Costa Rica Backpackers Hostel San Jose | San Jose (San Jose) ★ Book Spa Rooms, Wellness Deals & Guest Reviews

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About the Hotel

Avenida 6 - Calle 21 & 25 De La Iglesia Sagrado Corazon, 100 Metros Norte, 50 Oeste, San Jose, Costa, San Jose (San Jose), Costa Rica, 10104

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Choose your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Dormitory Room Male only

Max:

1 person

325 sq. feet

Bed options:

1 Bunk bed

Shower

room details

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Dormitory Room Female only

Max:

1 person

325 sq. feet

Bed options:

1 Bunk bed

Shower

room details

Check Prices

Dormitory Room Male only

Max:

1 person

325 sq. feet

Bed options:

1 Bunk bed

Shower

Bathtub

room details

Check Prices

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Price and Room Availability

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Getting around

Comprehensive guide to transport options for seamless travel

City Center

San Jose (San Jose)4000 ft

Airports

Tobias Bolanos International (SYQ) 6.7 mi

Juan Santamaria International (SJO) 12.2 mi

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Wi-Fi

Parking

Kitchen facilities

Shared kitchen

Air conditioning

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
No parking
Safe deposit box
24-hour reception
VIP check-in/ -out
No pets allowed
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Wheelchair access
24-hour security
Baggage storage
Locker room
Currency exchange
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers
Key access

Sports & Fitness

Darts
Yoga class

Guest Parking

Shared kitchen

Services

Paid airport shuttle
Housekeeping
Car rental
Laundry
Tours/Ticket assistance
Grocery shopping service
Stores/Commercial services
Welcome drink
Happy hour

Dining

Restaurant
Snack bar
Bar/ Lounge area
Outdoor dining area
Picnic area/ Tables
Packed lunches

Business

Business center
Fax/Photocopying

Children

Board games
Children's play area
Game room

Facilities for people with disabilities

Toilet for disabled

Spa & Leisure

Outdoor swimming pool
Sun loungers
Live entertainment
Night club
Sun terrace
Garden area
Leisure/ TV room
Spa lounge
Public Bath

Room features

Terrace
Garden furniture
Ironing facilities

Self-catering

Shared kitchen

Media

AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Curtains

Location

Avenida 6 - Calle 21 & 25 De La Iglesia Sagrado Corazon, 100 Metros Norte, 50 Oeste, San Jose, Costa, San Jose (San Jose), Costa Rica, 10104

Map view

Avenida 6 - Calle 21 & 25 De La Iglesia Sagrado Corazon, 100 Metros Norte, 50 Oeste, San Jose, Costa, San Jose (San Jose), Costa Rica, 10104

City landmarks

Museums

Jade Museum

2400 ft

Museums

Pre-Columbian Gold Museum

3600 ft

Broadway Theatre

National Theatre of Costa Rica

3500 ft

Square

Plaza de La Cultura

3900 ft

Zoo

Zoologico y Jardin Botanico Nacional Simon Bolivar Park

1.0 mi

Calle Central Alfredo Volio

Central Park

4400 ft

Parks

Parque Nacional

2200 ft

Market

San Jose Central Market

1.1 mi

Church

Church of Our Lady of La Soledad

2300 ft

Church

Metropolitan Cathedral of San Jose

4300 ft

Avenidas 3 y 5

Museum of Contemporary Art and Design

2100 ft

Museums

Madc

2800 ft

Events

Templo de la Musica

3000 ft

Store

Chinatown, San Jose

3300 ft

Avenida Central y Primera

Central Bank

2100 ft

Square

Plaza de las Artes

2600 ft

Between Avenida 2 and 14

Chinatown

3100 ft

Gallery

Galeria Namu

3300 ft

Square

Plaza Juan Mora Fernandez

3400 ft

Savegre River

2700 ft

Parks

Parque Espana

3800 ft

Santa Teresa

1.5 mi

San José Province

The Peace Park

1.6 mi

Nearby

Museums

National Museum of Costa Rica

1500 ft

La California

1100 ft

Avenida Segunda

Mercado Nacional de Artesanias

1700 ft

Square

Plaza de la Libertad Electoral

2000 ft

North Of San Jose 19 km

Parque Nacional Braulio Carrillo

500 ft

Events

Antigua Aduana

1900 ft

Restaurants

Viva Cafe

1800 ft

Av Central y Calle 23 Barrio la California

La Sucursal Limena

1600 ft

Avenida 1 con Calle 21 Edificio Amor de Barrio primer piso

Tortilleria y Cafe de Lujan

1700 ft

San Joe Frente al edificio del PANI

Del Parque

2300 ft

Barrio Escalante In front of France Park

Panaderia y Reposteria Jary

2600 ft

Avenida Central & Calle 11

Pollo Campero

2700 ft

San Jose Avenida Central frente a la Plaza de la Cultura

Pizza KAN

2700 ft

Calle 35. Avenida 2 y 8 Frente Hotel Le Bergerac. Edificio Los Yoses. Local 2-3

Underground Brew Cafe

3000 ft

Barrio Escalante

El Tostador

2700 ft

Avenida Central Costado sur del Mercado Central de San Jose

Kam Breakfast and Bakery

3000 ft

Avenida 9 Y Calle 21

Reviews and Ratings

Reviews from guests about their experience.

62%

loved their spa retreat and can’t wait to return.

6.2/10

Nice

Rooms

5.6

Location

7.0

Service

5.4

Dining

5.8

Kathy

United States of America, February 2025

5.0/10

My stay at Costa Rica Backpackers was a mix of relaxation and minor hiccups. The atmosphere, especially the inner garden and pool, provided a serene escape amidst San Jose's hustle. However, the dorms and bathrooms could use some upgrades, and the staff's knowledge was hit or miss at times.

Rooms

7.0

The dorms had basic amenities, and I appreciated the small curtains for privacy, but the mattresses were a bit uncomfortable, and some issues with cleanliness were noted. Overall, they met my basic needs.

Service

6.0

While some staff members were incredibly helpful and provided great travel advice, others seemed less knowledgeable and less eager to assist, which left me frustrated at times.

Location

8.0

The hostel is situated in a safe area, just a 10 to 15-minute walk from the city center and the main bus terminal, which made it convenient for exploring San Jose.

Dining

7.0

I enjoyed the free coffee in the morning and found the food from the hostel restaurant to be quite good. However, the breakfast options were limited in flexibility for dietary restrictions, which was a bit disappointing.

Facilities

6.0

The social areas were nice, including the pool and garden. However, the space could use some improvements, demonstrating wear and tear. The WiFi was also quite temperamental during my stay.

Hugh

United States of America, February 2025

7.4/10

My stay at Costa Rica Backpackers had its ups and downs. While the location is handy for exploring San Jose and the food at the cafe was decent, I found the customer service lacking and the atmosphere at night felt rather unsafe. The room I stayed in was comfortable, but it was very basic and the mattress needed updating.

Rooms

6.0

I found my double room comfortable, but the mattress could definitely use an upgrade. The lighting was poor, making it feel a bit gloomy. Some rooms are packed with beds, leaving little space for anything else.

Service

5.0

The reception staff could be quite disinterested, and I experienced some delays in the check-in process. However, some staff members were friendly and helpful, blending the experience.

Location

7.0

The location is practical for exploring the city during the day, with a police presence nearby. However, I felt uneasy about walking around at night, and the area appeared desolate after dark.

Dining

7.0

The on-site cafe served good food, though some items were overpriced compared to similar places nearby. I appreciated the variety of offerings, but found some items like the breakfast burrito to be overhyped for what they were.

Facilities

7.0

The hostel offered useful amenities like airport shuttle services and a nice common area by the pool. However, the bathrooms were slightly shabby, and I occasionally encountered hot water issues in the showers.

Andy

United States of America, January 2025

6.0/10

My stay at Costa Rica Backpackers was a mixed bag. On the plus side, the staff was friendly and welcoming, and the social atmosphere was pretty laid-back. However, I was disappointed with the cleanliness of my room and the overall condition of the facilities. The noise from the nearby train tracks was quite disruptive, especially in the mornings. 🌅

Rooms

5.0

The room was quite small and in a cellar without natural light. It felt rundown, and there was limited space. I noticed some rooms had more cleanliness issues than others.

Service

6.0

Most of the staff were friendly and polite, but I experienced some delays during check-in and ordering food. At times, they seemed a little overwhelmed.

Location

5.0

Although the hostel is situated close to the city center, the surrounding neighborhood felt unsafe to wander through alone, especially after dark. The noise from the train line was also a downside.

Dining

5.0

The included breakfast of pancakes and coffee was fairly limited, and I found the food quality for dinner disappointing. There wasn't much flexibility for dietary restrictions.

Facilities

5.0

Facilities like the pool looked inviting, but I found the bathrooms a bit outdated. There were some amenities available, but the overall upkeep could be improved.

Herman

United States of America, January 2025

5.8/10

My stay at Costa Rica Backpackers was quite disappointing. While the internet was decent, the cleanliness of the facilities left much to be desired. The blanket odour on my bedding and the overall poor staff service made the experience less enjoyable. However, I appreciated the location, which was convenient for exploring the area. Overall, I would not recommend this hostel for a longer stay.

Rooms

5.0

The room had a nice bed and power outlets, but it wasn't very clean upon arrival. The smell from the bedding was quite off-putting.

Service

5.0

I found the staff to be rude and unhelpful at times, which really detracted from my overall experience.

Location

7.0

The location is pretty decent, not too far from the center, making it easy to explore the area.

Dining

5.0

The food options at the hostel were basic to poor, and at one point, I was charged for breakfast that was supposed to be free.

Facilities

5.0

Facilities were not well-maintained, especially the showers which had drainage issues. Shared spaces were nice, though.

Amanda

United States of America, November 2024

7.2/10

I found Costa Rica Backpackers to be a mixed experience. The location is quite convenient and safe, with easy access to shops and restaurants. but the facilities left much to be desired. While I appreciated the comfortable beds with curtains for privacy, the bathrooms were not well-maintained and the overall atmosphere felt lacking. WiFi was spotty at times, which made it hard to stay connected. Overall, it's a decent choice for budget travelers, but be prepared for some drawbacks.

Rooms

5.0

The rooms were very basic and lacked charm, especially the ones in the basement that had a dingy feel. I also experienced a strong smell of cleaning detergent in the hallways. There were some perks like individual power sockets and under-bed storage, but the privatization in the shared room was not ideal.

Service

5.0

Unfortunately, the staff was not very welcoming. I felt rushed during check-in. with one staff member not even getting up to greet me. Although there were a couple of nice staff moments, like Gabriel who went above and beyond to help tourists, the overall impression was disappointing.

Location

8.0

The location was a highlight for me. It's in a safe area, just a short walk from shops and restaurants, plus Barrio Escalante for nightlife. taxis were familiar with the place. It's close enough to the city center to explore on foot, making it convenient.

Dining

5.0

I didn't get to eat at the hostel. Our group requested breakfast for an early departure, but the staff wasn't punctual. however, I did see that the food options looked decent and reasonably priced. It’s worth noting that the common areas, including the bar, could provide a good atmosphere.

Facilities

6.0

The pool and garden areas were quite nice and perfect for relaxation. however, the bathrooms had some serious maintenance issues. I encountered a few problems during my shower experience, including hair and slow drains. The kitchen also lacked essential items, which made self-catering rather tricky.