Home to the world’s largest salt flats, Bolivia’s Uyuni is a city that is sure to be on every adventurer’s bucket list! You have seen the cheeky pictures online of tourists using Uyuni’s mystical landscape to create some optical illusions in their photography, now you can witness all the wonder of Salar de Uyuni first hand! Other than the reflections and off worldly beauty of the flats, Uyuni is a town where you can simply chill at the cafe or explore the museums before heading out elsewhere in Bolivia! With a rich history and stunning natural beauty, this is a city you won’t want to miss!
Uyuni has more than enough to have backpackers traveling from all over the world to make the journey out to Salar de Uyuni, but unfortunately, they will only find a handful of youth hostels to choose from in the downtown. Just because there is a lack of dorm rooms does this mean budget travelers can’t also visit the salt flats of Uyuni?
Let’s spend less time worrying about hostels and get you back to planning your trip! We created a list of all the best hostels in Uyuni so you can book with confidence that you will be staying in only the best dorms that this city has to offer!
Put on your backpackers and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Uyuni awaits!
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Uyuni
- Overall Best Hostel in Uyuni – Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel
- Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Uyuni – Onkel Inn Wagon Sleepbox
- Best Hostel for Couples in Uyuni – Salcay Hotel
- Best Party Hostel in Uyuni – Hostel Arco Iris
- Best Cheap Hostel in Uyuni – Bunker Hostel
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 Uyuni
The cloud covered salt flats are a site that will leave you mesmerized, but before you can start exploring, we will need to find that perfect hostel! With each stay a little different from the last, keep your eyes open for that one backpacker’s hostel that will make the perfect home away from home!
Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel – Best Overall Hostel in Uyuni
Uyuni is known for its extreme weather, while it may reach sub-zero temperatures outside Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel is a place that is always warm and will make you feel right at home. Located 7 minutes away from downtown Uyuni, you will find that all the best restaurants, bars, and shops are right outside of your door! When you are not out exploring the city or the salt flats staying at the youth hostel is an adventure in itself! With its terrace and lounge, there is tons of room to spread out in and hang out with the other guests! Wanting to get a bite to eat? Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel also has its very own shared kitchen and cafe that serves up free breakfast every morning!
Onkel Inn Wagon Sleepbox – Best Hostel for Solo Travelers in Uyuni
Onkel Inn Wagon Sleepbox may be one of the most unique backpacker’s hostels you will ever stay in throughout all of your travels! Located right inside the train station in Onkel, it is only fitting that all the single rooms and dorm beds will be situated inside actually train cars! Although you won’t actually be moving anywhere, sleeping inside of a train will give you an experience unlike any other! Other than the rooms themselves, Onkel Inn Wagon Sleepbox also comes with its very own terrace and lounge to kick back and relax in! Top it off with a free breakfast waiting for you every morning, and you have one of the best hostels in Uyuni!
Salcay Hotel – Best Hostel for Couples in Uyuni
After you have spent some time apart in dorm beds throughout your travels in Bolivia, you and your boyfriend or girlfriend will be wanting to find a hostel where you can get some much needed alone time. Traveling as a budget couple is not easy, but lucky for you Salcay Hotel will put you in some of the cheapest private rooms in Uyuni, beating even some of the best hostels in town! Salcay Hotel is so much more than a simple budget hotel though. This stay also has its very own cafe which will have a delicious free breakfast waiting for you every morning! Complete with a rooftop terrace offering stunning views of the city, there is no better place to base yourself out of in Uyuni!
Hostel Arco Iris – Best Party Hostel in Uyuni
Nestled right smack into the middle of the lively Mercado de Uyuni, with all of its tourist shops and cafes, you will find the Hostel Arco Iris! This hostel is so much more than just a great location in the heart of Uyuni, this backpackers hostel also offers its weary guests a cheap dorm bed, hot meal, and a stiff drink from the onsite bar! Before heading out to explore the salt flats of Uyuni, Hostel Arco Iris is the perfect place to kick back and meet fellow backpackers who will accompany you on your journey! With free breakfast to start every day off right and a bar to grab a drink and brink every day to a close, Hostel Arco Iris makes for the perfect home away from home!
Bunker Hostel – Best Cheap Hostel in Uyuni
While in Uyuni you will be wanting to spend more money on tours out to the salt flats than on your hostel bed. So if you are looking for the cheapest dorm rooms in Uyuni, Bunker Hostel is calling your name! Other than being a haven for budget backpackers, Bunker Hostel is practically a travelers resort with its very own delicious restaurant and bar on-site! With happy hour specials and free breakfast every morning, this is one hostel you will never want to check out of! This cheap backpackers hostel in Uyuni also has its very own tour desk which will have you out and exploring the salt flats and some of the surrounding mountains before you know it!
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 REIHostal Terra – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Uyuni
Are you needing a hostel where you can work in peace and quiet for a few days so you can catch up on some much-needed editing and writing? Digital Nomads will find that Hostal Terra is one of the best places in Uyuni to base themselves out of in Uyuni, not only for its relaxing atmosphere but also because they offer single rooms for the exact same price as some dorm beds! Complete with a lounge and a terrace, Hostel Terra has loads of room to spread out in to work if you are looking for a change of scenery. Top things off with a cafe serving up free breakfast, this is one stay in Uyuni you will never want to leave!
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 Uyuni
Hostal Beliz Inn B&B
Last but not least, Hostal Beliz Inn B&B will have you keeping the noise of the city at an arms-length distance as you enjoy some peace and quiet while relaxing at this cheap hostel! Although you will not find any dorm beds at this hostel, there are budget single rooms perfect for getting some alone time and some much-needed shut-eye! When you aren’t relaxing in your room, Hostal Beliz Inn B&B also offers its guests access to their onsite bar and even a cafe that will have you hopping out of bed every morning to grab a bite of their free breakfast! Top it off with a lounge where you can mix with the other guests, Beliz Inn is a stay with a hotel’s comfort and a hostels charm!
What to Pack for your Uyuni 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 Uyuni
With both a rich history and stunning natural beauty, Uyuni has more than enough to have you wanting to extend your stay in the city longer and longer. Despite being a tourist hub, there are few backpackers hostels to base yourself out of. Lucky for you we made this list of all the top hostels in Uyuni!
If you are still torn between two or three great hostels in Uyuni we can totally relate. Let us help you get the ball moving by checking you into Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel, our pick for the best hostel in Uyuni!
FAQ about Hostels in Uyuni
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Uyuni.
How much does a hostel cost in Uyuni?
Average hostels costs around $13 a night, while private rooms ranges depending on a type of property which varies from $9 to $60.
What are the best hostels in Uyuni for couples?
Located right at the town center, Salcay Hotel is a great hostel for couples. It has a lot of great facilities and it even has a perfect view of the city!
What are the best hostels in Uyuni near the airport?
Although just domestic, the nearest airport in Uyuni is just a 10 mins ride from the city center. Amongst the hostel in the area my top recommendation is definitely Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel. Another way to travel to the city is by bus.
Travel Safety Tips for Uyuni
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
You may have originally arrived in Uyuni to venture out to the mesmerizing optical illusions of the salt flats, but it will be the charm of the city with its cafes and history that will really make you fall in love with Uyuni! After basking in the wonder of Salar de Uyuni, you will find that the downtown is the perfect place to call home for a few days before you head back out and explore more of the beauty of Bolivia!
The only thing that Uyuni is lacking is a variety of backpackers hostels for budget travelers to choose from. Even though on the surface it may seem that your options are quite limited, you will find that after looking at our list of the best backpackers hostels in Uyuni, you actually have a lot to pick from!
Have you ever traveled to Uyuni? We would love to hear about your trip! Let us know if there are any other great backpackers hostels in Uyuni we may have missed in the comments below!
- 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 🙂
