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The 10 Best Hostels in Santa Catalina, Panama

Some of the best backpacker spots in Santa Catalina

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Superb: 9+ Very good: 8+ Good: 7+ Pleasant: 6+
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Located in Santa Catalina, within 200 metres of Santa Catalina Beach and 1.7 km of Estero, Hostal Familiar Rolo provides accommodation with a garden and free WiFi as well as free private parking for guests who drive. Featuring a shared kitchen, this property also provides guests with a barbecue. Certain rooms at the property include a terrace with a sea view.

The nearest airport is Pedasí Airport, 257 km from the hostel.

Amazing location, great social area and great view! Is an amazing option if you are looking for a relaxing time solo , with your family or friends.

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9.1
Superb
832 reviews
Price from
€ 36
per night

Rooms are fitted with a private bathroom with a shower, while certain rooms are equipped with a balcony and others also boast city views. At the hostel the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.

the place is just amazing, the receptionist was very nice and friendly and always helped us with everything

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8.4
Very good
1,034 reviews
Price from
€ 13
per night

Hostel Villa Vento Surf Surf Santa Catalina is set in Santa Catalina and has an outdoor swimming pool and barbecue facilities. Among the various facilities of this property are a garden and a bar. The accommodation provides a shared kitchen, a tour desk and luggage storage for guests.

loved everything about our stay. it had such a great atmosphere and was kept super clean by the staff. Everyone who worked there was beyond helpful and super friendly. It was clear how much they care about their guests and the hostel. it was our favourite place we stayed at on our trip, and we loved getting to know everybody there.

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8.2
Very good
780 reviews
Price from
€ 14
per night

Set in Santa Catalina, a few steps from Estero, Hotel Oasis & Surf Camp offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. With free WiFi, this 3-star hostel has a bar and a private beach area. The accommodation features karaoke and free shuttle service.

The camp exceeded our expectations by far. Everything was very convenient, clean, beautiful and special. You can pay three dollars for a safe parking spot if you do not want to cross the river by car or just leave it for free at the side of the road. During the dry season, the river is not deep and you can easily carry your luggage over. There is a cosy bar and a great restaurant (food was delicious). Rooms were cleaned daily what we appreciated very much. You can also have dinner in town. We walked there twice as 20minutes are the perfect time to digest your meal ;-). The receptionist provided helpful information and was very kind, also all the other staff at the restaurant and bar. Sunrise and sunset were amazing to watch from the beach and it is totally safe to swim there. We did a snorkeling tour and scuba diving and swam with whale sharks, mantas, white tip riff sharks and turtles. Amazing!

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8
Very good
838 reviews
Price from
€ 19
per night

Situated in Santa Catalina, within 600 metres of Santa Catalina Beach and 1.9 km of Estero, Urbanos Hostel features accommodation with a garden and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free private parking for guests who drive.

First time traveling to Santa Catalina, Panama and the first time choosing a hostel instead of hotel! To my surprise, it was beyond my expectations. Great Staff and very friendly environment. Many activities to do there.

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7.9
Good
296 reviews
Price from
€ 11
per night

Set in Santa Catalina, 800 metres from Santa Catalina Beach, Bambuda Santa Catalina offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. Offering a bar, the property is located within 2 km of Estero. The accommodation provides luggage storage space and free WiFi throughout the property.

At the hostel all rooms include air conditioning and a private bathroom.

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Price from
€ 23
per night

Most booked hotels in Santa Catalina in the past month

Hostels that guests love in Santa Catalina

  • From € 35.57 per night
    9.1
    Scored 9.1
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 832 reviews
    Everything was great, the location was downtown, but basically on the beach! The whole area was nice with plenty of hammocks to chill on and the staff was friendly and super helpful. Definitely one of our best hostels on our trip and would definitely stay again!
    Minna-Maria
    Finland
  • From € 19.31 per night
    7.9
    Scored 7.9
    Good
    Rated good
     · 296 reviews
    Good vibe, very social. Location is good - right across a fruteria and supermarket, 5 minutes to the close beach and about 20 minutes to the surfing beach. Fully equipped kitchen and lots of refrigeration space. The hostel offers shuttles and fairly cheap tours to Coiba
    O
    Omer
    Israel
  • From € 35.57 per night
    9.1
    Scored 9.1
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 832 reviews
    I spent 4 nights at the hostel rollo and It was the best hostel I stayed in Panama! The family is incredible nice and helpful. The vibe is just positive. Santa Cathalina is an amazing place for surfing and relaxing! Highly recommend.
    Stephanie
    Germany
  • From € 25.40 per night
    8.4
    Scored 8.4
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 138 reviews
    Really friendly staff, great location - breakfast included (however very basic). Can book great tours from the hostel
    Rik
    Netherlands
  • From € 35.57 per night
    9.1
    Scored 9.1
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 832 reviews
    Top location right on the beach. If your budget allows, we recommend staying in the separate house overlooking the bay. It has the best view not only in the hostel but arguably, the whole of Santa Catalina. It also boasts air-co, two large beds and is super quiet. The guys running the place are very helpful and charming.
    Chris
    Netherlands
  • From € 35.57 per night
    9.1
    Scored 9.1
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 832 reviews
    Overall, probably the best hostel we stayed in Panama. The position is conveniently placed right next to the beach, the facilities were super clean, and the price was unbeatable! Extra points for the stuff. We left some medicine in the fridge and Orlando somehow was able to organize a friend to go to Panama Town so we could get it before our flight - we will always be grateful for what you did thanks a lot!!!
    Sarah Sophie
    Austria
  • From € 50.81 per night
    8.2
    Scored 8.2
    Very good
    Rated very good
     · 459 reviews
    Great location in the heart of Santa Catalina, but still quite quiet in the evenings. Rooms were clean and AC worked well, bathroom was a good size and the property felt safe and secure. A nice little cafe downstairs for breakfast and lunch and close to the trip operators and bus stop for buses to Sona and onwards.
    Timtravels1983
    United Kingdom
  • From € 19.31 per night
    7.9
    Scored 7.9
    Good
    Rated good
     · 296 reviews
    The best hostel in Santa Catalina if you want to connect with other travellers, Pablo and Rasta Man are amazing hosts and make everyone feel right at home. Close to everything on the main strip
    Daniel
    Australia
  • From € 19.31 per night
    7.9
    Scored 7.9
    Good
    Rated good
     · 296 reviews
    Pablo, the manager and Mar and Max, the volunteers made it feel like home. Probably the best hostel I have been at. Best vibe ever and staff amazingly nice
    ines mota
    Portugal
  • From € 35.57 per night
    9.1
    Scored 9.1
    Superb
    Rated superb
     · 832 reviews
    The location and set up of the hostel was amazing. It was small with only a handful of rooms -which made me feel safe and the communal areas were never crowded. The views were amazing. To get to the beach, you simply had to walk down the hill. The hostel had surfboards you could rent for the day which was so much fun. The outside areas were clean and vibrant with lots of fun hammocks to hang out in. There was also a communal kitchen with lots of food available left by other travelers.
    Elena
    Panama