Best Budget Hostels in Bocas del Toro, Panama | Bocas Hostels

421 Guesthouse is by far the ideal low budget option for Habla Ya students, situated at only one block or 2 minute walking distance from the school in a quiet residential area.

421 has been set up in a traditional Caribbean mansion, entirely made of wood, giving it the unique homey feel. Its spacious rooms and common areas with balcony in the front and in the back, will make you feel like you’re in a huge vacation villa instead of a hostel. Guesthouse 421 is definitely more like an "upscale" budget option which offers all the amenities of your average Bocas hostel, including wifi, but with nicer facilities, AC, and hot water (which is rare in Bocas del Toro for budget options).

421 has dorm rooms, shared private rooms and private suites, as well as a completely independent apartment in the back. All rooms are comfy and clean.

The dorm or group rooms have 5 beds in each, two bunk beds and one single bed as well as one bathroom with hot water. You'll struggle to find budget lodging in Bocas with hot water.

The shared private rooms have 2 single beds in each of them and are connected with one other private room through the shared bathroom. This option is ideal for friends traveling together who don’t wish to share a bed, and want some privacy as opposed to sharing a room with other travelers.

The private rooms with shared bath have double beds in them, and share the bathroom with one other private room. This option is ideal for couples who want to have some privacy, yet don’t want to break the bank.

This is the cheapest option you’ll find for a private room because the bathroom doesn’t have hot water. However, that’s really no big deal here in Bocas, as “cold” is more like lukewarm, since temperatures are high all year round.

The suites are entirely private with their own private bathroom, hot water, and you’ll be able to enjoy a comfortable king size bed.

If you are studying with us for several weeks, you also have the option to live in the independent apartment in the back. You’ll have your own kitchen and bathroom, which is ideal if you need to cook your own meals independently from other guests. The apartment has a little stove, a refrigerator and a double bed.

All the rooms are equipped with AC and wifi for you to stay connected. The large communal area with a sofa and cable TV as well as some books will allow you to just relax, enjoy a nice cup of coffee or a cold beer and chat with fellow students or travelers.

The owners, Luis Alberto and Juan Fe, are best buddies and experienced surfers, so they will be able to point you in the right direction if you are looking for some good surf breaks (or ask us!). They also live on-site so without any doubt, you'll always be looked after.

* Please note: prices are in US Dollars. Rates DO INCLUDE Panama's 10% Hotel Tax. Reservations require a valid credit card payment of a 30% deposit. No shows and cancellations within 1 month lose 30% deposit.

Bocas Surf School & Hostel on the other hand is the perfect choice if you're looking for a low budget accommodation with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Not every traveler on a budget likes to be close to the party scene or share a room with a lot of people. If you want to stay in a hostel but still be able to enjoy your own personal space, this location will be the perfect fit for you.

It's ideal for Spanish students, as it's only a 4 minute walk door to door from our Spanish school, and also because it's right over the water!!! If you're coming to an island in the Caribbean, what more could you ask for than to be directly over the sea? Fancy a swim in the paradisiacal turquoise waters of Caribbean Sea just before or after class? Done! The waters in this area of Isla Colon are always without waves so it's perfectly safe to take a dip or go sea kayaking right off the hostel's deck.

Located just 2.5 blocks from Main Street (3rd Street) you're still close enough to easily walk to restaurants, clubs, and bars, but far enough to be able to relax in peace away from the center of town. This neighborhood, just as with our Spanish school, is in a much more "tranquilo" and laid back part of town.

The small size of the hostel (11 beds total) makes for a cozy environment, the complete opposite of the other three hostels featured on this page... although this also means that you have to book in advance if you want to save your spot! Sure, you'll have to pay a little bit more than if you'd stayed at Tungara or Heike but if you can afford it and really need a place like this, it's well worth it.

The large Caribbean house that was redesigned to function as the hostel has one dormitory which sleeps up to 4 people (two bunk beds), as well as a private room that can accommodate up to 3 people (on a bunk bed that has a double bed at the bottom, and a single bed on the upper part). These two rooms are downstairs and share two full bathrooms between both of them.

Last but not least, there is also a private cabina located above the hostel with its own private bathroom, hot shower, sink, mini-fridge, air conditioner and private balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea, ideal for couples in search of some romance or solo travelers who just fancy the additional independence.

Embrace paradise: students can enjoy the private terrace with ocean views in the back of the hostel to do their homework, read, surf the internet, or sunbathe on the private docks. If you get too hot just jump off and take a refreshing tropical water dip with the fish.

Also worth mentioning, if you don't feel like eating out every day and want to save some money, note that the hostel has a communal kitchen for everyone to use at their leisure. In addition, you can also enjoy the free wireless internet connection, a living room area with books and sofas, and hammocks on the terrace, overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

And finally, if you want to learn how to surf (or already surf and need a board), the manager of the hostel also runs a surf school and camp, and has plenty of boards for rent as well as providing daily surf lessons both in the mornings and afternoons.

* Please note: prices are in US Dollars. Rates DO INCLUDE Panama's 10% Hotel Tax. Low Season (LS): Apr 16 - Oct 31. High Season (HS): Nov 1 - Apr 15 (includes Feria del Mar Sep 14 - 18). Reservations require a valid credit card. No shows and cancellations incur in a 1 night penalty fee (at the normal rate), with the exception of weekly or monthly bookings that will have a 50% penalty of the entire stay.

An undeniable favorite amongst the backpacker crowd Hostel Heike will make you feel right at home thanks to its amazing staff and great customer service. Located right on Third Street in front of the park and right next to Tungara Hostel, Hostel Heike is the perfect place to socialize with fellow travelers and have a real feel about how's life in Bocas del Toro. With a total of 8 dorm rooms and 2 private rooms, Bocas del Toro's largest hostel has an established reputation as a place where you can easily find a great group of friends to explore the archipelago, party hard at night or just laze around in true Caribbean style.

Of its 8 dorm rooms Hostel Heike has two 10 person rooms (one of them with AC), two 8 person rooms, three 4 person rooms and one 6 person air conditioned room. Both of its private rooms have a double bed and a bunk bed. The rooms that don't have air conditioning are equipped with conveniently placed fans and every bed has a free personal locker besides it.

When you're not out and about taking Spanish lessons, surfing in Bocas del Toro or just enjoying uncrowded stretches of golden sand beach, Hostel Heike offers its guest an amazing roof terrace with sweeping views of town where you can grab a hammock to chill out and relax, read a nice book from the book exchange rack or take advantage of its two public computers to catch up with email or facebook.

Don't forget to enjoy a cold beer while hanging out on the balcony and taking it all in (after practicing your Spanish and doing your homework of course). And the sunlit communal kitchen opening to the street-side action is the perfect place to prepare a meal amongst friends before hitting the streets to party hard at Bocas del Toro's bars.

Staying at Hostel Heike comes with several perks: besides being able to use a couple of public computers, you'll have access to free wifi access, free-unlimited pancake breakfasts served late into the morning, a roof-top sunbathing deck, free towels, a high tech purified water treatment system within the hostel, international calls, cheap surfboard rentals, and great contacts and advice to do certain tours and activities on your own.

Note: prices are in US Dollars. Rates INCLUDE Panama's 10% Hotel Tax. Hostal Heike does not accept reservations in advance. The only way to stay here is checking if they have availability upon arrival.