If you’re travelling Ecuador, you’ll almost certainly spend a few nights in Quito - quite possibly on more than one occasion.
There are, unsurprisingly, a bunch of traveller-friendly accommodation options in the capital city. In terms of budget, you can expect a dorm bed to cost from $4.5 - $9 USD (£3.8 - £7.50), whilst a decent private double room in a Quito hostel is priced anywhere from $20 to $45 USD (£16 - £35 GBP) - with the quality of facilities varying quite a lot within that range!
However, aside from budget, choosing the right hostel in Quito for you depends on two factors: your priorities for the city, and which area you’d like to stay in.
Therefore, to help make your decision quicker and easier, we’ve highlighted the three best neighbourhoods for backpackers in the city and shared our personal pick of the best accommodation in each, based on a lot of research and recommendations. Pick your area, pick your hostel - job done!
These are the 7 best hostels in Quito.
La Mariscal | The New Town Neighbourhood
This is the city’s major nightlife hub with loads of bars, craft beer spots and nightclubs to entertain even the most ardent part goer. It’s also a surprisingly good spot for food, with a number of great options for when you just want western food or a dirty burger.
However, as La Mariscal is also part of ‘new Quito’, you’ll not find any beautiful colonial buildings here. In fact, in our opinion, this whole area is kind of ugly. A mix of modernity and commercialism, with little aesthetically pleasing elements.
Still, from a backpacker’s point of view, we fully understand why people may choose to stay here instead of the old town (which is a 15-minute taxi ride away), especially if they’re on a long-term South America trip and craving some downtime and creature comforts.
Vibes Hostel
Best for | The swimming pool (very uncommon in Quito) makes Vibes Hostel an excellent choice for those visiting Quito when it’s particularly warm. Additionally, with its pub crawl, social environment and proximity to Plaza Foch, it’s a great choice for those that want to let their hair down a little.
Facilities | Swimming pool, sauna, on-site bar/restaurant, tourist information, security lockers. Note that they do breakfast for an extra cost, and that there’s no gusts kitchen.
Dorms from $4.5 / £3.8 | Private doubles from $20 / £16
To find out more, including full prices and availability, visit here.
Selina Quito
Best for | Given they have a really lovely co-working space, Selina is the ideal choice for digital nomads or those who need to get the odd bit of work done. Additionally, given its boutique style (it really is rather lovely), it’s perfect for those who those that like their hostels to be a bit more ‘flashpacker’ than budget backpacker, and value added extras like a yoga deck, library and cinema room.
Facilities | Self-catering facilities, co-working space, yoga deck, cinema room, bar, security lockers, luggage storage, laundry facilities, tourist information, English speaking staff.
Dorms from $7 / £6 | Private doubles from $25 / £20
Find out more, including full prices and availability, on booking.com or hostelworld
The Old Town | A Classic Quito Experience
Given its status as the world’s first (and best preserved) UNESCO heritage city, it’s easy to understand why many who come here choose to stay in the historic centre. It’s also, as you can probably imagine, ideally located for the majority of the best things to do in Quito.
There aren’t really any cons to staying in the old town. However, we did feel that the area can become quite quiet in late evening, so may not be the ideal place if you need a little life in your neighbourhood.
Secret Garden Hostel
Best for | A comfy little hostel in the old town, its pièce de résistance is the epic view of Quito from the large rooftop common area. The private rooms are a little overpriced if we’re being honest, but the real affordability of the dorms makes this a good choice for social solo travellers.
Facilities | Group dinners and breakfast available but not included in price - this is what can make Secret Garden a little too pricey for those staying in a private room. There’s also a rooftop terrace, small library, security lockers, laundry facilities, and an on-site information and tour booking service. We have never made it out to say at their sister hostel - Secret Garden Cotopaxi - but everyone who does go there absolutely loves it.
Dorms from $5.5 / £4.25 | Private doubles from $29 / £23
Find out more, including full prices and availability, on booking.com or hostelworld
Masaya Hostel
Best for | Masaya Hostel is probably the most beautiful hostel in Quito, decorated and kitted out to an incredibly high standard. It is most definitely NOT a party hostel, making it an ideal choice for couples or discerning single travellers. It’s also got a great location next to ‘Calle La Ronda’, Quito’s prettiest street.
Facilities | Self-catering facilities, free breakfast for private rooms ($3 for dorms), large garden, excellent communal facilities including pool table, laundry facilities.
Dorms from £6 / $8 | Privates from $45 / £35 (yeah, we know - pretty expensive)
Find out more, including full prices and availability, on booking.com or hostelworld.
Hump Day Hostel
Best for | Just around the corner from Masaya Hostel, Hump Day is perfect for those that want to stay in the old town but still want to have a good time. They have several pub crawls a week, as well as salsa classes, and the hostel is also very pretty.
Yes, you can have it all!
Facilities | Free breakfast, modern common areas, outdoor terrace, security lockers, self-catering facilities,tours/travel desk.
Dorms from $9 / £7.50 (14 bed dorm) | Private doubles from $39 / £31
Find out more, including full prices and availability, on booking.com or hostelworld.
Colonial House
Best for | Backpacking couples on a budget - which is exactly what we were when we stayed here the first time we visited Quito. Colonial House has several social areas, including a large garden, and it’s place which is great to meet fellow travellers without being a party hostel.
Double rooms are large, comfy, and - importantly - have plenty of blankets to keep you warm.
Facilities | Self-catering facilities (two kitchens), Spanish and salsa classes, large garden, laundry facilities and luggage storage.
Dorms from £3.50 / $4.5 | Private doubles from $20 / £15.50
Find out more, including full prices and availability, on booking.com or hostelworld.
Tip | As you may have already realised, private doubles in Quito hostels are generally more expensive than people expect. That’s why we stayed in an Airbnb for our second visit in the city - it’s a really excellent affordable option if you’re a couple or group who want their own space for a few nights or longer. You can read more about your options, starting from just £10 / $13 per night for an apartment, in the 23 Best Airbnbs in Quito.
La Floresta | The Hipster Choice
This is Quito’s unequivocal hipster district.
It’s where you’ll find the city’s best street art, some of its coolest coffee shops and numerous artistic projects. It’s also within walking distance of La Mariscal, so you can still have a good night out there.
La Floresta is a however a neighbourhood for the community, more so than a neighbourhood for tourists. This means that if you’re not speaking to locals, it can feel a little like things are behind closed doors. This is probably the reason why there’s not yet many hostels in the area - although we suspect this may change in the future.
El Hostelito
Best for | First things first, this is a ‘pod hostel’, which means that all beds, including doubles, are within a pod in a larger dormitory. This makes El Hostelito ideally suited to single travellers, but less so couples (or at least in our opinion). Otherwise, it really is a wonderful hostel, with excellent facilities, a great vibe and very helpful staff.
Facilities | Large garden, great communal spaces, self-catering facilities, breakfast offered (for extra fee), security lockers, pool table.
Single pod from $11 / £9 | Double pod from $15 / £12
Find out more, including full prices and availability, on booking.com or hostelworld.
