Your stay — Cuzco Plaza Hostel
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The Property — Cuzco Plaza Hostel
The Cuzco Plaza Hostel sits on the Plaza de Armas, so you step straight into Cusco’s main square. It’s a converted colonial mansion with a courtyard, basic but clean rooms, and a communal feel — think backpackers and budget travellers swapping stories over pisco sours. The real draw is the location: you’re right under the cathedral and a two-minute walk from San Pedro Market. It suits anyone who wants to be in the thick of things and doesn’t mind thin walls or shared bathrooms.
Chronicles of Cusco
Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire, founded in the 12th century by Manco Cápac. After the Spanish conquest in 1534, they built churches and mansions directly on Inca foundations, creating a unique blend of stone walls and Baroque facades. Today the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with Quechua still spoken alongside Spanish. It’s the gateway to Machu Picchu, but also a vibrant Andean city with a thriving arts scene, markets, and festivals. The Plaza de Armas remains the historic and social hub, as it has been for centuries.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cusco guide →Best months
April and May for clear skies and fewer tourists; September also works — sunny days, smaller crowds than June–August.
Peak / festival surge
June through August is peak season because of the dry weather and summer holidays. The Inti Raymi festival on June 24 draws huge crowds; prices at budget places like Cuzco Plaza Hostel can double. Book months ahead.
Budget shoulder season
March and November are good budget picks. You’ll get some rain but far fewer tourists and lower prices. October also works if you avoid the start-of-month holidays.
Weather & packing
Cusco’s climate is dry and sunny by day but drops to near freezing at night, especially in July. Pack layers: a warm fleece or down jacket for evenings, a sun hat and sunscreen for midday, and sturdy waterproof shoes for cobbled streets.
Live City Briefing — Cusco
- The city has finished a major pedestrianisation of Calle del Medio and part of the Plaza de Armas — expect less traffic but longer walks from taxis to the square.
- A new direct bus from Cusco to Machu Picchu (via Ollantaytambo) started in March 2026, run by PeruRail in partnership with local buses; it’s cheaper than the train
- San Pedro Market reopened after a two-month renovation — the food stalls are still solid, but some vendors have moved around, so ask locals for your favourite soup spot.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Cuzco Plaza Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the internal courtyard rather than the street. These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough for easy stair access (no lift mentioned). The courtyard side is quieter and gets decent natural light.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (they are noisier from the lobby and street). Also skip any rooms at the back near the service area, which may have early-morning kitchen or staff noise.
Best views
Upper-floor rooms facing the street offer views of the historic centre rooftops and mountains, but trade off noise. Courtyard views are pleasant but limited.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest as they are further from street and ground-level activity.
🔊 Noise notes
Cusco's narrow streets amplify traffic, especially mototaxis and tour buses. The hostel is on a main road, so street-facing rooms can be loud from 7am–10pm. Weekend nights also have bar and restaurant noise nearby.
Insider tips
1) Request a courtyard room when booking to reduce street noise. 2) Pack earplugs just in case; the walls are thin between rooms, and early-morning church bells are common.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Cuzco Plaza Hostel
Free WiFi in common areas and most rooms (single network 'CuzcoPlaza'). No paid tier; speed sufficient for email and browsing (~10 Mbps); login required – ask at reception for code
No lift – this is a 3-storey colonial house with narrow stairs; no stairs-only historic sections but all rooms are walk-up
No printed newspapers; occasional local tourist maps at desk. The building is a restored 16th-century colonial courtyard house with a central patio
Check-in from 13:00; early bag drop available from 09:00 (free). Late check-out until 14:00 for PEN 20; after 14:00 charged as full night
Free secure luggage storage at reception; no time limit
No step-free access – main entrance has a small step; no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms. Not suitable for guests with mobility issues
No on-site or valet parking. Nearest public car park: Estacionamiento El Sol (Calle El Sol 10) – PEN 25 per 24h, a 10-minute walk. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (not applicable for hostels in Cusco; no separate tourist tax at booking)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking via credit card; holds PEN 50 per room for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Capilla San Antonio Abad (87 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Capilla (87 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de El Triunfo (121 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Templo de la Sagrada Familia (129 m · ~2 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Inti Killa — 612 m · ~8 min walk
Parque Tricentenario — 245 m · ~3 min walk
Museo de Arte Precolombino — 110 m · ~1 min walk
Paraninfo Universitario — 359 m · ~4 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
globalnet — 27 m · ~1 min walk
Mifarma — 412 m · ~5 min walk
Mukis Market — 183 m · ~2 min walk
Pavitos — 1.2 km · ~14 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Exchange money at authorised exchange houses in central Cusco for better rates; avoid airport and tourist bureau kiosks as they offer poor rates.
Credit and debit cards widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and larger shops, but smaller markets and taxis prefer cash. Contactless is common in many places.
Restaurants: 10% if service charge not included. Taxis: rounding up the fare. Hotel staff: small tip for porters (1-2 soles) and daily housekeeping (5-10 soles).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic coffee from a market stall or bakery costs around 3-5 soles.
A set menu (menu ejecutivo) from a local eatery costs 10-15 soles for soup, main, and a drink.
A main course at a basic restaurant costs 12-20 soles.
Cusco's San Pedro Market has cheap stalls for empanadas, anticuchos, and tamales; also common around the Plaza de Armas evenings.
Supermarkets like Plaza Vea and Metro are common in Cusco; smaller bodegas are everywhere for basics.
San Pedro Market and nearby streets offer cheap alpaca wool sweaters, hats, and Andean textiles; haggling is expected.
Local combis (shared minibuses) cost 1-2 soles per ride; from the airport, a colectivo to the centre is around 5 soles per person.
Eat at local markets and set-menu lunch spots. Book tours and Machu Picchu tickets independently online in advance. Carry a reusable water bottle and use water refill stations to avoid overpriced bottled water.
Good to know — Cusco
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.39 · PEN
Emergency Contacts
CuscoWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Cusco, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Cuzco Plaza Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · globalnet — 27 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Mifarma — 412 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Airport exit (main road) → Plaza de Armas (2 blocks from Hostal La Union)
💡 Boards outside the terminal on Av. La Cultura. Flag one down. They're cramped with luggage, fine with a small backpack. Drop at 'Plaza' – then walk up Calle Suecia.
Av. Grau (colectivo stop) → Ollantaytambo (for train to Machu Picchu)
💡 Faster than bus. Hail one heading west on Av. Grau (cars with 'Ollantaytambo' on windshield). They leave when full (4-5 passengers). Much cheaper than PeruRail's shuttle.
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) → Hostal La Union (Cusco city centre)
💡 Don't take touts at arrivals. Walk past the taxi sellers to the official 'Taxi Seguro' booth just outside – same price, no haggling.
Av. Grau (2 blocks from Hostal La Union) → Urubamba (Sacred Valley)
💡 Cheapest way to the Sacred Valley. Look for 'El Chaski' or 'Túpac Amaru' signs. Sit on the left for views of Patacancha Valley. Cash only – exact change.
About Cusco
Wikipedia ↗
Cusco or Cuzco (; Latin American Spanish: [ˈkusko]; Quechua: Qosqo or Qusqu, both pronounced in Cuzco Quechua as [ˈqosqɔ]) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range, and the Huatanay and Urubamba rivers. It is the capital and largest city of the eponymous Cus...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the internal courtyard rather than the street. These floors are high enough to avoid ground-level noise but low enough for easy stair access (no lift mentioned). The courtyard side is quieter and gets decent natural light.
Which rooms should I avoid at Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (they are noisier from the lobby and street). Also skip any rooms at the back near the service area, which may have early-morning kitchen or staff noise.
Is Cuzco Plaza Hostel noisy?
Cusco's narrow streets amplify traffic, especially mototaxis and tour buses. The hostel is on a main road, so street-facing rooms can be loud from 7am–10pm. Weekend nights also have bar and restaurant noise nearby.
Which rooms have the best views at Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
Upper-floor rooms facing the street offer views of the historic centre rooftops and mountains, but trade off noise. Courtyard views are pleasant but limited.
What are insider tips for staying at Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
1) Request a courtyard room when booking to reduce street noise. 2) Pack earplugs just in case; the walls are thin between rooms, and early-morning church bells are common.
What time is check-in at Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
Check-in at Cuzco Plaza Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Cuzco Plaza Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in common areas and most rooms (single network 'CuzcoPlaza'). No paid tier; speed sufficient for email and browsing (~10 Mbps); login required – ask at reception for code
Is there a city or tourist tax at Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
None (not applicable for hostels in Cusco; no separate tourist tax at booking)
Where can I eat cheaply near Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
A set menu (menu ejecutivo) from a local eatery costs 10-15 soles for soup, main, and a drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Cuzco Plaza Hostel?
Local combis (shared minibuses) cost 1-2 soles per ride; from the airport, a colectivo to the centre is around 5 soles per person.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
April and May for clear skies and fewer tourists; September also works — sunny days, smaller crowds than June–August.
Top Attractions in Cusco
💡 Try the jugo de papaya con avena (papaya oat smoothie) from Stall 112, about 3 soles. Go in the morning for the best selection.
💡 Go at sunset for the best light, and bring water. The walk up from Plaza de Armas takes about 20 minutes. No entrance fee, but tip the guard if you use the small lookout tower.
💡 Free guided tours of the cathedral happen after Sunday mass (11am) if you hang around. Alternatively, just enjoy the free Wi-Fi from the plaza.
💡 Free entry on Sundays from 2pm to 5pm. Check their website as hours vary in low season.
💡 Visit just before closing at 5pm to avoid crowds and catch golden light. The Cusco Tourist Ticket covers this plus several other ruins and museums.