If it were not for the beautiful Inca ruins nearby, or the architecture of Cusco, no one would leave Ecopackers. The hostel offers a bar, a pool room, and a deck to sunbathe on. There is a beautiful courtyard and and plenty of places to hang out. It is the ideal hostel.
EcoPackers, Santa Teresa 375, Cusco, Peru, +51 (084) 231800
While its location isn’t the best – it’s located downtown, so it doesn’t have the best nightlife and it can be dangerous at night – the hostel makes up for it in just about every way possible. The beautifully renovated old mansion is a pleasure to look at, a spacious building with well-kept rooms. There are perfect areas to just hang out and relax, and a pool table in the bar. Perhaps the main drawback is the constant Limeño traffic just outside, but that can be forgiven, because just down the street is one of Peru’s best museums, the Museo de Arte de Lima (MALI).
1900 Backpackers Hostel, Av Wilson 1588, Distrito de Lima 1, Lima, Peru, +51 (01) 4243358
Casablanca Hostel is built in the colonial style and is made of volcanic sillar, a type of volcanic rock. The building is located in the heart of the historic centre of the city of Arequipa, so the city’s main tourist attractions are just a short walk away. There are panoramic views of Arequipa’s main square from the hostel’s balconies, which are great places to have a drink or eat breakfast. The overall vibe of the place makes it feel more like a hotel than a hostel.
Located in the desert oasis of Huacachina, Banana’s Adventure is without a doubt a great place to stay. With a pool to kick back in and soak up the endless desert sun, a bar, delicious food, and a hammock alongside the lagoon, there is nothing that this hostel leaves you wanting. They also offer dune buggy tours and sand boarding trips.
Banana’s Adventure, Calle Ángela de Perotti s/n, Huacachina, Ica, Peru, +51 (056) 237129
If you don’t want to take part in the spring-break party scene, it’s probably best to stay away from Loki Mancora, because you’ll get that in heavy doses. If that’s what you’re after, this is the best possible place to come. To begin with, it is the most popular spot to go out at night in Mancora, so even if you don’t stay here you may end up here. The hostel is centered around a pool, with white rooms on one side and a bar on the other. There’s plenty of security all over the grounds. With computers for guests’ use, a bar, a pool, and the beach right outside the grounds, it makes for a very fun place to stay.
Loki Mancora, Av Piura 262, Máncora, Peru, +51 (073) 258484
Dragonfly Hostel has a perfect location in Miraflores, just a short walk from Peru’s most beautiful mall, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Parque Kennedy, Miraflores’ busiest park, with its surrounding shops and bars. The hostel also has a rooftop spot where you can chill in a hammock and drink a beer – that’s hard to beat.
Dragonfly Hostel, Avenida 28 de Julio 190, Miraflores, Lima, Peru, +51 (01) 6543226
This restored colonial house is constructed upon Inca crop terraces and offers you beautiful views of Cusco. It is another hostel that is almost too good to be true, resembling more of a hotel. Each room features a private bathroom with hot water, heating, a safe, telephone, and cable television. It is definitely not a party hostel, and really is more of a hotel, despite the name.
Hostal Corihuasi, Calle Suecia 561 Cusco, Peru, (+51) 84232233