Popayan is a great destination, both for travelers who continue their travels to Ecuador or the other way around. But you can include it in any Colombia itinerary because it’s just a beautiful city, surrounded with beautiful nature and even some archeological sites.
Make sure to check out these fun things to do in Popayan before deciding you only need one night in Popayan. The city actually has a lot to offer and you can easily spend a few days in this lovely colonial hub.
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Best hostels in Popayan
More info about these Popayan Hostels
Arte Hostel Popayan - Backpacker favorite
The Arte Hostel in Popayan is a backpacker favorite.
It has an excellent location in the colonial heart of the city, just a few blocks from the main plaza.
Arte Hostel is super affordable and it has everything a backpacker might need! There’s a tour desk to take care of your day trips and a fully equipped kitchen you can use to cook your own meals.
The building itself is a beautifully restored colonial house, complete with garden and patios.
In this hostel, you can get a dorm bed for less than 6€ and a private double room with ensuite bathroom for less than 16€!
Hostel Caracol Popayan - Chill and cozy hostel
Caracol Hostel in Popayan has a great central location, only a few blocks from the main square. The hostel is set up in one of the typical colonial houses and breathes the same vibe.
In this hostel, backpackers can find everything they need. There’s a great kitchen for the guests, but there are also bikes you can take out for free to discover the city on you own.
You can easily book your day trips at the tour desk in the hostel and they will help you plan your trip to the nearby attractions or the next leg of your trip. This hostel has teamed up with the tour agency PopayanTours to help you arrange the coolest trips.
Downstairs, you can get your breakfast in the cute coffee shop, adjecent to the hostel.
In Caracol Hostel, you can book a dorm bed for less than 6€ and a private double room with an ensuite bathroom for less than 18€. A private room with shared bathroom is obviously a little cheaper!
Les Balcons Hostel - Brand new and spotless
Les Balcons Hostel will cost about 1€ more than the other hostels mentioned in this list, but it’s well worthy of your euro.
This hostel is brand new and spotless. It looks slick and beautiful!
Les Balcons has a great location in the colonial center of town and only a few blocks from the main city square.
The hostel offers everything you might need as a traveler.
There’s a free breakfast included in the room price and you can also use the communal kitchen to prep your own meals.
In Les Balcons Hostel, you can get a dorm bed for less than 7€ and a private double room with ensuite bathroom for 24€. Private rooms with a shared bathroom are a little cheaper.
Best hostels in Popayan
Popayan is not a major tourist destination, even though it’s beautiful and there are a few fun things to do.
You can feel that tourism isn’t too big in Popayan once you start searching for cool hostels. There aren’t too many.
Still, it can be difficult to find a great place to spend the night. That’s why we narrowed the search down to just 3 of the very best backpacker hostels in Popayan!