Hostel Pangea

San José


This industrial-strength hostel – 25 dorm beds, 25 private rooms, and five cushy suites – has been a popular twentysomething backpacker hangout for years. It’s not difficult to see why: it’s smack in the middle of the city and comes stocked with a pool and a rooftop restaurant-lounge/speakeasy-style bar with stellar views. Needless to say, it's a party spot. Wristband-controlled entry.

Rooms are tidy, mattresses firm and the shared bathrooms enormous and clean. The five suites (one Presidential) have king-size beds and flat-screen TVs. Other perks include free internet, luggage storage and 24-hour airport shuttles (from US$12 shared). They've got a sister hostel in La Fortuna.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby San José attractions

1. Alianza Francesa

0.06 MILES

The Alliance has French classes, a small library and rotating art exhibits in a Barrio Amón home. There are also cinematic and musical events. The classes…

2. TEOR/éTica

0.14 MILES

This contemporary-art museum is the brick-and-mortar gathering space for the TEOR/éTica Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports Central…

3. Parque Morazán

0.14 MILES

Parque Morazán is named for Francisco Morazán, the 19th-century general who attempted to unite the Central American nations under a single flag (for his…

4. Barrio Amón

0.14 MILES

Northwest of Plaza España lies this pleasant, historical neighborhood, home to a cluster of 19th-century cafetalero (coffee grower) mansions. Recently…

5. Templo de Música

0.14 MILES

Since the 1920s, this large metallic dome perched atop columns in Parque Morazán has sheltered concerts, dance parties and political rallies.

6. Edificio Metálico

0.18 MILES

One of downtown San José's most striking buildings, this century-old two-story metal edifice on Parque España's western edge was prefabricated in Belgium,…

7. Parque España

0.21 MILES

Surrounded by heavy traffic, Parque España may be small, but it becomes a riot of birdsong every day at sunset when the local avian population comes in to…

8. Casa Amarilla

0.23 MILES

On Parque España’s northeast corner, this elegant colonial-style yellow mansion (closed to the public) houses the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The ceiba tree…