What was once an unassuming mining town has blossomed into a center of art, history, and architecture in Bolivia’s highlands. Potosi’s colonial buildings, towering cathedrals, and unique culture alone has tourists coming from all over the world to experience this city’s beauty. With breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding countryside from the mountain of Cerro Rico and a showcase of Potosi’s charming city streets in the historic downtown, you will find that there are so many different ways to experience this once-booming mining town!
Although the architecture and culture of Potosi will have you looking at exploring this city yourself, once you start looking at backpackers hostels you will feel your heart sink. With little to no dorm rooms available in Potosi, many budget travelers would think twice before making the hike up to the Southern Highlands.
That is exactly why we created this one-stop guide! Now you will be able to find all the best hostels in Potosi as quickly as you can snap your finger! From dorm beds to private rooms, you will have the freedom to decide how you want to travel in Potosi!
So get your camera ready, your Potosi adventure begins after a few more clicks of the mouse!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Potosi
The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
The Best Hostels in Potosi
The charming cobbled streets and colonial splendor of Potosi await you! But first, let’s find that one backpacker’s hostel you will call home. With each stay a little different from the next, be sure to look for than one hostel that best fits how you like to travel!
Hostel Casa Blanca
Hostel Casa Blanca stands as the model for all other hostels in Potosi. We all know that it takes a lot more than just a cheap dorm room to make a proper backpacker’s hostel. Hostel Casa Blanca is all about kicking back and chatting up the other guests and there is no better place to kick back and relax than in one of the cozy lounges or the sunroom! If you are starting to feel a little hungry, Hostel Casa Blanca has you covered with their onsite cafe serving up a cheap breakfast every morning. When it comes to ending another day in Potosi there is no better place to hang out than this hostel’s onsite bar! With everything from bike rentals to a location right by the Central Station, this is a hostel that checks all of the boxes!
The Koala Den
When staying in Potosi, you, of course, want to be booking into a hostel that will have you staying by all the best sites in the historic downtown such as the Santa Teresa Convent Museum and the Plaza 10 de Noviembre. The Koala Den is by far one of the best places to base yourself out of in Potosi, not only for its great location but the cheap beds and all the comforts of home offered behind its doors! As a solo traveler, you will be wanting to find some space to hang out and mix with the other backpackers, The Koala Den has ample room to spread out in with its lush garden and lounge. If you are looking for a bite to eat, why not grab a meal at the onsite cafe? The Koala Den offers free breakfast every morning to get your day started off on the right foot!
Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.
It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)
Hide Yo’ Money!More of the Best Hostels in Potosi
Hostal Eucalyptus
For all of you travelers looking to go crazy and paint the town red, Hostal Eucalyptus will not exactly have you throwing the party of a lifetime. But they can hook you up with an onsite bar! With all the comfort of a hotel but the heart of a hostel, after spending time relaxing in your budget private room you will find that there is tons of room to kick back and chat with the other guests!! You will surely be spending most of your time taking in the views from the sunny rooftop terrace! Wanting to grab a drink? Hostal Eucalyptus is also home to its very own bar, making it an ideal place to nurse a beer and take in the Potosi skyline!
Hostal Tukos La Casa Real
This colonial building is a gem for budget travellers in Potosí. Easily one of the best picks if you want comfort without torching your wallet. Smack bang near the Plaza and tour agencies, so you won’t be trekking miles just to get to the action.
Hot showers? Check. Big comfy beds? Absolutely. Breakfast is simple but solid—think bread, ham, cheese, cereal, juice, yoghurt, and all the warm drinks you need to fuel up for the day. The staff are legends and are always happy to help. For the price, this place is an absolute steal.
VIRREYES HOTEL
VIRREYES HOTEL is an absolutely beautiful property in the heart of Potosi. The lobby and common areas are so clean and pretty. The room is incredible with extremely comfortable beds with soft bedding. There’s also a large armchair and a table in the room as well so you can feel like really unpacking and unwinding. The shower is the real highlight here, amazing pressure and hot water which is just what you need after a day in the humidity. The breakfast buffet is varied from day to day and is YUM.
Despite being so close to the main plaza, the rooms are quiet and you can get some serious shut eye here. It’s very well located in the historic centre where you can reach the main points of interest in only a few minutes. For a budget stay, this ticks all the right boxes.
Los Faroles Hostal
Los Faroles Hostal may have the heart of a hostel, but this stay actually is a cheap guesthouse that puts up weary backpackers in some of the cheapest single rooms in Potosi! With a location putting you within a stone’s throw of famous sites such as the Santa Teresa Convent Museum, you will have the option of exploring the historic downtown yourself or booking one of the tours offered from Los Faroles Hostal! Even just relaxing at the hostel is one of the highlights! With patios attached to each of the rooms and a lounge, you will find that there is tons of room to hang out in! What will really have you sold is the onsite cafe that will start every day off right with a delicious free breakfast!
Calor de Hogar con Altura
If you are a backpacker who is needing a break from all the socializing of the youth hostels, Calor de Hogar con Altura is a guesthouse that will put you up in your own private single room for not all that much more than what you would pay for a dorm bed! This homey stay is so much more than just a cheap bed to rest your head. You will also feel right at home in their cozy lounge and sunny terrace! Top it off with a shared kitchen where you can save a few extra Bolivianos by cooking your own meals, there is no better place to call home in Potosi!
Hotel Santa Teresa
If you and your boyfriend or girlfriend are looking for a place to cozy up into after spending weeks apart in dorm rooms, Hotel Santa Teresa will give you an upgrade from your average backpacker’s hostel and have you reigniting the romance in this historic homey hotel! Putting you up in a colonial home right smack in the middle of the UNESCO protected part of town, you could not ask for a more elegant stay in downtown Potosi! It is not only the boutique style and trendy decor that will make you fall in love with Hotel Santa Teresa, they also have their very own cafe and bar. This means you will never have to go too far to find a bite to eat or a cold beer!
Hostal Le Casona Potosi
There is no better way to truly embrace the traditional culture of Potosi than checking into this historic backpacker’s hostel with a history stretching back all the way to the 18th Century! You would think that Hostal Le Casona would be one of the more expensive stays in the downtown but in reality, this backpackers hostel situated in a renovated colonial home is one of the cheapest stays in Potosi! With its onsite lounge and patio, you will find that Hostal Le Casona is the perfect place to simply relax and enjoy the charming atmosphere of the antique home. Top it off with a cafe serving up free breakfast, you will never be wanting to check out!
We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.
Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!
View on Osprey View on REIHostel Boulevard
Hostel Boulevard may seem to be fairly bare-boned when compared to some of the other backpacker’s hostels in Potosi, but this cheap stay actually packs quite a punch when you take a look closer. Located right smack in the heart of downtown Potosi, this cheap backpackers hostel will have you staying within walking distance of the lively Plaza 10 de Noviembre and Santa Teresa Convent Museum. Other than the central location to some of the best bars and restaurants in Potosi, Hostel Boulevard will also give you tons of room to simply hang out in with its own terrace and lounge!
What to Pack for your Potosi Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out my definitive Hostel Packing list for even more top hostel packing tips!
Why you should travel to Potosi
Before you know it you won’t only be reading about all the great views and towering cathedrals found in Potosi, you will be actually witnessing them yourself! From all the great Bolivian food to the rich history found in Potosi, this is one city that you will be continually be finding new things to explore!
Are you still a little unsure about where to stay in Potosi? Let us help point you in the right direction! The one youth hostel in Potosi that will have you living that classic backpacker’s experience is Hostel Casa Blanca, our pick for the best hostel in Potosi!
FAQ about Hostels in Potosi
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Potosi.
How much does a hostel cost in Potosi?
Average cost for dorms cost $10 per night and private rooms costs $30.
What are the best hostels in Potosi for couples?
My ideal hostel for couples is Hotel Santa Teresa. It’s a colonial style house that is minutes away from the city center. It offers a comfortable rooms and the staffs are known to be hospitable.
What are the best hostels in Potosi near the airport?
The best way to travel to Potosi is by bus. But if I were to choose which hostel is the best, it’s surely Hotel Santa Teresa. Aside from the great value in money they also offer an airport shuttle service that’ll make travelling more convenient.
Travel Safety Tips for Potosi
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
All the centuries-old art, ornate cathedrals, and rich history awaits you in the city square and winding back streets of Potosi! Get ready for an adventure unlike any other with you embarking on hikes to the surrounding mountains, experiencing the rich Bolivian culture in the city square, and tasting all of the local delicacies in the cafes lining Potosi’s colonial streets! With museums that will have you learning about the colonial history of the town and the streets that will literally have you stepping back into the past, you are about to embark on an adventure unlike any other!
On the surface, it may look like there are not that many hostels to call home while traveling to Potosi. We found that even backpackers traveling on a shoestring can also explore Potosi without shelling an arm and a leg in one of the many budget dorm rooms and cheap hotels found throughout this historic city!
If you have ever traveled to Potosi we would love to hear about your trip! Let us know in the comments below if there are any great backpacker’s hostels we may have missed!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Bolivia for a wealth of info!
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate South America backpacking guide.
Buy Us a Coffee!
A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one!
You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee. If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂
