When coming to Peru, most backpackers head straight to the infamous Machu Picchu but recently Peru’s capital Lima is stealing the spotlight for being a wonderful, modern city as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest city in Peru having a rich history, jaw-dropping culture, and a unique amalgam of modern developments and colonial architecture.
All in all, Lima is a backpacker’s paradise having serene Pacific beaches as well as high, breathtaking mountains. Its city center is adorned with gaudy-colored buildings of the colonial era, pre-Columbian pyramids, and ornate churches.
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It is a sprawling metropolis and can overwhelm any backpacker coming here for the first time. It offers a plethora of unique barrios which can be unnerving if you, as a backpacker, are trying to decide on a place to stay. But the good thing is that there are many good, affordable, and safe hostels spread throughout the metropolis. So, without further ado, let us look into the 10 best hostels in Lima, for backpackers:
Hostel Kokopelli Lima (N.1. hostel)
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If you’re traveling to Lima and looking for a place to stay, then Hostel Kokopelli is the perfect spot. The location of this hostel is great because it is situated on the cutting-edge and safe territory of Miraflores. The inn is encompassed by bars and eateries offering worldwide cooking to equal anything in South America.
The Larcomar mall on the Malecon offers lovely perspectives of the coastline and is just within walking distance of a 10-minute walk. The primary visitor sights are found a 40-minute transport ride away.
The apartments are generally extensive and highlight wooden cots with truly agreeable bedding. The rooms are cleaned consistently.
The unique highlight of this hostel isn’t only the architecture but also its open terrace. There you’ll have a lively rooftop bar, which lets you relax or make new friends. Plus, there will be also lots of fun activities with great music.
Black Llama Hostel Miraflores
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Set in the center of Miraflores, Black Llama is another great hostel in Lima. It’s fairly new. Yet, it has already managed to win a Hoscar in 2022 as the most EXTRAordinary New Hostel.
It features 14 rooms, 6 of which are private rooms with a balcony and their own bathroom. Each of the beds in the dorms has a locker and a charging station.
On the rooftop, you will find a bar with a restaurant that offers a variety of foods and drinks. However, what makes Black Llama unique is definitely the garden on the first level. It’s very lush and often referred to as the urban jungle by both the staff and guests.
Around the hostel, there are plenty of cafés, and restaurants, as well as an active party scene. Don’t worry about the noise, though. Double windows cut the sounds from the streets.
Pariwana Backpackers Hostels
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Any young traveler looking not only for an affordable but also a fun place to stay should consider staying in Pariwana Backpackers hostel. The list of amenities this hostel provides is quite long tbh!
Free wi-fi, complimentary breakfast, board games, laundry service, a book exchange, TV with movies, you name it! Whatever you need to make your stay in Lima super comfy, they have it for you right at your disposal! It also has a lot of common places in its social settings allowing its guests to pass a good time playing Ping-Pong or football. It has a nice outdoor terrace for guests to hang out in.
No hostel is complete without a bar and Pariwana Backpackers Hostel has made sure that its bar is not only providing affordable drinks but has a fun atmosphere too! Apart from that, guests can choose from dorm rooms of six, eight, ten, twelve, or fourteen beds.
Point Hostel Lima
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Point Hostel Lima is another beautiful mansion dating back to the colonial era. It is located quite near the “Puente de los suspiros” in Barranco which is a really vibrant, lively, bohemian, and colorful neighborhood in Lima.
This hostel also has a bar that stays open till 1 at night. Other than that, the guests of Point Hostel Lima can also take a short walk to enjoy Barranco’s nightlife. This hostel is also situated in a peaceful and quiet area of Barranco, away from all the hustle of the metropolis. It is also very close to the beach as well.
Dragonfly Hostel
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If any backpackers are on the lookout for a hostel having a perfect location, then Dragonfly hostel is just the right hostel for them. It is situated very near one of Peru’s most exquisite Malls. This mall overlooks the Parque Kennedy and the Pacific Ocean.
Parque Kennedy is a famous tourist spot and is probably the busiest park in Miraflores, surrounded by various shopping areas and bars. One of the coolest features of this hostel is its rooftops which are made comfier thanks to hammocks where the guests can chill with a beer and have the time of their lives in the magical city of Lima!
Alpes Lima
Another name for comfort on a budget in Lima is Alpes Lima. The amenities this hostel provides to its traveler guests are quite a lot. Library, wi-fi, computers common areas, outdoor terrace, on-site bar, shared kitchen game arenas, etc. whatever you need, you name it and they have it for you!
Alpes Lima, located in the middle of Miraflores, is about three blocks away from Larcomar Mall has a plethora of restaurants for you to calm your taste buds, and is four blocks away from Kennedy Park. It is just five minutes away from the beach as well! It has both private and dorm rooms available.
1900 Backpackers Hostel
It is a beautiful, vintage mansion renovated and converted into a hostel. It is pleasing to the eyes, very spacious, and has well-kept, nice, cozy rooms. Its location is a bit sketchy as it is located downtown but the hostel makes up for its slightly edgy location. A pool table in the bar, and other areas for hanging out, make it an ideal hostel for any backpacker. Just down the street from this hostel, there is one of Peru’s best museums known as Lima’s museum of art.
Any avid traveler looking for not only historic places to visit but also to stay in should definitely opt for 1900 Backpackers Hostel. This exquisite white mansion is bound to take the backpacker back in time.
Barranco’s Backpackers Inn
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A view of the ocean, in any hostel, is what every backpacker desire but it isn’t what every hostel provides with its rooms. But Backpackers Inn not only has an exquisite interior but is also right next to the breathtaking Pacific Ocean. It is one of the perfect locations in Peru’s top neighborhoods.
Global Family Backpackers Hostel Lima
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The Global Family Backpackers Hostel is one of the best hostels in Lima. It is perfect for backpackers, easy on the pocket, and gives you an amazing atmosphere. The location of this hostel is superb because it’s located within 1-3 km of Larcomar in Lima. There are three more places which will be in your grasp during your stay at this hostel. They are the Museum of the Nation which is 6 to 8 km from this hostel, San Martín Square is 9 to 11 km, and Jorge Chavez International Airport is 15 to 16 km away.
In addition, you’re just 4-6 minutes away from the center of Miraflores and Larcomar shopping center (The best in Lima). Besides, Makaha beach is within a walking distance of 4-6 minutes. This place gives you the opportunity to do skating, paragliding, and cycling. If you love surfing, then you’re in luck. You can easily get boards and wetsuits but on rent.
There is a safe and sound environment near this hostel (2 blocks from this superb hostel) if you want to walk, jog or cycle.
The rooms of this hostel are amazing. The beds are of superb quality, and through the windows, you get awesome sea air. The bathrooms are good too. They have everything which a person needs during a shower.
Albergue Miraflores House
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Backpackers coming to Lima, Peru must not miss the “Huaca Pucllana”; the surreal ruins of the Pre-Columbian era, situated in the middle of Miraflore’s busy business district. Parque Kennedy and the nightlife of Miraflores are also experiences one must take when visiting Lima. And luckily, Albergue Miraflores House is situated in the very ideal location, being in the vicinity of all the above mentioned hot tourist attractions of Lima, Peru.
Not only this, but the guests of Albergue Miraflores House can also rent a bike from them and go on a beautiful ride along the Miraflores waterfront. Its guests can also take benefit from the facilities of foosball, and plenty of available musical instruments(such as organs, amplifiers, speakers, microphones, electric bass, and electric and acoustic guitars) to make their stay more fun and memorable.
Malka Youth Hostel
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Located in an upscale district of San Isidro, Malka Youth Hostel provides a calm, cozy and peaceful environment to those seeking it! It offers a relaxing and quiet stay to its guests. Its rooms are not only clean but also super comfortable with a backyard, making the stay more satisfactory.
One of the biggest perks of staying in Malka Youth Hostel is that it is quite close to Peru’s Rapid Bus System El Metropolitano. This allows backpackers, staying in Malka Youth Hostel, to be able to travel to various places in Lima very quickly, even during busy hours.
B&B Tradiciones Miraflores
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This is one of those hostels that give special importance to personal attention. The folks running this hostel are its owners who ensure every guest has maximum comfort. These owners are kind enough to not only care for you but also guide you about traveling in Lima, help you with various bookings, maps, etc. or they might even take you to your destination themselves.
Free coffee, water, tea, and 24-hour internet are mandatory facilities you get to enjoy. Not only this but the room price also includes your breakfast. The rooms are also nice, and spacious and have nearly all the basic room facilities such as TV, Ceiling fan, etc.
B&B Tradiciones Miraflores is located in a nice neighborhood of Miraflores and is right next to Tradiciones Park.
Mana Lima Hostel
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This hostel is situated next to the center of Miraflores, which is an exclusive residential and commercial district of Lima. It is in close vicinity of the beach as well as a couple of bars and restaurants.
Its staff is quite affable and happy adding to the cool vibes of one of the best hostels in Lima.
So here are the 10 best hostels in Lima for backpackers to choose from. Their stay in any one of these hostels is bound to make their experience more comfortable and amazing. All these hostels are located in ideal and strategic locations in Lima, thus enabling backpackers to experience the city in greater depth. The best part about these hostels is that they all provide a lot of facilities to their guests, such as gaming arenas, hammocks, TVs, bars, common lounges, music stations, etc. apart from the other necessities and that too at a very affordable rate. Anyone staying here can expect to leave their hostel with a couple of new friends and a great yet comfortable stay experience.
Check out some cheap hotel alternatives in Lima.
The owners of a lot of these hostels are very considerate, giving attention to each and every detail of their hostel and the experience of their guests. Their affable nature can allow guests to not only feel safe but also take their help in finding out about traveling across the city, maps, cool locations, and local experiences. For travelers who want to fully immerse themselves in the local culture, cuisine, and city life without splurging too much, these hostels offer a perfect option for them. Thanks to their close vicinity with other famous tourist spots and historic sights, backpackers can save a lot of money by taking short walks to several sights and thus, can get the best out of the enchanted city of Lima, Peru.
Author: Samantha is a travel blogger and content creator at Xtreme Car Hire.