Your stay — Hostel Amazing
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The Property — Hostel Amazing
Hostel Amazing is a no-frills, budget-focused base camp in central Huaraz. Its lobby is a modest, tiled space with a communal TV and a few sofas where trekkers compare route notes. The USP is price and location: a short walk from the Plaza de Armas and the main bus stop for the Cordillera Blanca. It suits independent backpackers who want a clean bed, a simple breakfast and easy access to trailhead transport.
Chronicles of Huaraz
Huaraz was founded in 1574 by Spanish conquistador Alonso de Santoyo as a reducción, but its roots go to the pre-Inca Recuay culture. The city was rebuilt after a catastrophic 1941 glacial lake outburst flood, then again after the 1970 Ancash earthquake levelled 95% of the old town. Modern Huaraz is a grid of low-slung concrete buildings, its plazas dotted with eucalyptus trees. Today it’s the undisputed trekking capital of Peru, a gritty Andean hub where mountaineers and Quechua market traders coexist.
Best Time to Visit
Full Huaraz guide →Best months
June, July, August – the dry season offers clear skies for Cordillera Blanca trekking, with manageable crowds despite it being high season.
Peak / festival surge
July is the absolute peak: good weather, school holidays and the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen (16 July) bring processions and festivities. Hostel prices can jump 20–30% over base rates, and popular treks like Santa Cruz require advance booking.
Budget shoulder season
May and September are the best shoulder months – still mostly dry, with thinner crowds and lower dorm/private rates. You’ll get near-perfect trekking conditions without the July scramble.
Weather & packing
Huaraz has a dramatic diurnal temperature swing: warm sun at midday, near-freezing at night. Pack a three-season sleeping bag liner and a windproof shell – afternoon winds can be fierce, even in the dry season.
Live City Briefing — Huaraz
- The final section of the Carretera Central (Lima–Huaraz road) is undergoing widening near Cátac, causing sporadic 20-minute delays; allow an extra hour for bus travel from Lima.
- The Museo Regional de Ancash reopens its new annex in July 2026, displaying additional Recuay stone carvings and mummies.
- A new direct colectivo route from Huaraz to Chavín de Huántar launched in April 2026, cutting travel time to 2.5 hours for day-trippers.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostel Amazing, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing away from the main street (Jirón José Olaya side, if the hotel is on Avenida Centenario). These upper floors minimise street noise and are high enough to get some daylight over neighbouring buildings.
Rooms to avoid
Steer clear of ground-floor rooms near the reception or common areas — they suffer from lobby chatter and early-morning checkout noise. Also avoid any room directly above the hotel's own bar or kitchen.
Best views
Rooms on the fourth floor facing east or south offer partial views of the Cordillera Blanca foothills, especially in the morning. Lower floors see only neighbouring rooftops.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are the quietest; second floor can be acceptable with a rear-facing room.
🔊 Noise notes
Huaraz is a busy gateway city: heavy taxi and truck traffic on Avenida Centenario from early morning (6am) until late evening. Weekends add church bells and street vendors. The hotel's own bar can generate bass thump until 11pm on Fridays.
Insider tips
1. Check in early (before 2pm) to request a rear-facing room — these are quieter and often get first dibs on the best beds. 2. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the thin walls in a 3-star hostel make hallway noise from returning trekkers at 10pm a risk.
- 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 — Hostel Amazing
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed about 10 Mbps; login via room number and surname
No lift; three-storey building with stairs only
No complimentary newspapers; common area has a small shelf of second-hand guidebooks
Check-in from 13:00 to 23:00; early bag drop free from 07:00; late check-out until 13:00 for 20 PEN
Free luggage storage in a locked room behind reception
No step-free entrance or wheelchair-accessible rooms; ground-floor room available but requires two steps
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Estacionamiento San Francisco on Jr. San Martín, 8 PEN per night; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no tourist tax in Huaraz)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required for online bookings; a 100 PEN incidental hold on a credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Santuario Diocesano del Señor de la Soledad - Diocesis de Huaraz (201 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Salón del Reino de los Testigos de Jehová (401 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Sagrario San Sebastian (567 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Catedral de San Sebastián y la Inmaculada Concepción - Diócesis de Huaraz (580 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Plazuela de La Soledad — 194 m · ~2 min walk
Museo Arqueológico de Ancash — 749 m · ~9 min walk
MonkeyPark — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Scotiabank — 590 m · ~7 min walk
Señor de la soledad — 137 m · ~2 min walk
La plazita — 142 m · ~2 min walk
Julio César — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Exchange money at authorised cambios in central Huaraz, not at the airport or tourist bureaux where rates are poor. Banks also offer fair rates but may have queues.
Cards are accepted in many hotels, restaurants, and shops in Huaraz centre, but cash is king for markets, street food, and smaller establishments. Contactless is limited.
Restaurants: 10% if service charge not included; taxis: rounding up is enough; hotel staff: a few soles for porters or housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic black coffee from a cafe in the centre costs about 4–6 PEN.
A menú (set lunch) with soup, main, and drink typically costs 10–15 PEN.
A simple main course in a local restaurant will run 12–18 PEN.
The Mercado Central and the area around the Plaza de Armas are good for cheap eats like anticuchos and tamales.
Supermercado La Inmaculada and Plaza Vea are the main budget supermarkets in Huaraz.
For affordable clothes, try the stalls at the Mercado de Artesanías or the street markets along Jr. José de la Mar.
Local buses cost 1–2 PEN per ride; the cheapest way from the airport (Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani) is a colectivo to Huaraz for about 10 PEN.
Eat at menú places for lunch; buy water in bulk at supermarkets; use colectivos instead of taxis for short journeys.
Good to know — Huaraz
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · PEN
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Huaraz, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hostel Amazing
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Scotiabank — 590 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · Señor de la soledad — 137 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hotel Valencia II (Av. Luzuriaga stop) → Huaraz bus terminal (Terminal Terrestre)
💡 City buses don't have number routes; ask locals for 'el rápido al terminal'. Pay the cobrador (conductor) with exact change—1 sol per ride. Stand on the corner by Hotel Valencia II and wave; bus will stop anywhere safe.
Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport (ATA) → Huaraz city centre (Plaza de Armas)
💡 This is a colectivo-style minibus, not a scheduled airline bus. From the airport road, flag one heading east on the Pativilca–Caraz highway. Ask for 'centro' and they'll drop you near the Plaza; walk 10 mins to Hotel Valencia II.
Hotel Valencia II → Huaraz city centre (any point within 2km)
💡 For short hops within central Huaraz, shared taxis (colectivos) cost 2-3 soles per person—look for ones with a posted route. Private taxis negotiate 5-10 soles; always confirm price before getting in. Avoid unmetered cabs late at night.
Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani Airport (ATA) → Hotel Valencia II, Huaraz
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in; official taxis from the airport rank charge around 50-60 soles—drivers outside may try 80. Cash only, small bills preferred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hostel Amazing?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor facing away from the main street (Jirón José Olaya side, if the hotel is on Avenida Centenario). These upper floors minimise street noise and are high enough to get some daylight over neighbouring buildings.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostel Amazing?
Steer clear of ground-floor rooms near the reception or common areas — they suffer from lobby chatter and early-morning checkout noise. Also avoid any room directly above the hotel's own bar or kitchen.
Is Hostel Amazing noisy?
Huaraz is a busy gateway city: heavy taxi and truck traffic on Avenida Centenario from early morning (6am) until late evening. Weekends add church bells and street vendors. The hotel's own bar can generate bass thump until 11pm on Fridays.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostel Amazing?
Rooms on the fourth floor facing east or south offer partial views of the Cordillera Blanca foothills, especially in the morning. Lower floors see only neighbouring rooftops.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostel Amazing?
1. Check in early (before 2pm) to request a rear-facing room — these are quieter and often get first dibs on the best beds. 2. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper; the thin walls in a 3-star hostel make hallway noise from returning trekkers at 10pm a risk.
What time is check-in at Hostel Amazing?
Check-in at Hostel Amazing is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostel Amazing have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; download speed about 10 Mbps; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostel Amazing?
None (no tourist tax in Huaraz)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostel Amazing?
A menú (set lunch) with soup, main, and drink typically costs 10–15 PEN.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostel Amazing?
Local buses cost 1–2 PEN per ride; the cheapest way from the airport (Comandante FAP Germán Arias Graziani) is a colectivo to Huaraz for about 10 PEN.
When is the best time to visit Huaraz?
June, July, August – the dry season offers clear skies for Cordillera Blanca trekking, with manageable crowds despite it being high season.
Top Attractions in Huaraz
💡 Go on a Sunday morning – it’s free then. Weekday entry is 10 soles. The labelling is in Spanish, so use Google Lens or download a guide. Allow 1–2 hours.
💡 Come at sunset for golden light on the mountains. On weekends, there are often free dance performances or market stalls selling local food like tamales.
💡 Go just before sunrise for clear views and fewer people. The path starts at Calle Daniel Villar, behind the cathedral. Bring a torch if hiking in the dark – the steps are uneven.
💡 Get to Pitec by 7am to beat crowds and clouds. Acclimatise 2 days in Huaraz first. Bring water and snacks; no facilities at the trailhead.
💡 Go with a budget tour (around 80–100 soles including transport) – you can’t drive alone. Start the hike by 8am to finish before afternoon rain. Rent walking poles from Huaraz for 10 soles.