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Hosteltrail.com es una red online de hostales y compañías de turismo en América Latina, proveemos información actual para backpackers y viajeros independientes. Nuestra meta es juntar empresas locales, dándoles la oportunidad de promoverse online mientras mostrando que es realmente Sudamérica, un continente asombroso y una destinación ideal. Apoyamos en concreto a las empresas que se manejan localmente y esperamos ofrecer más publicidad a las empresas menos conocidas y los tesoros escondidos de América Latina.

Hosteltrail.com actualmente es una red de backpackers establecida y ya una de las más grandes en Colombia, Ecuador y Venezuela. HostelTrail es uno de los 125,000 sitios más visitado en EEUU y uno de los que esta creciendo más rapido en América Latina. Ahora, contamos con escritores y colaboradores de todo el planeta, lo cual, sentimos, da a Hosteltrail.com un enfoque único e internacional sin tener perjuicios. La oficina por el proyecto es HostelTrail Guesthouse en la ciudad de Popayan en el sur de 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 >>>



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.



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.


Caston Richards is a Canadian "traveler" finding his way throughout Latin America. He has been lucky enough to have spent a good portion of his youth travelling his own country and its southern counterpart, the United States. Latin America is his second off-continent trip, after spending almost a year in Australia. Caston can never get enough of discovering new places and experiencing new adventures and is looking forward to contributing to the hosteltrail team as he steps foot into Central America.


Hanneke and Roy are a Dutch couple who spent the last few years living in Munich. They both gave up their jobs and home to spend their 12-month honeymoon travelling through Latin America. Hanneke is an epidemiologist who grew up on Curaçao and studied in the Netherlands and Spain. Roy is a consultant & product manager who studied Business Administration and for the past eight years has worked in the UK and Germany.

Hanneke & Roy have kindly offered to share the tales of their journey from Guatemala to Patagonia with HostelTrail.

Gil is a personal trainer and Muay Thai instructor from London. In 2001 he embarked on an 18 month trip that took him through South East Asia, Hong Kong, China, Tibet, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Since then the travel bug has taken over and Gil has lived and worked in Australia and had numerous stints of traveling in Eastern Europe, Israel, the U.S.A. as well as countless visits to Thailand.
His current trip began with yet another four months in Thailand and two months in Australia before heading to South America. The last four months have been spent touring through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and he is currently making his way through Colombia.


James and Steph are a couple of Londoners who love traveling and are planning to leave Blighty for good some day soon! They are currently on a 7 month trip through Central & South America and are loving every minute. Always keen to promote good tours and hostels to fellow travellers, these intrepid explorers have kindly offered to spread the word on behalf of HostelTrail by visiting some of the top hostels and tour companies in the continent.



Taking a break from the day-to-day routine and university lecture rooms in Frankfurt, Vicky and Till have decided to travel South America for a year. Till found himself infected with the traveller's bug on his very first journey through Latin America - Vicky picked up something similar in India! Vicky currently holds a diploma in Social Work and Till is coming to the end of his course in American Studies, Spanish and History. Both of these intrepid travellers relish the opportunity to improve their Spanish as well gain more experience in the travel journalism field.

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!

Matthew & Nina Horn are a young married couple from Oregon who helped hosteltrail tremendously by adding to the Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia sections of the site.
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.

Richard McColl is a freelance writer from London who now owns a backpacker hostel in Mompox, Colombia. Richard has helped out with some of the more adventurous destinations.