What You Need to Know About Hotels and Restaurants in Peru

As the number of tourists coming to Peru goes up every year, so do the number of hotels and hostels and restaurants for visitors to choose from. The good news is that the quality of hospitality services has improved greatly over the last decade, although outside of the major tourist areas, accommodations can still be a bit sketchy.

Hotels in Peru

In major tourist cities like Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and Puno visitors will be able to find top of the line five-star hotels, with rates commiserate with other international hotels, often up to $250 a night. However, it's not necessary to spend that much to find a clean, comfortable hotel. There are many middle of the road hotels that still feature full amenities such as cable television, dining rooms and laundry service for prices ranging from $40 to $80.

For budget travelers and backpackers, there are smaller hotels and hostels that offer rooms for $20-40, and dorm style rooms with shared bathrooms can be had for as little as $10 a night. It's important to remember that hotels outside of the major urban areas may be considerably less accommodating that you are accustomed to. A lack of hot water is a common complaint heard from travelers. Some inns may offer hot water only during certain hours. Other basics like television or air conditioning may or may not be available at all. It's always best to confirm what services are available when you book your reservation. When traveling, always have a copy of your room reservations so that you - either from fax or email - so that you'll have something to fall back on in the case the hotel has lost your reservation or tries to hit you with extra charges.

Restaurants in Peru

The exquisite local cuisine is a large part of the country's appeal for many tourists, and every city and town in Peru will have a variety of restaurants to choose from. Most places will have at least one or two high quality restaurants where you may be surprised to find that a first class meal including drinks will run about $50 per person, on average. Many middle range restaurants can be found that offer good food and quality service for $10-20 per person. Outside of the major cities, prices will typically be lower - and foods will often be made with fresh ingredients from local markets. For the more adventurous who are willing to deal with perhaps less than ideal hygiene, there are many restaurantes criollos that offer typical Peruvian food in a home cooked style, often for as little as $2 per person. These meals, called menu, usually consist of an appetizer, main course and drink, sometimes with a dessert added on.