About Us...
English Español

HostelTrail.com is an online network of hostels and tour companies in South America providing up-to-date information for backpackers and independent travellers. Our aim is to bring together local businesses giving them the opportunity to promote themselves online while helping to show South America for what it is, an amazing continent and a fantastic travel destination. We pay particular attention to locally run businesses and hope to offer a little more publicity to the lesser known companies and hidden gems of South America!

HostelTrail is now an established backpacker network and already one of the largest in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. We now have writers and contributors from all over the world which, we feel, gives HostelTrail has a unique, international and unbiased approach. Our base for the project is the HostelTrail Guesthouse in the beautiful colonial city of Popayan in southern Colombia.

Having travelled in Europe during my earlier days, I set my sights on Latin America in 2003, travelling from Tijuana in Mexico to the Colombian border before stumbling across a former Scottish colony in the Darien Gap.

Returning home to Scotland, I spent two years as Deputy Manager of the HI Edinburgh Bruntsfield Youth Hostel. During this time, I built the website hibackpacker.com which brought a 40% increase in email enquiries - a clear demonstration of the important part the internet plays in the hospitality industry.

After two trips to South America, it was clear that many of the smaller, locally run hostels and tour agencies were at a massive disadvantage in having no web presence. Seeing a gap in the market, I decided my next trip to Latin America would be one to make a difference - as such, the project of HostelTrail.com was born.

Read Tony's Travel Diary >>>
Setting foot for the first time in South America aged seventeen, I was amazed by the world of absolute contrast I'd stumbled across. Immediately falling in love with the people, the landscapes, the culture and the blissful simplicity of life on the road, I proceeded to spend the following ten months soaking it all up!
Working in hostels both in South America and at home has been a great experience, allowing me to understand more about people, languages and of course the hostelling industry. This project has been a great way to combine what I have learned, both travelling and working, to help others make the most of South America - as travellers or from the business point of view. It's a great way to share first-hand information and advice with like-minded travellers and an excellent way for local businesses to get their name out there!

Read Kim's Travel Diary >>>



Sandra Del Castillo is a Colombian lawyer, who loves to travel. She has visited numerous countries in America, Europe and more recently lived ten months in Sydney. She thinks travel is not only about going to different places, but also experiencing a new way of life - talking to the people, going to the places that locals visit and eating the food that locals eat. Staying in a luxury hotel is not the best way to experience a country - hostels are an excellent choice, not only for price but for the whole travel experience.


Levi Bridges was born and raised in the US State of Maine. A spur of the moment trip into northern Mexico at the age 18 led to a fascination with Latin America. Following that trip, he went on to earn a B.A. in Writing and Spanish Literature, studying abroad in Granada, Spain and Mexico City. He has traveled extensively through the US, Mexico, Central and South America and Europe. Levi's latest trip began with hitchhiking along the US - Mexico border researching immigration issues. He is currently on the road, dividing his time between Colombia and Venezuela.

Richard McColl is a freelance writer from deepest darkest London but for the past 5 years or so has been maintaining his extended "writing break" in Latin America through various guises - writing, leading expeditions and coordinating social projects in Rio's Mangueira favela and the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Currently, living in Bogota, Richard will be providing hosteltrail with some valuable inside information on the hidden gems of Colombia and Ecuador.

Read Richard's Travel Diary >>>


Mark and Kim are two Dutch nomads who gave up everything they had in Holland to see the world. They are travelling through all continents to find the perfect place to settle down. Both have a bachelor's degree in International Tourism Management & Consultancy - Kim also has a Master's degree in Marketing. As experts in budget travel, they have kindly offered to help out Hosteltrail to expand the Central America section.

Read Kim & Mark's Travel Diary >>>


Matthew and Nina Horn are a couple of professionals from Portland, Oregon who recently skipped out on the rat-race to learn a language, experience culture, and enjoy life by travelling through Central & South America. Matthew and Nina have both had experience travelling in various parts of the world, including Asia and Africa, but Hosteltrail has provided the first opportunity to do a bit of travel writing along the way.

Read Matthew & Nina's Travel Diary >>>

Past Writers & Translators
Carlos Esteban is a Spanish biochemist currently based in London. Carlos has helped Hosteltrail a great deal by translating much of the Venezuela section.

Brad Sedal is a well-travelled Kiwi who has visited many of the top sights in South America and kindly agreed to share his travels with HostelTrail.com

Roberto Ferraris is a Italian traveller with a particular love for Argentina. He helped us improve our Argentina section by contributing tips and photos.

Francisco Talavera was born in Mexico and raised in the United States. As he travelled through Central and South America, he was able to give us a unique insight into the continent!
Catherine Baker is a Londoner who has travelled extensively in Africa, Thailand and Australia and has helped us in our preparation for the new Central America section.

Nara Vidal is a native Brazilian currently living in London. Having travelled extensively in Brazil, Nara kindly offered her knowledge on travelling there.

Brett Moreton, a Manchester University graduate and passionate rugby fan helped us with our Brazil and Argentina section during his 3 month trip to South America.

John Wulkan was born in the US but spent a great deal of time in Ecuador. As such, he was able to assist us with translations as well as contributing miscellaneous information.