Perennial favorite the Cranky Croc, run by a friendly Aussie and styling itself as a backpacker hostel, has kept up with the times and doesn't lack space or natural light, which hits you as soon as you enter the brightly tiled lobby. The four- to 10-bed dorms feature lockers, reading lamps and individual electric outlets for device charging.
Ten boutique-hotel-quality private rooms have parquet floors and shiny new bathrooms. Guests often praise the breakfasts (COP$8000 to COP$15,000) for their size and deliciousness. Add a common room with a giant TV, a roof terrace, and activities such as football tours and salsa dancing, and your intro to Bogotá is starting to look very promising.
The hostel has also gone green: it now collects and filters rainwater for showering.