Your stay — Mamá
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The Property — Mamá
Mamá is a no-frills 3-star in Juliaca’s commercial centre, a short walk from the main plaza. The lobby is bright but worn, with mismatched chairs and a receptionist who doubles as the barista, and the vibe is very much ‘functional stopover’ rather than holiday destination. It suits the budget-conscious traveller who needs a clean bed before an early flight out of Juliaca’s airport or a bus to Puno and Lake Titicaca.
Chronicles of Juliaca
Juliaca was founded in 1615 as a Spanish reduction town on the site of a pre-Columbian settlement, but it boomed only in the 20th century as the railway from Cusco to Puno arrived. Its architecture is a jumble of concrete blocks and corrugated iron roofs, with the ugly but fascinating Mercado Túpac Amaru as its chaotic heart. Culturally, Juliaca is a transport hub and commercial powerhouse for the Altiplano, known for its aggressive car-horn orchestras – literally, parades of vehicles blasting music on festival days. Contemporary identity is pragmatic and brusque, a frontier city where Quechua and Aymara languages mix freely with Spanish, and the overwhelming focus is on trade and movement.
Best Time to Visit
Full Juliaca guide →Best months
April and May – clear skies, cool days (14-18°C), and the pre-winter peace before the July pilgrimages. October is also good: dry, with fewer tourists after the high season.
Peak / festival surge
July, especially the first week, when the Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen draws thousands of pilgrims from across the Altiplano. Hotel prices in Juliaca can spike 20-30%, and rooms at Mamá are likely to sell out a month ahead. The city is loud with brass bands and processions.
Budget shoulder season
March and November. March can still have rain but is much quieter and cheaper; November is dry but with cool nights. You’ll find discounts of 15-25% at Mamá compared to July rates.
Weather & packing
Juliaca sits at 3,825m, so the sun is intense by day and the temperature can drop below 0°C at night even in summer. Pack a warm fleece or jacket for evenings, plus SPF 50+ sunscreen and sunglasses – the UV is brutal at this altitude.
Live City Briefing — Juliaca
- The Juliaca airport (JUL) has completed its terminal renovation, but expect long queues at security as the X-ray machines are still being calibrated. Arrive at least 90 minutes before a domestic flight.
- A new bypass road – the Vía de Evitamiento – has opened to the east of the city, cutting travel time to Puno to about 40 minutes rather than the usual hour on the old highway through Ihauta.
- The municipal market’s main gate on Jr. Mariscal Castilla has been closed for structural repairs; vendors are using side entrances, so allow extra time to navigate the stalls.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mamá, 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 inner courtyard (away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise, and the courtyard side is quieter in a 3-star hotel on a main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room facing the street. Ground-floor rooms near the lobby or reception pick up foot traffic and potential street noise; street-facing rooms will get traffic sounds from Juliaca's busy roads.
Best views
Rooms facing the inner courtyard offer the best view of a calmer, often plant-filled area; any street-facing rooms would overlook Juliaca's urban activity, but with traffic noise expected in a 3-star hotel on a main road.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are the quietest, as they're above the noise of the street and the potential bustle of the first two floors.
🔊 Noise notes
Juliaca's streets can be busy with mototaxis, buses, and market activity; the hotel's location on a main road means constant traffic noise, especially during daytime. Weekend evenings may have more pedestrian noise near the entrance.
Insider tips
1. If you have a car, ask about street parking availability or a nearby secure lot—Juliaca's street parking can be tight. 2. Request a top-floor room (fourth or fifth) to minimise noise from upstairs neighbours, a common issue in budget hotels.
- 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 — Mamá
Free for up to two devices per room. Average speed 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up – sufficient for email and streaming. Login via voucher code given at check-in.
One passenger lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections.
No digital newsstand or physical newspapers. Guest building: a converted 1970s commercial block, with original terrazzo flooring in the lobby and interior courtyard that echoes the original building's shape.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 09:00 (free, but room subject to availability). Check-out by 12:00; late check-out until 16:00 costs S/70.00 (if available).
Free for day-of-arrival and day-of-departure; otherwise S/5.00 per bag per day.
No step-free access. The main entrance has two steps (each 15 cm). No wheelchair-accessible rooms. No lift to the basement breakfast room (5 steps down).
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Estacionamiento Santa Catalina (Jr. Santa Catalina 130), S/15.00 per night, 6-minute walk. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None. Peruvian hotels do not levy a city or tourist tax at this category.
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required for a single night. A hold of S/200.00 (approx. USD 55) on a credit or debit card at check-in for incidentals.
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Terminal Terrestre Micaela Bastidas — 2.5 km · ~31 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Exchange at banks or formal exchange houses (casas de cambio) in central Juliaca; avoid the airport and tourist bureaux due to poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard accepted in most supermarkets, hotels, and larger restaurants; small shops and market stalls cash only. Contactless is rare.
Restaurants: 5-10% if service charge not included. Taxis: round up the fare. Hotel staff: small tip (2-5 soles) for porters/maids.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Coffee from a street-side kiosk or market stall, around 2-3 soles.
Menu del día at a local eatery (almuerzo) for 10-15 soles, includes soup, main, and drink.
Main dish at a casual local restaurant (e.g., pollo a la brasa or anticuchos) for 15-20 soles.
Markets and the Mercado Central area in central Juliaca offer cheap anticuchos, salchipapas, and tamales for 5-10 soles.
Supermercados like Plaza Vea or Metro are common budget chains in Juliaca.
The Mercado Central and street stalls around Jirón San Román sell affordable clothing and textiles.
Cheapest way around is by combi (shared minibus) at 1 sol per ride. From the airport, take a colectivo (shared taxi) to the city centre for about 5-10 soles per person.
Eat at market stalls or menu del día spots for cheap meals. Use local combis instead of taxis. Withdraw soles from ATM at a bank (not standalone ATM) to avoid high fees.
Good to know — Juliaca
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · PEN
Emergency Contacts
JuliacaFor general emergencies, call 911. The main hospital is Hospital III Juliaca (Avenida Andrés Avelino Cáceres, tel: +51 51 788 350). Note that English-speaking operators are rare; have a local contact or a translation app ready.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Juliaca, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Mamá
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Av. Salaverry (2 blocks from hostel) → Terminal Terrestre (long-distance bus station)
💡 Microbuses are cheap but can be chaotic – jump on one marked 'Terminal' and pay the driver when you get off. Keep your wallet in a zipped pocket as pickpocketing happens on crowded routes. Disembark at the main terminal roundabout.
Airport bus stop (outside terminal) → Plaza de Armas (then walk 5 mins to hostel)
💡 Combis are shared minibuses and the only public bus from the airport. Take one marked 'Centro' or 'Plaza de Armas' – they stop near the plaza but drivers don't always announce stops. Sit near the driver and say where you're going.
Inca Manco Cápac International Airport (JUL) → Hostal Milagros (Jr. Mariano H. Cornejo 145)
💡 Take a colectivo taxi from the airport stand for 15 soles (standard price) – avoid drivers offering rides inside the terminal as they often charge 25 soles. Agree the fare before getting in.
Hostal Milagros → Mercado de Artesanías or anywhere in city centre
💡 Motor taxis are the cheapest way to zip around Juliaca – flag one down on the street. Always negotiate the price before getting on; it should be 3-5 soles for short rides within the centre. They're fun but wear a backpack on your front.
About Juliaca
Wikipedia ↗
Juliaca (Spanish: [xuˈljaka]; Quechua and Aymara: Hullaqa) is the capital of San Román Province in the Puno Region of southeastern Peru. It is the region's largest city, with a population of 276,110 inhabitants (2017). On the Altiplano, Juliaca is 3,825 metres (12,549 ft) above sea level, is located...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Mamá?
Request a room on the third or fourth floor, facing the inner courtyard (away from the street). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise, and the courtyard side is quieter in a 3-star hotel on a main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mamá?
Avoid ground-floor rooms and any room facing the street. Ground-floor rooms near the lobby or reception pick up foot traffic and potential street noise; street-facing rooms will get traffic sounds from Juliaca's busy roads.
Is Mamá noisy?
Juliaca's streets can be busy with mototaxis, buses, and market activity; the hotel's location on a main road means constant traffic noise, especially during daytime. Weekend evenings may have more pedestrian noise near the entrance.
Which rooms have the best views at Mamá?
Rooms facing the inner courtyard offer the best view of a calmer, often plant-filled area; any street-facing rooms would overlook Juliaca's urban activity, but with traffic noise expected in a 3-star hotel on a main road.
What are insider tips for staying at Mamá?
1. If you have a car, ask about street parking availability or a nearby secure lot—Juliaca's street parking can be tight. 2. Request a top-floor room (fourth or fifth) to minimise noise from upstairs neighbours, a common issue in budget hotels.
What time is check-in at Mamá?
Check-in at Mamá is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mamá have Wi-Fi?
Free for up to two devices per room. Average speed 15 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up – sufficient for email and streaming. Login via voucher code given at check-in.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mamá?
None. Peruvian hotels do not levy a city or tourist tax at this category.
Where can I eat cheaply near Mamá?
Menu del día at a local eatery (almuerzo) for 10-15 soles, includes soup, main, and drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mamá?
Cheapest way around is by combi (shared minibus) at 1 sol per ride. From the airport, take a colectivo (shared taxi) to the city centre for about 5-10 soles per person.
When is the best time to visit Juliaca?
April and May – clear skies, cool days (14-18°C), and the pre-winter peace before the July pilgrimages. October is also good: dry, with fewer tourists after the high season.
Top Attractions in Juliaca
💡 Go late afternoon when the light softens. Ask the caretaker politely if you can go up — a small donation of 5 soles is appreciated, though not required.
💡 It's usually quiet — the staff love to explain the exhibits. Ask to see the mummy in the back room. Open Tuesday-Saturday only.
💡 Beware of pigeon scratch — but the benches are free. Best visited early morning before the traffic noise picks up. The cathedral bell chimes at noon.
💡 Best on Sunday mornings when there's often an artisan market. Bring your own snack — no good food stalls nearby. Watch for uneven paving after rain.
💡 Walk from the roundabout near the airport — it's 20 mins on a dirt track. Bring binoculars and a windbreaker. Ignore locals offering 'boat tours' — stick to the free shore path.