Your stay — Hostal Dana Inn
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The Property — Hostal Dana Inn
Hostal Dana Inn feels like a practical base camp for Cusco’s altitude and history – a clean, no-fuss three-star with a small courtyard garden and a breakfast room serving coca tea and bread. The vibe is functional rather than charming, aimed at budget-conscious travellers who need a reliable sleep and easy access to Plaza de Armas (five minutes’ walk). Standing in the lobby you see a tiled floor, a worn sofa, and a receptionist handing out altitude-sickness advice. It suits backpackers and independent tourists who prioritise location and price over character.
Chronicles of Cusco
Cusco was the historic capital of the Inca Empire, founded around the 12th century as a puma-shaped city centred on the Plaza de Armas. After the Spanish conquest in 1533, they built churches and mansions atop Inca stone foundations – the blend of Inca walls and Baroque facades is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city remained a colonial administrative hub through the 16th and 17th centuries, then declined relative to Lima. Today Cusco is the gateway to Machu Picchu and a living museum of Andean culture, with Quechua still spoken in its cobbled streets.
Best Time to Visit
Full Cusco guide →Best months
May, June, July – the dry season offers clear skies and daytime highs around 20°C, perfect for hiking ruins and exploring the Sacred Valley. Crowds are heavy in July, but the weather is most reliable for outdoor plans.
Peak / festival surge
July is the absolute peak month, driven by the Fiestas Patrias (Peruvian Independence Day, 28 July) and the Inti Raymi festival (24 June, spilling into early July). Hotel prices double or triple, and Plaza de Armas is packed with parades and processions.
Budget shoulder season
April and November offer a decent compromise: fewer tourists, milder weather (some rain but not the deluge of January), and hotel prices 30–50% lower than July. November has the added draw of the Qoyllur Rit’i pilgrimage.
Weather & packing
Cusco sits at 3,400 metres, so UV is fierce and afternoons can turn suddenly cold or rainy even in the dry season. Pack layers: a fleece, a waterproof windbreaker, sunglasses, and sunscreen (SPF 50+). A hat and a reusable water bottle help with altitude headaches.
Live City Briefing — Cusco
- Cusco’s main train station (Estación Wanchaq) is undergoing platform upgrades until late 2026, so check PeruRail schedules for potential delays to/from Ollantaytambo.
- Plaza de Armas pedestrianisation is now permanent on weekends – no vehicle access from Friday evening to Sunday night, which is fine for walkers but affects taxi drop-offs near the hotel.
- A new municipal rule bans single-use plastic bags and bottles in historic centre shops and restaurants; bring a refillable bottle and consider a tote bag for purchases.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostal Dana Inn, 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 interior courtyard rather than Avenida el Sol. These floors are high enough to reduce street-level activity but still within the lift range, and the courtyard side is significantly quieter.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the first floor or facing Avenida el Sol directly. First-floor rooms suffer from lobby and street noise, and those facing the avenue will get constant traffic rumble from dawn until late evening.
Best views
The best view is from upper-floor rooms facing southeast, looking over the lower rooftops toward the hills around Cusco—better than a direct avenue view, which is just traffic and shop fronts.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest—well above street noise but below any roof-level activity. The lift typically serves all floors, so these mid-floors balance convenience with calm.
🔊 Noise notes
Avenida el Sol is a main thoroughfare with buses, taxis, and mototaxis from about 6am to 10pm. The hotel entrance is on this avenue, so rooms at the front get steady noise. Inside courtyard rooms are much quieter. Lift machinery may hum intermittently on all floors.
Insider tips
1. Check-in early (before 2pm) to have a better chance of securing a courtyard-facing room. 2. The hotel's location on Avenida el Sol puts you within a 10-minute walk to the Plaza de Armas—ask at reception for a map to avoid the steepest streets.
- 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 — Hostal Dana Inn
Free WiFi throughout; typical download speed 15 Mbps, capped at 2 devices per room
No lift; all rooms accessed via stairs (three floors)
No complimentary newspapers; lobby TV shows local news
Check-in 13:00–23:00; early bag drop allowed from 08:00; late check-out fee 50 PEN until 14:00, subject to availability
Free secure storage for same-day arrivals and departures
No step-free access; stairs at entrance and no lift; ground-floor rooms available on request but with step at doorway
No on-site parking; nearest public car park at Plaza San Francisco, 10-minute walk, 30 PEN per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit at booking; 200 PEN incidental hold per room at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: San Blas (203 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Capilla San Antonio Abad (463 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Capilla (499 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia de El Triunfo (520 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Inti Killa — 989 m · ~12 min walk
Plazoleta Santa Catalina — 504 m · ~6 min walk
Museo de la Coca — 148 m · ~2 min walk
Paraninfo Universitario — 710 m · ~9 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Cajero BCP — 213 m · ~3 min walk
Farmacia Plaza — 574 m · ~7 min walk
Green Stop Vegan Store — 42 m · ~1 min walk
Collectivos a Pisac Colca — 991 m · ~12 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Exchange at banks or official exchange houses (casas de cambio) in central Cusco; avoid airport and hotel bureaux for poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and larger shops; cash essential for markets, street food, and taxis.
Restaurants: 10% if service charge not included. Taxis: round up or small tip optional. Hotel staff: 5–10 soles per day for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Coffee from a market stall or bakery – around 5–7 soles.
Menu del día (soup + main + drink) at a local eatery – 10–15 soles.
Main dish at a simple restaurant – 15–20 soles.
Empanadas or anticuchos from carts near Plaza de Armas or San Pedro Market – 3–5 soles each.
Supermercado Metro or local markets like San Pedro Market for cheap produce.
San Pedro Market or the artisan alleys near Plaza de Armas for affordable alpaca wool and textiles.
Buses (combi) cost 0.50–1 sol per ride; from airport, take a colectivo (shared taxi) to the centre for ~5–10 soles.
Eat at market stalls for the best value lunches; book tours in Cusco city not online; use shared taxis rather than private.
Good to know — Cusco
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · 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 Hostal Dana Inn
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Cajero BCP — 213 m · ~3 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Plaza — 574 m · ~7 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hostal Dana Inn?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the interior courtyard rather than Avenida el Sol. These floors are high enough to reduce street-level activity but still within the lift range, and the courtyard side is significantly quieter.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostal Dana Inn?
Avoid rooms on the first floor or facing Avenida el Sol directly. First-floor rooms suffer from lobby and street noise, and those facing the avenue will get constant traffic rumble from dawn until late evening.
Is Hostal Dana Inn noisy?
Avenida el Sol is a main thoroughfare with buses, taxis, and mototaxis from about 6am to 10pm. The hotel entrance is on this avenue, so rooms at the front get steady noise. Inside courtyard rooms are much quieter. Lift machinery may hum intermittently on all floors.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostal Dana Inn?
The best view is from upper-floor rooms facing southeast, looking over the lower rooftops toward the hills around Cusco—better than a direct avenue view, which is just traffic and shop fronts.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostal Dana Inn?
1. Check-in early (before 2pm) to have a better chance of securing a courtyard-facing room. 2. The hotel's location on Avenida el Sol puts you within a 10-minute walk to the Plaza de Armas—ask at reception for a map to avoid the steepest streets.
What time is check-in at Hostal Dana Inn?
Check-in at Hostal Dana Inn is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostal Dana Inn have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; typical download speed 15 Mbps, capped at 2 devices per room
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostal Dana Inn?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostal Dana Inn?
Menu del día (soup + main + drink) at a local eatery – 10–15 soles.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostal Dana Inn?
Buses (combi) cost 0.50–1 sol per ride; from airport, take a colectivo (shared taxi) to the centre for ~5–10 soles.
When is the best time to visit Cusco?
May, June, July – the dry season offers clear skies and daytime highs around 20°C, perfect for hiking ruins and exploring the Sacred Valley. Crowds are heavy in July, but the weather is most reliable for outdoor plans.
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.