La Macarena: the bohemian neighborhood nomads haven't invaded yet (and that's why it's perfect)
While digital nomads pile up in Chapinero Alto paying $150,000 COP for a bed in a 12-person dorm, in La Macarena you can still breathe in neighborhood air. Literally: you're a 15-minute walk from the historic center, but without the chaos of La Candelaria or the inflated prices of the Zona G. Here there are universities, museums, parks with views of the eastern hills, and a cultural life that has nothing to envy the more touristy areas. And the best part: the hostels are still run by locals who know every corner, not by international chains.
In August 2026, La Macarena has become the perfect middle ground: you have the relative safety of northern Bogotá, proximity to the historic center, and a gastronomic offering that ranges from the corner's huevo perico to specialty coffee shops. If you're on a tight budget but don't want to sacrifice the cultural experience, this is your neighborhood.
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Here are five hostels I know firsthand, with real August 2026 prices and details you won't find on Booking.
Why La Macarena and not the Center or Chapinero?
Let me be direct: La Candelaria is beautiful but by 9pm it turns into a desert with beer vendors and lost tourists. Chapinero has nightlife but you pay the "gringo tax" at every café. La Macarena has the best of both worlds: during the day you walk among murals, independent bookstores, and the Museo Nacional; at night, you head down to Calle 26 or up to Carrera 4ta and find bars with live music where prices are still reasonable.
For the digital nomad, there's a plus few mention: the concentration of universities (la Nacional, la Javeriana, and la Distrital are less than 20 minutes away) means there are public libraries, cheap print shops, and a transport network that connects directly to the financial center. Plus, hostels in La Macarena tend to have less guest turnover than those in La Candelaria, making it easier to build community and even negotiate monthly rates.
Safety in #s (without alarmism)
La Macarena is one of the neighborhoods with the highest police presence in Bogotá thanks to its proximity to the Casa de Nariño and the ministries. It's not uncommon to see patrols every 20 minutes on Calle 26. Armed robberies are rare, but cell phone theft on Carrera 7ma is frequent, especially near the Museo Nacional. The rule is simple: don't take out your iPhone on the street after 8pm and use well-lit routes like Calle 26 or Carrera 4ta.
The 5 hostels you should consider (with hard data)
I researched for three weeks, talked to receptionists, guests, and even one of their cats. These are the verified data as of August 2026:
1. Hostal La Macarena Inn — The classic with terrace and cats
Location: Calle 26 # 4-45, half a block from Parque de la Independencia
Capacity: 18 beds in 4 dorms (2 mixed, 1 women-only, 1 private)
Price per night: $45,000 COP (dorm) / $120,000 COP (private with bathroom)
Monthly rate: $850,000 COP with breakfast included (negotiable if you stay more than 2 weeks)
WiFi: 30 Mbps symmetric, with a repeater on the terrace. Works for video calls without drops, but gets saturated between 7pm and 10pm when everyone watches Netflix.
This is the most "homey" hostel on the list. It has a third-floor terrace with hammocks, plants, and three rescued cats (Milo, Coco, and an old cat named Doña Chola who sleeps at the reception). The vibe is calm: more exchange students than party. The rooms are simple but clean, with large lockers that fit a 60-liter suitcase and your own padlock.
Breakfast is basic (eggs, arepa, coffee, and juice) but the coffee is from the local brand "Café Devoción" which they buy in bulk. The communal kitchen is well-equipped and there's a fruit market two blocks away where you can buy papaya and gulupa for $3,000 COP.
What they don't tell you in the photos: the third floor has no heating and on rainy nights (which are many!) the temperature drops to 12°C. Ask for an extra bedspread at reception. There's also a man who sells empanadas at the door every morning at 7am — worth getting up early just for that.
2. Casa Macarena Hostel — The included pottery workshop
Location: Calle 28 # 5-12, 5 minutes from the Museo Nacional
Capacity: 14 beds in 3 dorms + 2 privates
Price per night: $50,000 COP (dorm) / $140,000 COP (private)
Monthly rate: $900,000 COP including access to the pottery workshop
WiFi: 40 Mbps, but the strong point is the coworking area with 4 desks and ergonomic chairs (something rare in Bogotá hostels).
This place is a hidden gem. The owner, a local ceramist named Andrés, turned the garage into a workshop with a potter's wheel and kiln. Guests can use the space on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 7pm at no extra cost. It's not a formal class, but Andrés is usually there and gives you tips while you work. I've seen travelers make their own souvenirs and even a German nomad who sold his pieces at a local market.
The vibe is more artistic and quiet. There's no party, but there are movie nights in the inner courtyard with a projector. The rooms have solid wooden bunk beds (not those squeaky metal ones) and each bed has its own reading light and privacy curtain. The shared bathroom is spacious and always has hot water, something I can't say for all hostels in the area.
Fun fact: the building was a print shop in the 80s and one of the original machines is still preserved in the living room. Andrés bought it along with the property and uses it as a coffee table. Guests who ask get a 20-minute story about Bogotá's graphic history.
3. Nomads Nido — The serious coworking for remote work
Location: Carrera 4ta # 26-34, facing Parque de la Independencia
Capacity: 22 beds in 5 dorms (the largest on the list)
Price per night: $55,000 COP (dorm) / $160,000 COP (private with balcony)
Monthly rate: $1,100,000 COP with a fixed desk in the coworking
WiFi: 100 Mbps fiber optic with backup. It's the only hostel on the list where you can have video calls with clients without worrying about the connection. There are two monitors available for loan (that's why they charge a bit more).
If your priority is work, this is the place. The coworking is on the second floor, separated from the rooms by a glass door, open from 7am to 10pm. It has 8 stations with Herman Miller chairs (yes, you read that right) and a multifunction printer you can use for $200 COP per page. Coffee is self-service and costs $2,000 COP per cup, but there's a free thermos of hot water.
The vibe is more professional than hostel-like. There are many nomads who stay for months, so turnover is low and work groups form. On Thursdays they organize a "networking night" with pizza and local craft beer (you pay an extra $10,000 COP, but it's worth it for the contacts).
Warning: this is not a party hostel. Check-in is strict about noise after 10pm, and there are guests who come to sleep early. If you're looking for a party vibe, better check the next one.
4. La Macarena Social Hostel — The meeting point for backpackers
Location: Calle 27 # 4-20, 3 minutes from the Planetario de Bogotá
Capacity: 30 beds in 6 dorms
Price per night: $38,000 COP (8-bed dorm) / $95,000 COP (private without bathroom)
Monthly rate: $700,000 COP (the cheapest in the neighborhood)
WiFi: 20 Mbps, enough for social media and email, but not for video calls. If you need to work, they use the café "Café Velvet" around the corner which has 50 Mbps WiFi if you buy something.
This is the most budget-friendly and social hostel. It has a huge terrace with a fire pit (yes, in Bogotá it's possible) and they organize events almost every night: from salsa classes to board game nights. The staff is young and speaks English, French, and a bit of Portuguese. It's the typical place where you arrive for one night and end up staying two weeks.
The rooms are basic — metal bunk beds, small lockers, old curtains — but the cleanliness is impeccable. The bathroom has three showers and two toilets for 8 people, which can mean waiting in the mornings. The kitchen is communal and there's a "D1" supermarket 5 minutes away where beer costs $2,800 COP.
The plus: the hostel has an agreement with the Planetario de Bogotá for discounted tickets ($8,000 COP instead of $12,000 COP) and with a local agency for graffiti tours around the neighborhood. Ask at reception about the "pase Macarena" which includes breakfast, a beer, and Planetario entry for $25,000 COP.
5. Casa Verde Hostel — The refuge with garden and organic breakfast
Location: Carrera 5ta # 27-18, on a tree-lined and quiet street
Capacity: 12 beds in 3 dorms + 1 private cabin in the garden
Price per night: $48,000 COP (dorm) / $180,000 COP (cabin with private bathroom)
Monthly rate: $950,000 COP with organic breakfast included
WiFi: 25 Mbps, works well in the garden and living room, but weakens in the private cabin (it's at the back).
Casa Verde is the smallest and most charming hostel on the list. It has an inner garden with native plants, an aromatic herb garden, and a kitchen that prepares breakfasts with products from the market square. The bread is artisanal, the jam is homemade, and the coffee is from Tolima origin. It's not the typical hostel breakfast; it's a ritual.
The vibe is intimate and quiet. There are more couples and solo travelers than large groups. The garden cabin is ideal if you want total privacy: it has its own entrance, a hammock, and a small desk. The shared rooms are bright and have windows facing the garden, something rare in Bogotá where most hostels are in dark buildings.
The green detail: they have a rainwater collection system for watering plants and compost organic kitchen waste. They offer a 10% discount if you bring your own reusable bottle
