Viajero Hostels

What Viajero Hostels does

Viajero Hostels is a Latin American hostel chain operating 30 properties across 9 countries, with 10 in Colombia, 5 each in Mexico and Peru, 3 in Uruguay, 2 in Costa Rica, and one each in Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, and the United States (Miami). Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Cartagena, Colombia as El Viajero Hostels S.A.S. (NIT 900.375.454-4), the company employs 501-1,000 people and serves budget-conscious backpackers, digital nomads, group travelers of 13+, adventure tourists, and gap-year students with social hostel accommodation in private rooms, shared dorms, and female-only dorms.

The company runs on a standard hospitality technology stack anchored by Cloudbeds' property management system for reservations, booking, and operations, and the Akintravel platform that powers the Viajero GO multi-tier loyalty program (Tourist, Backpacker, Explorer, Nomad, Viajero). Value-added products include on-site Restobars (restaurants and bars at 12+ properties), more than 100 curated local experiences and tours, dedicated group reservations services, and the Viajero Express ferry-plus-stay bundles with Buquebus/Colonia Express in the Argentina-Uruguay corridor. Distribution is primarily direct via viajerohostels.com (with 10% Colombia direct-booking incentives), supplemented by Cloudbeds marketplace visibility and 24/7 walk-in reception at most properties.

The business model combines per-night accommodation revenue (blended rates roughly $7-$20/night depending on destination and currency), on-site F&B sales, experience and tour fees, group bookings, and a free loyalty program. The company has disclosed $40M in cumulative funding from Grupo Pegasus ($15M in 2018, $25M in 2020), is privately held with no institutional shareholders beyond the disclosed investor, and operates a sustainability program certified under Friendlybiz/GRI standards with 70% plastic-free properties and 100% carbon offsetting across the portfolio.

Name

Viajero Hostels

Legal name

El Viajero Hostels S.A.S.

Website

https://viajerohostels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Viajero Hostels operates 30 budget-friendly hostel properties across 9 Latin American countries plus Miami, serving backpackers, digital nomads, and group travelers with social accommodation, on-site Restobars, curated local experiences, and a tiered loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hostel Accommodation

NAICS

Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (7213), All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Party & Social Hostels (THAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Traditional Dormitory Hostels (THAGAGAA), Boutique/Design Hostels (THAMAIAD), Quiet/Work-Friendly (Digital Nomad) Hostels (THAMAIAF)

Keywords

• Budget hostel accommodation
• Backpacker lodging
• Shared dormitory stays
• Travel loyalty program
• Group travel booking

Headquarters

HQ city

Cundinamarca

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices30 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Accommodation Services: Nightly hostel accommodation across private rooms, shared dorms, and female-only dorms. Revenue generated through per-night room rates that vary by destination, room type, and season. Cancellation policies include flexible rates (free cancellation 24-48 hours before) and non-refundable rates (full prepayment).
2. Food & Beverage: On-site restaurants, bars, and rooftops at select hostels offering local cuisine, signature cocktails, and meal experiences. Includes Restobar brands (Santa Marta, Guatapé, Cusco, CDMX, Arequipa, Medellín, Salento, Sayulita, Buenos Aires, Paracas, Oaxaca, Huacachina, Barranco, Bogotá). Revenue from dine-in, drinks, and takeaway.
3. Experiences & Tours: Curated local experiences and tours including salsa classes, surf lessons, chocolate tasting, asado masterclasses, canal tours, and festivals. Over 100 experiences listed across destinations, providing additional revenue per booking.
4. Group Bookings: Dedicated group accommodation service for groups of 13+ travelers with special rates, flexible payment terms, and unified invoicing. Group services include accommodation combining private and shared rooms.
5. Loyalty Program Benefits: Viajero GO loyalty program that incentivizes repeat bookings through tiered benefits including discounts on stays, perks at bars and experiences, and early check-in/late check-out privileges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Viajero Hostels operates a network of 30 budget-friendly hostel properties across 9 countries in Latin America and Miami, providing private rooms, shared dorms, and female-only dorms with on-site restaurants/bars (Restobar by Viajero) and over 100 curated local experiences such as salsa classes, surf lessons, cooking classes, and cultural events. The offering is augmented by the free Viajero GO loyalty program with five membership tiers and dedicated group booking services for parties of 13+ travelers, all designed around a social, community-driven hostel experience.

Product overview

Viajero Hostels operates a portfolio of 30 hostel properties across 9 countries in Latin America (Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and United States). The core product is budget-friendly hostel accommodation with private rooms, shared dorms, and female-only dorms. The portfolio includes value-added services: the Viajero GO loyalty program with tiered benefits, group reservation services for 15+ travelers, on-site restaurants and bars under the Restobar brand (12+ locations), curated experiences and events at each destination, sustainability initiatives, the Viajero Collab content creator program, and various promotions including direct booking discounts and partnership deals. Properties span major cities and tourist destinations, with Colombia having the largest presence (10 hostels).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Viajero GO: Loyalty program for frequent guests offering discounts, upgrades, and exclusive perks.

Products and services

• Viajero Hostels Accommodation Budget-friendly hostel accommodation across Latin America and Miami offering private rooms, shared dorms, and female-only dorms at 30 properties in 9 countries. Properties include social spaces, kitchens, bars/restaurants, and organized integration activities, with nightly rates starting from approximately US$14-16 in Costa Rica, 176-288 MXN in Mexico, 27-66 PEN in Peru, 42,750-63,990 COP in Colombia, and 594-1,980 UYU in Uruguay.
• Restobar by Viajero On-site restaurants and bars at select Viajero hostels offering local cuisine, signature cocktails, and social atmospheres. Includes 12+ branded Restobar locations across Santa Marta, Guatapé, Cusco, CDMX, Arequipa, Medellín, Salento, Sayulita, Buenos Aires, Paracas, Oaxaca, Huacachina, Barranco, and Bogotá. Revenue from dine-in, drinks, and takeaway.
• Experiences and Events Curated local activities and events at each destination including tours, cooking classes, adventure sports, cultural experiences, and festivals. Over 100 experiences are listed across the network, including salsa classes, surf lessons, chocolate tasting, asado masterclasses, Lucha Libre nights, canal tours, paddleboarding, and the Olas Sonoras festival at Viajero Tayrona.
• Group Reservations Service Dedicated group travel booking service for groups of 13 or more travelers offering special rates, flexible payment terms, and unified invoicing. Service combines private and shared rooms across Viajero properties with destination-based assignment, accessible via a dedicated contact form on the website.
• Viajero GO Loyalty Program Free multi-tier loyalty membership program for frequent Viajero Hostels guests with five levels (Tourist, Backpacker, Explorer, Nomad, Viajero) offering progressive benefits including discounts on stays, perks at bars and experiences, early check-in, and late check-out. Membership is managed through the Akintravel platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% single-use plastic elimination across properties
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CloudbedscoreTechnology or IntegrationViajero Hostels participates in Cloudbeds' inaugural 100-Property Collection, a curated global portfolio of 100 independent hospitality properties. Viajero was selected and won the People's Choice Award. The partnership provides distribution through Cloudbeds' unified hospitality platform and marketplace visibility.
• FriendlybizcoreOthersFriendlybiz provides sustainability certification for hostels, operating under GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) standards. Viajero uses this certification to demonstrate transparent sustainability practices to travelers.
• MontemanglarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontemanglar partners with Viajero in Bogotá to recycle 95% of glass bottles from hostel operations, supporting circular economy and waste reduction initiatives.
• Proyecto MutanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProyecto Mutan transforms plastic caps collected from Viajero hostels in Buenos Aires into design objects, supporting waste-to-opportunities circular economy initiatives.
• Buquebus / Colonia ExpressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFerry operator partnership enables Viajero Express packages combining boat tickets between Buenos Aires (Argentina), Colonia and Montevideo (Uruguay) with 20% discount on hostel stays. Provides convenient multi-country travel option.
• AkintravelcoreTechnology or IntegrationAkintravel provides the technology platform for Viajero GO loyalty program, managing membership tiers, point accumulation, and benefit redemption across the hostel network.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Selina: Direct competitor operating a similarly large network of design-focused, experience-led hostels across Latin America, with comparable target market of backpackers and digital nomads. Has faced well-documented financial difficulties highlighting the operational risks of the asset-heavy multi-country model.
• Mad Monkey Hostels: Multi-country hostel brand operating across Asia and Latin America with social hostels targeting backpackers and featuring integrated bars and tours, directly comparable to Viajero's offering.
• Mellow Mood Hostels: Independent hostel chain operating across multiple Latin American destinations (including Colombia and Mexico) with similar budget social-hostel positioning targeting backpackers.
• Oasis Hostels: Hostel chain operating across Spain and Latin America with social/party hostels in key destinations like Madrid and Buenos Aires, directly competing with Viajero in overlapping markets.
• Wild Rover Hostels: Chain of party-oriented hostels across Latin America (including Cusco, Lima, La Paz) with integrated bars and nightlife, competing for the same backpacker demographic as Viajero's social hostels.
• Selina (historical operator benchmark): (Listed above as primary peer; included here as the closest scaled comparable for the multi-country social hostel model in Latin America that Viajero aspires to).
• Loki Hostels: Peru-anchored hostel chain with presence in Cusco and other Latin American destinations, offering social atmosphere hostels with bars, events, and adventure experiences comparable to Viajero's positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Generator Hostels: Design-led hostel brand operating across Europe and select global cities with boutique-style social hostels; serves as a benchmark for what scaled hostel brands can become, though focused on premium design-led segment.
• Hostelworld: Leading OTA platform for hostel bookings globally, which Viajero uses as a distribution channel but which also represents a customer-acquisition dependency and a competitor aggregator for independent hostel listings.

Regional players

• Casa Elemento: Well-known Colombian hostel chain with strong presence in Cartagena and Minca, directly competing with Viajero's Colombian flagship locations in the same budget backpacker segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@viajerohostels
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@viajerohostelsuniverse
• Facebookfacebook.com/viajerohostels
• LinkedInco.linkedin.com/company/viajero-hostels
• Instagraminstagram.com/viajerohostels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Viajero Hostels