Updated: Oct 19, 2022
Backpacker culture has taken over the travel world.
Today's youth are vying to break out of their routine homelife to traverse the world, explore new cultures and get a blast of new experiences. The end result has been a surge of backpackers looking to get the best bang for their buck - and hostels around the world have stepped up their game to deliver the experience.
These are my favourite hostels I've stayed at during my 10 years of backpacking, taken from my upcoming book Tales Of The Modern Nomad - Monks, Mushrooms & Other Misadventures
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Casa Elemento
Minca, Colombia
Located 600 high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains over Colombia’s Caribbean coast it is a perfect escape from the bustle and heat of the tourist towns and also boasts some of the world’s largest hammocks to soak the views.
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Zephyr Lodge
Lanquin, Guatemala
Perched on a hill with near 360-degree views of the central highlands of Guatemala, Zephyr Lodge has mastered the balance of party and chill out vibes while being close to the must see natural wonder of Semuc Champey.
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Housed in an old hotel built shortly after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the giant ballroom makes for a funky hangout, eating area and jam space with instruments always on stage. Since 1974, Green Tortoise has also offered multi week road trips (including a trip to Burning Man) and sits in the heart of the city between Little Italy, the Red Light District and Chinatown.
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The floating bungalows on Chiew Lan Lake within Khao Sok National Park are not only the perfect way to escape the crowded tourist trails of Thailand but also the ideal place to eat family-style local meals while listening to the incredible call of the gibbon monkey.
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Naked Tiger Hostel
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Atop the hills overlooking San Juan del Sur and home to the weekly Sunday Funday Poolcrawl aka The Biggest Party In Central America, whether you stay at the Naked Tiger or not you will end up partying more than you sleep there.
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Casa En El Agua
Archipielago de San Bernardo, Colombia
Built on a reef from an old locals fishing post, it’s impossible to sleep any closer to the Caribbean blue water. Whether you rent a room or a hammock your dinner options are chosen from the fresh seafood kept in a coral locker below the floor!
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The Arts Factory is its own functional community just outside of Byron Bay. With amenities like pool, beach volleyball court, giant sleeper teepees, recording studio, cafe, didgeridoo-making pit, onsite brewery, cow-couch movie cinema and jungle camping…plan to stay longer than intended and join the Factory Family.
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Post in the comments what you're favourite hostel is that I've missed or haven't been able to check out yet.
For a sneak peak at my new book Tale Of The Modern Nomad - Monks, Mushrooms & Other Misadventures, and how you can preorder your copy to help pay for it to go to print, click the book cover below:
Safe Travels amigos,
-John Early