.
Casa CarpeDM: Hostelworld.com / Website
6. Hostel Revolution
budget
- 6-bed dorm – $7.50
- Twin or private with shared bathroom – $17
Hostel Revolution is a small, chilled backpacker hostel.
They have several common areas including a comfortable TV lounge, rooftop terrace with tables and a great view, and a bar/common room where you can relax or socialize.
This is one of the best budget hostels in Quito, especially for friends or couples travelling together as you can get private twin or double rooms for $17!
Whilst the 6-bed dorm is also one of the cheapest options, if you are a solo traveller, we would recommend staying at one of the ‘All-Rounder’ hostels in Quito such as Secret Garden, Community or Masaya as the rooms there are only a dollar or so more and the atmosphere will be much better.
Hostel Revolution: Booking.com / Website
For more great hostels picks across the cities of South America, check out the posts below:
7. Rebel Hostel
Relaxed
- 6-bed dorm – $8
- Twin with ensuite – $22.40
- Double with ensuite – $28
Rebel Hostel classifies itself as a small, luxury, pod-hostel. The building is a remodelled colonial home with large social areas including a modern fully stocked kitchen, dining area and two lounges for relaxing.
All their bunk beds are extra wide and in the pod style with privacy curtains. Each comes with a reading light and an electrical outlet to charge your gear during the night. They also have extra-sized lockers which will fit most backpacks and each locker has an electric outlet to charge your laptop or phone whilst you are away.
Rebel Hostel is located directly in front of the steps of ‘El Panecillo’ – the noticeable statue of the Virgin Mary looking over the city, so you are in a great location to walk directly to the main plaza.
Rebel Hostel: Hostelworld.com / Website
How long are you spending in Ecuador? If you are on an extended trip, be sure to check out our expertly planned extended backpacker itineraries:
8. Huasi Lodge
budget
- 6 bed dorm – $6
- Double with shared bathroom – $17
- Double with private bathroom – $22
Huasi Lodge is another no-frills budget hostel option in Quito.
Breakfast here costs $2.50 whereas at Hostel Revolution it is included so there really isn’t much difference in price between the two budget options here. Couples may prefer Huasi for the cheaper double room with a private bathroom which you can’t get at Rebel.
Huasi Lodge: Hostelworld.com / Website
You don’t need to necessarily stay in budget hostels in Ecuador to save money as most of the backpacker hostels are similar in price. For more tips on planning your budget whilst travelling Ecuador, use our detailed guide below:
Quito’s Best Backpacker Hostels In La Mariscal
La Mariscal and the streets around Plaza Foch is a residential area with a huge selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs.
This is the nightlife hub of the capital, and if you find yourself in Quito at the weekend, you won’t find it difficult finding a lively bar or club to dance the night away in. Here are our two favourite hostels in the area:
9. Selina
Luxury
- 4-bed dorm – $14.88 a night
- 14 bed dorm – $13.18 a night
- Double with shared bathroom – $37
- Double with private ensuite – $57
Selina hostels are a well-run chain that originated in Central America and are known for being some of the best hostels in the region. However, they are only just branching out into South America and when we arrived in October 2019, parts of it were still being built. Hopefully, that’s changed since.
The hostel is set in what used to be a hotel and doesn’t have the charm of other hostels set in the old colonial buildings of the historical centre. We didn’t meet many other travellers whilst we were here either, so this may not be the place for you if you are a solo traveller wanting to meet other people.
Selina mostly caters to digital nomads as they have the best WiFi and dedicated areas for working in. The rooms and facilities are all done to a high standard, and it really is a nice place to stay if you prefer a higher quality hostel.
We suggest staying here if you need good internet to work, otherwise, it’s best to choose somewhere a little more social.
Selina: Hostelworld.com / Booking.com / Website
Selina hostels often make it into our top picks for the best hostels in South America. For more on the best hostels in South America, check out the post below:
10. El Patio Hostel
Relaxed
- 4-bed dorm – $10.80 a night
- Privates – from $28 a night
El Patio Hostel is set in a beautifully remodelled colonial house that features numerous common areas for socializing, entertaining or simply relaxing.
The shared dorms are comfortable, with pod-style beds, free towels, and big storage lockers. The hostel offers high-speed WiFi, tidy bathrooms with hot water and a fully equipped kitchen for cooking.
El Patio Hostel is a 5-minute walk from Plaza Foch, two blocks from the heart of La Mariscal, Quito’s entertainment district full of artisan markets, bars, and restaurants.
One of their aims as a hostel is to make you feel like a local. They offer tons of activities where you can meet and mix with local people like learning how to cook Ecuadorian dishes. They also offer yoga on a Sunday morning in their solarium or salsa classes of a night.
El Patio Hostel: Hostelworld.com / Booking.com
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