Best Hostels in Medellín: How to Choose Where to Stay

Viajero GO is Viajero Hostels’ loyalty program. Join for free, start at Tourist with 15% off direct bookings and unlock more benefits as you complete eligible stays. Here is how to register, move up the levels and use your benefits.

How Viajero GO works

Create your free account

Register on the official AKIN platform and use your account email when booking. You start at Tourist when you join.

Book directly and complete your stay

For regular progression, eligible nights come from completed bookings through Viajero’s official website or directly with the hostel. Future bookings, cancellations and uncompleted stays do not count. Third-party bookings do not count for regular progression; check the rules for recognizing previous reservations when you first join.

Viajero GO levels and benefits

Tourist

The entry level includes 15% off direct bookings, subject to the program’s conditions.

Backpacker

Reach this level with 7 nights or 3 different hostels. Keep 15% off and gain early check-in and towel use at no extra cost, subject to availability. You do not need to meet both criteria.

Explorer

Qualify with 15 nights, 6 hostels, or all Viajero destinations in Mexico or Peru. Benefits include 20% off, priority early check-in and late check-out, and an upgrade within your room category, subject to availability and conditions.

Nomad

Qualify with 20 nights, 10 hostels or all Viajero destinations in Colombia. Viajero Tattoo is another recognition route, subject to validation. Keep 20% off and gain a higher-category upgrade, subject to availability.

Viajero

Qualify with 30 nights or 12 hostels. Receive 25% off and benefits including a higher-category upgrade, one merchandise gift per membership and breakfast on stays of at least 3 nights where breakfast is offered, up to 5 breakfasts per guest during the stay. Program conditions apply.

What to confirm before using your benefits

Discounts apply through direct channels and cannot be combined with other promotions. Request benefits at reception. Early check-in, late check-out, towels and upgrades depend on availability; upgrades apply for up to 5 nights per stay. Each level includes the benefits of previous levels. Check current terms before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Does Viajero GO cost anything to join?

No. Membership is free, and registration places you at Tourist.

Do I need both the nights and hostel requirements?

No. You can progress by meeting any one of the criteria for each level. Check the alternatives on the official program page.

How long does my level last?

It lasts one year from the date you reach it. Complete at least one stay during that period to maintain it; without activity, the account returns to Tourist under the program’s conditions.

Start your next route with Viajero GO

Create your account, check the terms and book directly using your membership email. Your next completed stay can bring you closer to the next level.

Join Viajero GO for free

Traveling alone sounds romantic right up until the moment you're standing in an unfamiliar bus terminal at midnight, trying to work out which exit leads to your hostel. The good news: almost every uncomfortable part of solo travel is a logistics problem, not a personality problem. It can be planned around.

These five solo travel tips are the ones that make the biggest difference on a first trip — the difference between a week of low-grade anxiety and a week where you actually look up and enjoy where you are. None of them require more money, more time off, or more confidence than you already have.

1. Start small

Your first solo trip does not need to be a month of backpacking across a continent. That version of the story is great on Instagram and genuinely hard in practice, especially when you're still learning what you like doing on your own.

Start with a long weekend. Pick a city three or four hours away, or a destination that's easy and safe to move around in — compact centers, walkable neighborhoods, reliable public transport, a language you can navigate or a place used to visitors.

What a short first trip really gives you is data about yourself. Do you like slow mornings or 7am starts? Do you get lonely on day two or day five? Do you want a packed itinerary or one anchor activity a day? You can only answer these by doing it, and it's much cheaper to find out over three days than over three weeks.

Practical version: book two or three nights somewhere you could reach by bus, and don't plan more than one thing per day.

2. Arrive in daylight

This is the single most underrated safety tip for traveling alone, and it costs nothing but a bit of flexibility when you book.

Arriving during the day means you get to make your first decisions in a new place while you can see it. You have time to find the right transport instead of taking the first thing offered to you, to spot the landmarks around your accommodation, and to walk the block once before dark. If your booking has gone wrong — it happens — you have hours to fix it and a reception desk that's actually staffed.

Night arrivals compress all of that into a rushed, expensive version of itself. If you can't avoid one, pre-book your transport from the airport or terminal and message your accommodation ahead so someone is expecting you.

Practical version: filter flights and buses for arrivals before 5pm, even if it means paying a little more or leaving a day earlier.

3. Stay somewhere social

Where you sleep shapes who you meet. A quiet apartment on the edge of town is lovely on day seven and isolating on day one.

Hostels remain the best accommodation for solo travelers for exactly this reason: common areas, shared kitchens and on-site activities mean conversation happens without you having to manufacture it. You can join a walking tour, a cooking night or a beach day, meet people who are also traveling alone, and then close your door when you're done being social. Private rooms exist in most hostels now, so "social" doesn't have to mean "eight-bed dorm" unless you want it to.

Look for places that publish a weekly activity calendar, have a bar or kitchen people actually use, and sit close enough to the center that you're not committing to a taxi every time you leave.

Practical version: book the first two nights somewhere social even if you move to a quieter place later in the trip.

4. Keep everything offline

Connectivity is the thing you assume you'll have and the thing that disappears exactly when you need it — on a bus through the mountains, in a border town, at the moment your eSIM decides not to activate.

- Before you leave, download:

- Offline maps of your destination (Google Maps and Maps.me both allow this)

- Your accommodation's address, written in the local language

- Booking confirmations and boarding passes as screenshots or PDFs

- A translation pack for the local language

- Photos of your passport, visa and travel insurance details

Keep it all in one folder on your phone, and email a copy to yourself as a backup. The goal is that an empty signal bar is a minor annoyance instead of a crisis.

Practical version: make a "Trip" album on your phone the night before you fly and put every screenshot in it.

5. Share your location and itinerary

Traveling alone doesn't mean traveling unaccounted for. Someone you trust should be able to answer the question "where is she right now?" within a reasonable margin.

Send a trusted person your flight details, accommodation names and addresses, and a rough outline of your plan. Turn on live location sharing when you're in transit between cities or heading out on an activity — a hike, a boat trip, a night out. Agree on a loose check-in rhythm so nobody panics over a quiet afternoon, and so a genuinely quiet week does get noticed.

This is also just practically useful. When your phone dies, someone else has your booking reference.

Practical version: one message before you fly with flights, accommodation and dates, then live location on for long transfers.

Frequently asked questions

Is solo travel safe?

For most destinations, yes — with the same precautions you'd take in any unfamiliar city. The habits that matter most are arriving in daylight, keeping key information offline, sharing your itinerary with someone at home, and choosing accommodation in well-connected areas. If you'd rather share a room with women only, look for hostels with female-only dorms.

What's the best first destination for solo travel?

Somewhere compact, walkable and used to travelers, ideally a few hours from home. A city with good hostels and an established backpacker route means you'll find company easily when you want it — the classic first-timer routes through Colombia, Mexico and Peru all work for this.

How do I meet people when traveling alone?

Stay in social accommodation and join organized activities — walking tours, hostel dinners, day trips. Shared plans do the introducing for you, which is far easier than starting conversations from scratch.

How much should I budget for a first solo trip?

Less than you think if you keep it short and stay in hostels. A three-night domestic trip with dorm beds, local transport and street food is often cheaper than a weekend at home — and it's worth checking current deals before you book.

Ready for your first trip alone?

Pick a weekend, book something social, and let the rest follow. Save this guide for when you start planning — and check availability across our hostels in Latin America. If this turns into a habit, Viajero GO rewards you for the nights you're already booking.

Guatapé brings together colorful streets, El Peñol Rock and time by the reservoir. This guide helps you plan a trip from Medellín, choose what to see and decide where to stay.

What to see and do in Guatapé

Climb El Peñol Rock

The climb ends with a broad view of the reservoir. Bring comfortable shoes and water, and check current opening times and entry prices before setting off. Arriving early can help you avoid the busiest periods.

Explore the colorful town

Walk through the main square, Calle del Recuerdo and the waterfront. The zócalos decorating the lower walls of many buildings show scenes of local life. Leave time for a coffee and a slower walk through the streets.

Spend time on the reservoir

Compare boat trips, kayaking or paddleboarding with local operators. Confirm departure point, duration, equipment and price. Availability depends on weather and operator conditions.

Try regional food

Look for dishes such as bandeja paisa, cheese arepas or trout. Check the menu and prices where you choose to eat, and give yourself time for a relaxed lunch.

How to get to Guatapé from Medellín

Check Guatapé services from Medellín’s Terminal del Norte. Confirm departures, fares and journey time with the bus company. Traffic and stops affect the duration, so allow time to continue to your accommodation.

For a car journey, tour or transfer, check the route, pickup and return arrangements. Ask reception about the availability, cost and requirements of any transfer between Viajero Medellín and Viajero Guatapé. Do not rely on a fixed schedule or free service without confirmation.

Where to stay in Guatapé

One or two nights lets you spread out the town, the rock and the reservoir. Check availability at Viajero Guatapé and compare shared dorms and private rooms. Review the location, transport and details of your room category; views vary.

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit Guatapé in one day?

Yes. A day trip allows a first visit to the town and the rock. Staying overnight gives you more time for the reservoir and avoids relying on a tour’s return time.

What should I pack?

Bring comfortable shoes, water, sun protection, a rain jacket and cash for small expenses. Add swimwear for water activities and confirm which equipment the booking includes.

What should I book before traveling?

Arrange accommodation and transport ahead, especially on weekends and holidays. Confirm activity requirements and availability directly with the operator.

Plan your next stop with Viajero

Choose your dates and check availability at Viajero Guatapé. For a slower stay, continue with our guide to planning two days in Guatapé.