A Comprehensive Guide to Accommodation Options in Peru

Accommodation Options in Peru

Accommodation options in Peru range from rustic homestays to luxury lodges and everything in between. Prices also vary greatly, therefore, you’ll soon learn to match both your budget and your style of travel to the ideal type of lodging.

Hostels in Peru

Peruvian hostels target the international backpacker market, making them excellent places to meet other travelers. The best hostels are well equipped for their foreign guests, providing spacious lounge areas, internet access, tour options, and multilingual staff.

However, due to these added extras, hostels are not necessarily the cheapest deal in town. A bunk bed in a crowded dorm may seem like an ultimate budget accommodation option, but you’ll find similar prices in Peru’s cheaper hotels and guesthouses. If you desire a social atmosphere, hostels are hard to beat; however, if privacy and comfort are your priorities, consider other alternatives.

Peruvian Guesthouses

Guesthouses, known as alojamientos, hospedajes, or albergues, sit somewhere between hostels and hotels. They rarely have packed dorm rooms, instead offering a selection of rooms containing 1 to 4 beds.

Guesthouses are generally family-run, giving them a relaxed and homely ambiance. Consequently, service is informal, with standards varying greatly depending upon the whims of the owner. If you’re not a fan of cramped hostels or impersonal hotels, Peruvian guesthouses provide a cheerful and budget-friendly alternative.

Budget Hotels in Peru

Some of Peru’s budget hotels are nothing more than one-star, pay-per-hour love nests with wafer-thin walls. At the lower end of the spectrum, expect poor service, rundown rooms, and a general lack of personality. Security can also be a concern, especially if you end up in a ramshackle hotel in a dubious neighborhood.

However, some one- and two-star budget hotels often turn out to be hidden gems; therefore, don’t discount them completely—just inspect your room before making a decision.

Midrange Hotels in Peru

Peru’s three-star hotels present a mixed bag. Many midrange hotels are characterless establishments designed with Peruvian businessmen in mind rather than international tourists. However, some target the tourist market, providing English-speaking receptionists, tours, and plenty of local information.

Midrange hotels typically offer cable TV, hot showers, fans or air conditioning, and increasingly, Wi-Fi connections. Better three-star options may include airport or bus terminal transfers, complimentary breakfasts, and potentially decent swimming pools.

Top-End Hotels in Peru

With the development of top-end hotel chains, such as Inkaterra and Casa Andina, tourists now have a far wider range of luxury accommodation options in Peru. This is particularly true in tourist hotspots like Lima, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa.

These high-end options don’t come cheap (starting at $100 and up); however, features such as spas, gyms, award-winning restaurants, and impeccable service certainly soften the financial burden. History buffs also have the chance to stay in some of Peru’s oldest buildings, best exemplified by Cusco’s historic hotels with their Inca foundations and colonial walls.

Peruvian Jungle Lodges

Peru has been a late bloomer in terms of international standard accommodation, yet an increasing number of luxury lodges have emerged to cater for honeymooners and high-rolling wildlife enthusiasts.

Jungle lodges are a Peruvian specialty; however, they are well above the budget of most shoestring backpackers. If you can stretch your finances, you won’t find a more comfortable way to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the vast Amazon region. Popular jungle lodge hotspots include Iquitos, Madre de Dios, and the Tambopata and Manu rainforest regions of Peru.

Peruvian Eco Lodges

The jungle isn’t the only place to relax in a luxury lodge. Eco-lodges are appearing in some of Peru’s most spectacular settings, such as the solar-powered Casa Andina Isla Suasi lodge, located on an island in Lake Titicaca, and Las Casitas del Colca at Colca Canyon.

Homestays

Homestays offer an excellent opportunity to experience genuine Peruvian culture. Although it’s not a particularly common accommodation option in Peru, there are agencies that can assist in organizing a stay with a Peruvian family.

The standard of accommodation can vary significantly, especially in rural areas, so be prepared for a change of lifestyle. Many homestays primarily cater to students on long-term study abroad programs; however, tourists can also arrange shorter stays. Cusco and Lake Titicaca are two popular destinations for homestays.

Camping in Peru

Campsites are almost nonexistent in Peru. Unless you’re planning multi-day hikes or expeditions, having a tent may not be particularly useful. Nonetheless, you could always ask a local if you may set up camp in their backyard.

Safety should be a concern if you choose to camp in random locations, so always proceed with caution and ensure you’re not setting yourself up as an easy target for opportunistic thieves. Before pitching your tent, take into account your immediate environment—natural hazards such as floods and landslides are common in Peru.