Are you planning a trip to Peru and need to figure out where to stay during your epic adventure? I can’t speak for all of Peru, but I can speak for four of the marvelous cities I visited during my three weeks exploring Southern Peru, and in this post I have rounded up all the best places to stay in Southern Peru, including Lima, Cusco, Paracas & Ica.
Lima:
Pier242 Miraflores
Highlights: I was so impressed by all of the little details at this B&B, like the folded towels tied with ribbon and soap on our bed, to the dish filled with local candy on our nightstand. The lovely B&B owner, Jhesu offers pisco sour making classes for his guests and also has a bike you can rent out for a inexpensive price. He provides a really nice breakfast that includes fresh fruit, local bread, eggs made to your liking and of course, freshly made fruit juice. Overall it was one of the most comfortable rooms we stayed in out of our entire trip in Peru.
Location: In Miraflores, just a 10 min walk to Parque Kennedy, an even shorter walk to the beach, and is also right near a bus stop that will take you to Barranco.
Cost: Around $40USD per night for a private room
For more information: http://www.pier242mirafloresbnblima.bookinstant.co/
To help plan your trip to LIMA, check out some of my recent posts:
Mar Adentro Excursiones: Swim With Sea Lions in Lima
Cusco:
Hotel Cusi Wasi
Highlights: I found Hotel Cusi Wasi to be an incredible value, offerin free pickup from the airport, complimentary coca tea at all hours, and clean and comfortable private rooms for a very affordable price. My favorite feature was the gorgeous courtyard in the middle of the property which was bright from natural light, and was covered with greenery. A really nice hot breakfast is included in the price, and they start serving it early enough for tourists heading off on early morning treks!
Location: An easy 10 min walk or less to the main square, Plaza De Armas.
Cost: $40USD single room, $50USD double room
For more information: http://www.cusiwasi.com/
Intro Hostel
Highlights: From the outside, it doesn’t look like much. Then you open the doors to a secret courtyard located in an authentic colonial mansion that was built more than 400 years ago. I swear you can feel the history of this place. Our private room felt like a cave – and I mean that in a good way! It really did have a Medieval times feel to it, and I was totally digging it. Our ensuite bathroom had a nice clean, hot shower which was welcomed after returning from an overnight trek outside of Cusco.
Location: Great location only a few blocks from the main area of bars, restaurants, and even a grocery store.
Cost: $40USD private room, $8-$12USD dorms (14-6 bed dorm rooms)
For more information: http://www.introhostels.com/
Samana Inn & Spa
Highlights: My stay with Samana Inn & Spa was nothing short of magical. Looking out of the floor-to-ceiling windows from our gorgeous bedroom, all we could see were the endless tiled roofs of Cusco with mountains off in the distance. At night we opened the curtains to watch the twinkling lights of the town, and in the morning, we were happily woken to the sounds of the nearby church bells. It most certainly was the most romantic hotel I’ve ever stayed at. Aside from loving the room itself, I loved the medieval details like the cobblestone walls and the giant lanterns in the staircases. Everything about this place felt charming. With only 4 rooms available, you almost feel like you have the place to yourself. The complimentary breakfast is made to order by one of the super friendly staff members. Breakfast consists of freshly cut fruit, eggs and rolls with some of the best jam I’ve ever had. We had to be up and out early for a trek and they were more than willing to get breakfast going for us at an early hour.
Location: The Inn is centrally located, but is just enough off of the beaten path that you’re removed from the noisiness of the city.
Cost: $70USD for twin room, $90USD for queen room
For more information: http://www.samana-spa.com/
Hotel Casa De Fierro
Highlights: What stuck out the most about my stay at Hotel Casa Fierro was the staff. I’ve never received better service at a hotel before. First of all, we arrived really late in the evening and felt terrible about disturbing the staff, but was greeted with a huge smile and they got us checked in and into our room very quickly. After returning from a 4 day trek we were so exhausted, and it was nice to be shown to a warm and cozy room to recuperate in! After telling the staff that we needed to be up and out by 5:30am in order to catch a flight, they said they’d have breakfast ready for us at 5:15am, without hesitation.
Location: The inn is centrally located, but is just enough off of the beaten path that you’re removed from the noisiness of the city.
Cost: $40USD single room, $50USD queen room
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/CasadeFierroCusco/?ref=py_c
To help plan your trip to CUSCO, check out some of my recent posts:
6 Reasons to Hike Rainbow Mountain with Ayni Peru
What to Expect on the 4D/3N Lares Trek With Ayni Peru
How to Recover From a Cusco Trek
What to Do & Where to Stay in Cusco
Paracas:
Kokopelli
Highlights: I sometimes am overwhelmed by backpacker culture (which usually involves excessive partying) but still like to be social and this was the perfect place for me. The atmosphere is a no-worries-chill-zone, complete with an awesome pool that gets plenty of sunlight, great music, ping pong and a pool table. As I said, I’m not typically much of a party person, but the hostel activity volunteers do a great job of getting everyone involved without any sort of crazy party vibe. They offer activities every night of the week and I just so happened to be there for their ping pong tournament – I love to play ping pong and it was a great way to meet other travelers and have a good time. It ended up being one of my favorite nights during my travels in Peru! I also really liked the dorm rooms, which are pod-style, so you feel like you have more privacy than a typical dorm.
Location: This is a beachfront property, so it’s in a perfect location to watch the sunset or have your coffee in the sand in the morning. It’s also conveniently located really close to the center of town which is where you’ll need to go to catch a boat to the Ballestas or a tour to the Paracas National Reserve.
Cost: $9-$14USD dorm rooms, $36-$50USD private rooms
For more information: http://www.hostelkokopelli.com/welcome-to-kokopelli-paracas/
To help plan your trip to PARACAS, check out some of my recent posts:
The Ultimate Guide to Paracas: Peru’s Coastal Marvel
Ica:
EcoCamp Huacachina
Highlights: I loved my stay at Desert Nights EcoCamp mainly because it was such a unique experience while in Huacachina. It was nice to break up my long streak of hostel stays with “glamping” type accommodation.The tents are very spacious with all the amenities of a typical room, just without the sturdy walls! The beds are incredibly comfortable, and there’s even an extension cord to plug in a fan for the hot nights and to charge all of your electronics. Each tent has a table and chairs right outside to relax and gaze out at the surrounding sand dunes from. I also really loved the pool, which had plenty of sun loungers for sun-deprived travelers, and if you’re in the market for a drink, there’s even a swim up bar which I thought was really cool!
Location: A stone’s throw from the famous lagoon and the busier part of town.
Cost: $22USD for private tent & shared bathroom
For more information: http://ecocamphuacachina.com/
The Upcycled Hostel
Highlights: The Upcycled Hostel is a mini oasis in the middle of the desert and is the perfect spot to rest and recharge in a super relaxed atmosphere with the nicest hostel owners I have ever come across. The property itself is so unique, as they repurpose what others may call junk into gorgeous furniture and creative decor. From a bar made out of wine bottles, to bathroom sink bases made from Singer sewing machines – heck, even the grass is repurposed lawn clippings! It is a seriously eco-friendly hostel, and was immediately evident as to why they named it the Upcycled Hostel! I also loved the bright colors everywhere, the refreshing/clean pool in the center of the property and views of the surrounding sand dunes.
Location: This property is located outside of Huacachina, so don’t expect to be right near the lagoon, but it’s only a 10-15 min walk away.
Cost: $36USD double room (with shared bathroom), $16 dorm room
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/theupcycledhostel/
To help plan your trip to HUACACHINA, check out some of my recent posts:
Huacachina: The Adrenaline-Packed Desert Oasis of Peru
Disclaimer: I received complimentary stays at the above establishments for my opinions, but all opinions are my own. I only recommend places I would stay myself!
Wander On,
Wanderluluu xx
