9 Best Hostels in Oaxaca City, Mexico (A Backpacker’s Guide)
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Great nightlife, quaint cobbled streets, cute cafes, and local eats are just a few reasons why backpackers flock to Oaxaca City.
And where backpackers and budget travelers go, fun and unique hostels tend to follow.
There are about a dozen or so hostels in Oaxaca City. In this guide, I’ll break down the top-rated hostels based on experience, reviews, amenities, vibes, and, of course, affordability.
Whether you are looking for a typical youth hostel or a hostel that is more down-to-earth and quiet, this round-up of the best hostels in Oaxaca has just what you are looking for.
If you don’t have time to read through all the details and descriptions, you can use the menu to quickly jump to your preferred section, or use the quick links in the overview box, divided by category, to book your stay now.
And, if you have any questions about visiting Oaxaca beyond your hostel experience, please drop me a comment below this post and check out my other Oaxaca travel guides.
Here is the ultimate guide to Oaxaca’s best hostels for backpackers and adventurous travelers!
The 9 Best Hostels in Oaxaca, Mexico
The Best Hostels in Oaxaca At a Glance:
🌟 Best Value: Azul Cielo Hostel
💎 Awesome Amenities: Ticuchi Hostal
🎒 Best Vibes:/Atmosphere: Iguana Hostel
💵 Most Budget-Friendly: Hostal de las Américas
🍹 Best Party Hostel: Casa Angel Hostel
📖 Most Chill/Quiet: Hostal Luz de Luna
Please note that nightly price estimates of each hostel featured below are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change.
1. Azul Cielo Hostel
- 💰 Price: $25-31 USD / $430+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: Female Dorms, Shared/Mixed Dorms, Private Rooms
- 📍 Location: Historic Center, Calle Arteaga 608
- ✨ Highlights: Free Breakfast, Rooftop Bar, Complimentary Bikes
- ➡️ Book now: Booking.com | Hostelworld.com
Azul Cielo Hostel is set in a beautiful colonial-style home with an inner garden located in Oaxaca’s historic center.
Its prime location on a quiet street places you just a 10-minute walk away from the Zócalo (Central Park) plus myriad historic sites, restaurants, and markets.
A stay here means being within easy reach of the top things to do in Oaxaca, but not too far from comfort.
Based on your budget, you can choose from female-only dorm rooms, deluxe mixed rooms (with a reduced number of beds), or boutique-style private rooms.
With each, enjoy a free, typical breakfast and complimentary bicycles.From the gardens to the communal rooms to the bedrooms, decorations of locally and regionally sourced Oaxacan art and crafts paint the walls and grace the tables.
If you are looking for a place to hang out, Azul Cielo provides outlets for that. A rooftop terrace and bar, shared kitchen, and an inviting common area all invite backpackers and travelers to meet after returning from their adventures and day trips from the city.
What’s more, whether you would like to go on organized tours to Monte Albán, Hierve El Agua, or take on-site yoga or cooking classes, the personable staff at Azul Cielo can help square that away for you as well.
Considering the comfort, convenience, and overall vibes of Azul Cielo, it is no wonder that this hostel in Oaxaca remains a top-rated place to stay on a budget!
👉 Check rates/availability on Booking | Hostelworld
2. Ticuchi Hostal
- 💰 Price: $12–24 USD / $200-400+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: 6, 8, or 10-Bed Shared Dormitory and Private Rooms
- 📍 Location: Avenida José María Morelos (Centro)
- ✨ Highlights: Pool, Friendly Staff, Garden/Bar, Location, Vibes
- ➡️ Check availability: Hostelworld
If you are looking for something that’s a bit more upscale and down-to-earth, like a boutique hostel, then check out Ticuchi Hostal.
While many youth hostels focus on getting social, this one oozes a more laid-back hostel vibe with a relaxed garden patio surrounding an inviting pool, a no-fuss communal kitchen, and bright, airy dorm rooms. (Indeed, they are the only hostel in Oaxaca with a pool!)
If you’re here in Oaxaca to soak up the city’s colorful culture and history (and rightly so!), then you will be happy to know that the Oaxacan Textile Museum and the San Pablo Cultural Center are just around the corner, as are numerous eateries, shops, cute Oaxacan cafes with Wi-Fi, and mezcal bars.
As for the sleeping situation, the bar closes at 11 pm, so you can get some shut-eye after hours.
Rooms are mixed dorms with 6, 8, or 10 beds—all of which come equipped with individual power outlets, reading lights, and lockers, plus recently-renovated modern bathrooms with pressurized showers.
To me, this hostel serves up an awesome mix of personal comfort and community.
Choose whether or not you’d like to join in on the fun for karaoke nights and salsa dancing, or retreat back to your bed and read! The best of both worlds is at Ticuchi.
That said, if you’re looking for a hostel in Oaxaca City primarily for a good time and a place to party, read on!
👉 Check rates/reviews for Ticuchi Hostal on Hostelworld
3. Casa Angel Hostel
- 💰 Price: $20–35+ USD / $345–600+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: Deluxe Female-Only/Shared and Private Rooms
- 📍 Location: Calle de Tinoco y Palacios 610
- ✨ Highlights: Social Atmosphere, Friendly Service, Rooftop Terrace, and Included Breakfast
- ➡️ Check availability on Hostelworld
Casa Angel Hostel considers itself a “stylish backpacker” hostel in Oaxaca, and they’re not lying!
This upbeat party hostel is located just a stone’s throw from the popular Santo Tomás Xochimilco neighborhood, which is quintessentially Oaxaca.
Not only does its location mean you are within 7–13 minutes walking distance of the city’s top attractions—like the Temple of Santo Domingo de Gúzman or the Bénito Júarez Market—but it also means you will get to return to your dorm room at night and have a great night’s sleep away from the bustle of the center.
With daily Happy Hour and social events going on all the time, Casa Angel is the place to be if you want to party alongside other backpackers at night or hang out on the rooftop terrace/bar for some downtime during the day.
👉 Secure your bed at Casa Angel on Hostelworld
4. Iguana Hostel Oaxaca
- 💰 Price: $12-15 USD / $200+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: Shared Dorms and Private Rooms
- 📍 Location: Avenida José María Morelos 1008 (Centro)
- ✨ Highlights: Individual Beds, Rooftop Bar, Wi-Fi, Free Breakfast, Pet-Friendly
- ➡️ Check reviews: Booking.com | Hostelworld
If you want the community aspect of a hostel, but without as much of a focus on partying/drinking, then check out the Iguana Hostel in downtown Oaxaca.
Here, you are encouraged to meet other travelers and get social. Iguana’s vibrant, colorful atmosphere and unfussy amenities give an upbeat energy to the place.
Accommodation types range from 4, 6, 8, and 12 beds in mixed dormitories, with private twin/shared rooms and female-only dormitories.
All beds feature privacy curtains, personal lights, outlets, and lockers.
That said, Iguana Hostel is the rare hostel in Oaxaca that offers actual individual beds instead of bunk beds—so you don’t have to choose between top or bottom and get woken up by your bunkmate.
A communal, complimentary breakfast is served each day, and Sundays are pancake days! 🥞
Lastly, true to its laid-back nature, the Iguana Hostel is pet-friendly (and adults-only), and there is a rooftop bar with hammocks for hanging out.
👉 Check availability for Iguana Hostel on Booking | Hostelworld
5. Outsite
- 💰 Price: $189+ USD / $3,373+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: Private Rooms
- 📍 Location: Calz. de la República 400
- ✨ Highlights: Shared Kitchen, Dedicated Workspace, WiFi, Onsite Laundry
- ➡️ Check availability: Booking.com
Situated inside a beautiful colonial building, Outsite’s Oaxaca City location is a true stunner. You’ll be in the heart of it all, tucked between the Centro Historico and the vibrant Jalatlaco neighborhoods.
Despite its colonial facade, the interior of Outsite is contemporary, minimal, and designed with digital nomads in mind.
While it’s not a true hostel in the sense that there are dorms, Outsite does have a large co-working space where everyone can gather under one roof, while guest rooms are private with desks if you’re look for a mix of community and seclusion.
Rooms are sleek and minimal while still being cozy with plush beds, a desk, and floor-to-ceiling windows. You can choose between the Queen Room and the Master Room, which also has a lounge and roof opening for an indoor/outdoor feel. All rooms have A/C, large closets, and private bathrooms.
If you’re a digital nomad in Oaxaca, Outsite is the perfect choice for you! Keep in mind that there’s a 3-night minimum stay, which encourages a more intimate feel.
👉 Check rates/availability for Outsite on Booking
6. Hostal de las Américas
- 💰 Price: $13 USD / $220 MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: Mixed/Female Dorms and Private Rooms
- 📍 Location: Calle Porfirio Díaz 300 (Historic Center)
- ✨ Highlights: Affordable, Prime Location, AC, Rooftop, Terrace, Free Breakfast
- ➡️ Check reviews: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Set in an idyllic location in Oaxaca’s Centro Historíco, just two blocks away from the pedestrian-only Anadaor Túristico and Santo Domingo Temple, you will find the budget-friendly Hostal de las Américas.
This hostel is ideal for travelers on a budget who want a simple, safe, comfortable, and convenient hostel experience in Oaxaca.
The mixed and female-only dorms offer the choice of either 4, 6, or 7 bunk beds, which is much smaller than most hostels in Oaxaca. Private rooms, if you prefer, are available for a small upgrade as well.
Both accommodation options feature wooden bedframes, comfortable linens, private bathrooms, and air conditioning.
While the common rooms could use a modern makeover, the building’s colonial charm makes up for it.
The property also rooftop terrace/garden, a guest kitchen, and a common area with a TV. Breakfast is included with your stay.
👉 Check rates/availability for Hostal de las Américas on Booking | Hostelworld
7. Hostal Luz de Luna
- 💰 Price: $11–13 USD / $200+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: 8-Bed Mixed Dorm, Twin/Double Private Rooms
- 📍 Location: Avenida Juárez 101 (Centro)
- ✨ Highlights: Chill Vibes, Quiet, Cheap, Garden
- ➡️ Check availability: Booking.com | Hostelworld
For a hostel where you don’t have to worry about getting woken up by noise or partiers, consider staying at the homely, plant-filled Hostal Luz de Luna Nuyoo.
This hostel is not your typical “social hostel” with a bar or events, but it’s got its own charm to it that attracts a quieter traveler.
So, if reading in a hammock or playing chess, cooking your own meals, and petting a couple of cats on the property is more your style, you’d feel right at home here.
What’s more, this hostel commits to sustainable practices by upcycling rainwater to nourish their plants, recycling and separating waste, and using a solar water heater.
The location is great, too, being set in a typical Oaxacan colonial home just three blocks from the main plaza (Zócalo) and close to markets, restaurants, and the main draws of the city.
Solo travelers on a shoestring budget will appreciate the affordable nightly rates and basic but comfortable amenities of this hostel, and shouldn’t overlook it!
👉 Check availability for Hostal Luz de Luna on Booking | Hostelworld
8. Maka Hostel
- 💰 Price: $19+ USD / $340+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: Mixed Dorms, Female Dorms
- 📍 Location: Arteaga 310
- ✨ Highlights: Rooftop pool, free breakfast, daily activities, organized day trips, colorful common areas
- ➡️ Book now: Booking.com | Hostelworld
For those looking for the true hostel experience, look no further than Maka Hostel. You’ll find colorful common areas that are perfect for meeting new friends, a rooftop pool, and plenty of games, like ping pong, to help the conversation flow.
The hostel itself is located along the southern edge of the Centro Historico, just a 10-minute walk to the Mercado de Artesenias. In real-deal hostel fashion, Maka organizes Oaxaca day trips to nearby spots like Hierve El Agua and has daily activities.
Rooms are spacious with bunks created from concrete to increase stability. You’ll also have privacy curtains and plenty of space to store your luggage, too.
Guests raved about how clean the bathrooms are and the delicious free breakfast every morning, which is a great way to meet your fellow travelers.
👉 Check availability for Maka Hostel on Booking.com | Hostelworld
9. Hierba de Conejo Hostel
- 💰 Price: $17–$27 USD / $290+ MXN
- 🛏️ Rooms: Shared/Mixed Dorms, Family Rooms
- 📍 Location: Heart of Oaxaca Centro, Calle de Manuel Fernández Fiallo 305
- ✨ Highlights: Central Location, Budget-Friendly, Quiet
- ➡️ Book now: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Finally, if you want to simply have a roof over your head and a comfortable bed to sleep in, then check out the Hierba de Conejo Hostel.
Located just next door to the Hostal Oaxaca Magic—two blocks from the Zócalo and steps away from great restaurants and activities—Conejo is a great choice for travelers looking for a no-fuss budget-friendly accommodation in the heart of Oaxaca.
Conejo Hostel, in addition to having 4, 6, 10, or 12-bed mixed dorms, has family rooms for groups of family or friends wishing to bunk together.
Certainly, the aforementioned hostels offer a slightly better community atmosphere and more modern amenities, but sometimes plans fall through, and you need a safety net.
Overall, Conejo offers clean, comfortable stays in the heart of Oaxaca, and you can’t go wrong with that!
👉 Compare rates for Conejo Hostel on Booking.com or Hostelworld
If you’re curious to discover even more hostels and budget-friendly places to stay in Oaxaca City, you can use this search bar below to do a quick search!
As a backpacker in Oaxaca, you might be wondering, is Oaxaca safe?
The quick answer is yes, and as one of the safest cities to visit in Mexico, there are many other reasons to visit Oaxaca.
If ever you need help planning your trip or need further advice on which hostel to pick, please reach out on Instagram @bucketlistbri or shoot me a quick email.
Have a wonderful time discovering Oaxaca and its hidden gems, bursting with rich culture, history, and gastronomy!