Accommodation in Peru

Understanding Your Peruvian Accommodations

Types of Stays on Your Itinerary

• City Hotels (Lima, Arequipa, Cusco): Your urban stays will range from modern, international chains to charming, locally-owned boutique hotels. Many are situated in beautifully restored colonial buildings, offering a direct connection to the city’s history.

• Sacred Valley Lodges & Haciendas: Accommodations here often feature beautiful gardens, rustic-chic design, and a focus on tranquility. They provide a serene and relaxing base for exploring the nearby ruins and natural landscapes.

• Amazon Jungle Lodges: Designed for deep immersion in nature, these lodges offer a unique experience. Expect well-screened rooms and protective mosquito nets. Electricity is often limited, which is an intentional part of the authentic jungle experience, allowing you to connect more fully with your surroundings.

• Lake Titicaca Homestays: This is a unique cultural opportunity. Accommodations are basic and rustic, often with shared bathrooms and no electricity, offering a genuine and memorable glimpse into the daily life of the local communities.

What’s Typically Included (And What’s Not)

• Breakfast: A buffet or continental breakfast is almost always included in hotels. In jungle lodges and homestays, you can expect a simple, wholesome, family-style meal to start your day.

• Wi-Fi: Internet is available in most hotels in cities and towns, though speed and reliability can vary. It is often slow or entirely non-existent in the Amazon and on the islands of Lake Titicaca, so please plan accordingly.

• Toiletries: Basic soap and shampoo are usually provided in your room. Conditioner is less common, so we recommend bringing your own if it is part of your daily routine.

• Air Conditioning & Heating: Heating is common and necessary in the high-altitude Andes (Cusco, Puno). Air conditioning is standard in the hotter coastal and jungle regions but is not always a feature in mountain accommodations.

• Drinking Water: Most hotels provide complimentary bottled water in your room, which is replenished daily. It is essential that you do not drink the tap water anywhere in Peru.

Hotel Standards and What to Expect

Common Amenities & Services

• Coca Tea (Mate de Coca): You will find this traditional tea offered complimentary in the lobbies of all high-altitude hotels (Cusco, Sacred Valley, Puno). It is the preferred local remedy for alleviating the mild effects of altitude sickness.

• Oxygen: To assist with altitude adjustment, many higher-end hotels in Cusco and Puno have oxygen available for guests upon request, either for in-room use or in a common area like the lobby.

• Hot Water: While generally reliable in city hotels, the hot water supply in more remote lodges or homestays can be limited. It is often heated by solar power, meaning the best time for a hot shower is typically in the afternoon.

• Laundry Service: Most hotels offer laundry service for an additional fee. While convenient, it can be expensive. For longer stays, local lavanderías are a more economical alternative.

Electrical Outlets and Voltage

• Voltage: The standard voltage in Peru is 220V at a frequency of 60Hz.

• Outlets: Peru uses two types of outlets: Type A (two flat parallel prongs, common in North America) and Type C (two round prongs, common in Europe).

• Your Action: Check your device’s power adapter to ensure it is rated for “dual voltage” (e.g., INPUT: 100-240V). If it is, you will only need a simple plug adapter to fit the wall socket. To ensure compatibility everywhere, we highly recommend bringing a universal travel adapter.

Regional Accommodation Specifics

Cusco & the Sacred Valley

• Many properties in this region are historic, beautifully converted monasteries or colonial mansions. This architectural charm means that rooms can vary considerably in size and shape, even within the same hotel.

• Due to the high altitude, we often request rooms on lower floors for your comfort upon arrival, making the initial adjustment a bit easier.

• The historic centers are characterized by narrow, cobblestone streets. Please be prepared for a short walk with your luggage if a vehicle cannot access the hotel’s front door directly.

The Amazon Jungle

• Electricity: Power at jungle lodges is typically generated on-site and may only run for specific hours of the day, such as a few hours in the morning and evening. We advise you to plan to charge your devices during these designated times.

• Connectivity: In the heart of the jungle, there is generally no cell service or Wi-Fi. We encourage you to embrace this as a rare and valuable opportunity to disconnect from the digital world and connect more deeply with nature.

• Wildlife & Insects: Your room is protected with screens and a mosquito net over the bed. However, it is normal to encounter various insects in a rainforest environment. A headlamp is essential for navigating the lodge grounds safely after dark.

Practicalities and Etiquette

Check-in and Check-out

• Procedure: Upon check-in, you will be required to present your passport and the original Tourist/Immigration Card (TAM – Tarjeta Andina de Migración) that you received upon entering Peru. Hotels require this document for tax exemption purposes. Please keep your TAM card in a safe place with your passport throughout your trip.

• Luggage Storage: All hotels will securely store your luggage if you arrive before check-in time or have a late departure after check-out. This service is also commonly used for overnight excursions, such as storing your main suitcase in the Sacred Valley while you take a small overnight bag to Machu Picchu.

Safety and Tipping

• In-Room Safe: For your peace of mind, always use the safe provided in your hotel room to store your passport, extra cash, and other valuable items.

• Tipping Staff: Tipping is not obligatory but is sincerely appreciated as a gesture for good service. The local currency (Soles) is preferred.

  • Porters/Bellhops: 3-5 Soles per bag is a customary amount.
  • Housekeeping: 5-7 Soles per day is appropriate. We suggest leaving the tip daily on the pillow or another visible spot; this ensures that the person who actually cleaned your room that day receives your gratuity.