If you’re planning your route, this is how I structured my trip → Guatemala itinerary
Quick Picks (If You Just Want the Answer)
- Best party hostel: Mr. Mullet’s
- Best social (non-party): Free Cerveza
- Best overall hostel: Mellow Hostel
- Best luxury hostel experience: Zephyr Lodge
- Best location advantage: Greengos
Best Hostels in Guatemala (Quick Comparison)
| Hostel | Location | Best For | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mellow Hostel | El Paredón | All-rounder | Social + balanced |
| Greengos | Semuc Champey | Convenience | Highly social |
| Free Cerveza | Lake Atitlán | Chill social | Relaxed + communal |
| Zephyr Lodge | Lanquin | Experience | Luxury + views |
| Mr. Mullet’s | San Pedro | Party | Chaotic |
Best Hostels in Guatemala by Location
Antigua
Adra Hostel (Perfect Before Acatenango)
Best for: Rest, comfort, pre-hike recovery
This is where I stayed before the Acatenango hike, and for that purpose—it’s ideal.
The beds are genuinely some of the best I had in Guatemala. Proper comfort, great sleep, and exactly what you want before a brutal hike.
- Beds stacked three high
- More expensive than average
Socially, I didn’t find it that easy to meet people—but that can depend on timing. The rooftop definitely has potential in the evenings.
Reality: Great for rest. Social if the crowd’s right.
Hostal Antigua
Best for: Budget stay
Cheap, comfortable enough, and has a nice terrace.
Reality: Does the job.
Worth knowing: Tropicana is a well-known party hostel.
Lake Atitlán
Mr. Mullet’s (San Pedro)
Best for: Partying. Hard. San Pedro La Laguna is the backpacker hub around Lake Atitlán. I stayed at Mr. Mullet’s Hostel. Honestly, feral is the best word for it.- Rooms where each bed is named after dictators or drugs
- Punishment wheels
- Chaotic bar crawls
Free Cerveza (Santa Cruz)
Best for: Social without chaos One of the most talked-about hostels in Guatemala—and yeah, it’s very good.- Daily free beer hour (5–6pm) — that’s where the name comes from
- Family dinners
- Easy to meet people without it turning into a full-blown party hostel
- Hot during the day
- Cold at night
- No real privacy (no curtains or anything)
My favourite stay on Lake Atitlán wasn’t even in a hostel.
I ended up staying in a Spanish school in a completely different area—which completely changed the experience → See where to stay around Lake Atitlán
El Paredón
Mellow Hostel
Best for: Balance
- Social but not overwhelming
- Events every night
- Gym + strong facilities
The bar/restaurant is a true social hub.
Reality: Easiest recommendation in Guatemala.
Cocori
Best for: Relaxation + space
- Beachfront
- Massive pool (honestly feels close to Olympic length)
- Tons of space for hammocks, reading, and just switching off
Cocori is one of the few hostels that genuinely leans into a more luxury, slow-travel feel.
It does this better than Mellow.
You can properly relax here in a way most hostels don’t allow.
But:
- The pool spreads people out
- The restaurant feels slightly detached
- Fewer structured social events
So it doesn’t naturally create that same social energy.
And that’s probably why I preferred Mellow—it just fit how I like to travel.
Reality: Better for relaxing days. Slightly weaker for social nights.
Semuc Champey (Lanquin)
Greengos
Best for: Social + location
- Pool, ping pong, pool table
- Cinema room
- Large social spaces
Greengos is extremely social and very well organised.
It’s also right next to Semuc Champey, which is a huge advantage if you want to explore independently rather than relying on tours.
One night about 15 of us ended up playing a chaotic game of monkey ball.
The first person eliminated each round could earn a “doggy life” to stay in the game — but only by completing a forfeit worse than the previous round’s doggy life.
It started with someone simply barking.
Within a few rounds someone was prancing around the hostel pretending to be a dog for a full minute.
Classic hostel chaos.
Reality: Best mix of social + practical in this area.
Zephyr Lodge
Best for: Premium experience
This is where hostels stop feeling like hostels.
You’re sitting on a sun lounger, looking out over an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, all overlooking the jungle.
There’s a hot tub where you don’t even need to move—staff will literally come over and bring drinks to you.
You don’t move. You don’t need to.
It feels far closer to a boutique resort than a backpacker hostel.
And then you remember you’re still meeting other travelers, still socializing, still in that hostel environment—just elevated.
It can lean party depending on the crowd, but even without that, the setting alone carries it.
Reality: You stay here as much for the experience as the stay itself.
Not sure if Semuc Champey is even worth it?
I had the same debate—here’s my honest take after going →
Is Semuc Champey worth it?
Flores
Hostel La Terraza
Best for: Budget only
Very cheap. Did the job.
Reality: Just a place to sleep.
This is also why I didn’t get the most out of Flores.
Don’t want to make the same mistake? 👉 Read my Flores + Tikal guide
Worth knowing: Amigos is the main hostel here.
Final Ranking (Top 5)
- Mellow Hostel (El Paredón)
- Greengos (Semuc Champey)
- Free Cerveza (Lake Atitlán)
- Zephyr Lodge
- Mr. Mullet’s (party only)
FAQs About Hostels in Guatemala
What is the best area to stay in Guatemala?
Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and El Paredón are the main backpacker hubs.
Are hostels in Guatemala social?
Yes—but the vibe varies massively depending on where you stay.
How much do hostels cost in Guatemala?
Most of the hostels in this guide fall around the £20 per night range.
For a full breakdown of costs and how this fits into your trip budget → Guatemala travel budget guide
Planning Your Trip to Guatemala
If you’re figuring out your route, budget, or what each destination is actually like, these will help you plan the rest of your trip:
Guatemala Itinerary
How to structure your route, where to go first, and how long to spend in each place.
Travel Budget
What things actually cost, where your money goes, and how to plan your spend.
What It’s Actually Like
An honest breakdown of each destination so you know what to expect before you go.
