Your stay — Hostal Imperio
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The Property — Hostal Imperio
Hostal Imperio is a no-frills 3-star in central Lima, a short walk from the Plaza de Armas. The lobby feels like a 1970s time capsule: dark wood, patterned carpets, a front desk that smells faintly of polish. It suits budget travellers who want a clean, safe bed in the historic core and don't need a pool or rooftop bar.
Chronicles of Lima
Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro as the City of Kings, and its colonial core still shows that Spanish grid plan. Earthquakes forced rebuilding in the 17th and 18th centuries, giving the centre a mix of baroque churches and republican-era balconies. Today, Lima is a gritty, bustling metropolis of 10 million, known for its world-class ceviche and the chaotic energy of districts like Miraflores and Barranco. Its contemporary identity is defined by a fierce culinary pride and a pragmatic hustle that blends indigenous, Spanish, African and Asian roots.
Best Time to Visit
Full Lima guide →Best months
January to March: summer in the southern hemisphere, with clear skies and beach weather. Also July: the Fiestas Patrias national holiday fills the city with parades and street food, but crowds are manageable outside the main plaza.
Peak / festival surge
July and December are the busiest. July for Fiestas Patrias (28-29 July) and school holidays; December for Christmas and summer tourism. Hotel prices can double in those weeks. The Mistura food fair (September) also spikes demand.
Budget shoulder season
April and October offer cooler, drier weather, fewer tourists and lower rates. Discounts of 20-30% on 3-star rooms are common. The city feels less frantic, and you can eat at top cevicherías without queuing.
Weather & packing
Lima is a coastal desert with high humidity and a persistent overcast from May through October. Pack layers: a fleece or light jacket for the garúa (drizzle) and a sun hat for the rare clear day; leave the umbrella—drizzle is too fine for one.
Live City Briefing — Lima
- Metro Line 2 is partially open, connecting Ate to central Lima, but construction still snarls traffic in San Borja and La Victoria.
- The new Malecón de la Cultura in Barranco, a 2km seaside walkway, opened in late 2024 and is now a popular evening stroll spot.
- A major water supply project on the Rímac River may cause minor supply cuts in central districts through mid-2026; check with your hotel.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostal Imperio, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on the 4th or 5th floor facing the interior courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy reach via the lift, and the courtyard side is quieter than the street-facing rooms.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors, especially those facing the street (Calle de la República). The 1st floor is close to the reception and breakfast area, which can get noisy early in the morning. Rooms facing the street pick up traffic noise from Lima's busy roads.
Best views
Ask for a top-floor room (5th floor) facing the interior courtyard for a pleasant view of the building's inner architecture and sky. Street-facing rooms offer a glimpse of Miraflores city life but with traffic noise.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 and 5 are the quietest, as they are above the street-level bustle and away from the main footfall of the lower floors.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main road in Miraflores, so street noise is constant from early morning until late evening. The lift is a source of clanking noise, especially near rooms adjacent to it. Breakfast starts at 7am, so rooms near the dining area hear chair scraping and conversation.
Insider tips
1) Check in after 2pm to request a courtyard-facing room, as these are quieter and more popular. 2) If you're sensitive to noise, pack earplugs even for a courtyard room—the hotel's older construction doesn't insulate well from internal sounds.
- 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 Imperio
Free for all guests – one device per person, speed ~10 Mbps download; no login constraints (open SSID); paid upgrade to 30 Mbps (PEN 10/day) available
One small lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only historic sections
Complimentary physical copies of El Comercio and La República at reception daily; digital newsstand via PressReader login provided at check-in
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed from 08:00 at no cost; late check-out until 17:00 charged as half-night (PEN 60), subject to availability
Free for same-day arrivals/departures; longer storage (24+ hours) costs PEN 15 per bag per day
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door (request assistance); lift fits one wheelchair; no wheelchair-adapted bathroom on guest floors – limited accessibility overall
No on-site parking; nearest public car park is Parking Jr. Camaná (Jr. Camaná 456, 300 m walk) – PEN 25/night (24h); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None for domestic guests; international visitors pay 18% IGV on room rate (included in quoted price) – no additional tourist tax at check-in
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit required to secure booking; at check-in a refundable hold of PEN 100 for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Iglesia Biblica Bautista Pro (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
- Church: Cristo Es Rey (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Church: Palabra de Vida (1.4 km · ~18 min walk)
- Church: Parroquia San Conrado (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Mall Plaza Comas — 981 m · ~12 min walk
Parque Jorge Chávez — 189 m · ~2 min walk
Juegos Infantiles — 1.9 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Bitcoin ATM - Shitcoins.club — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Botica El Álamo — 375 m · ~5 min walk
VANS PERU DE PRO A HUANDOY — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs from major banks like BCP or Interbank for the best exchange rate; avoid the poor-rate currency exchange booths at the airport and tourist areas.
Cards are widely accepted in supermarkets, mid-range restaurants and malls, but carry cash for small shops, street food and taxis.
Leave 10% at restaurants if service isn't included; no need to tip for taxis unless helpful; give 5-10 soles to hotel porters.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic espresso from a local café costs around 5-7 soles; filter coffee or coffee from a bakery stall is cheaper at 3-4 soles.
A set menu almuerzo with soup and a main course costs 10-15 soles in neighbourhood cafés or markets.
A main course at a local eatery runs 15-25 soles for something like lomo saltado or aji de gallina.
Cheap eats are concentrated around Mercado de Surquillo, Avenida La Marina and the park near Parque Kennedy, with anticuchos (skewers) and empanadas for 3-6 soles.
The most common budget supermarkets in Lima are Tottus, Plaza Vea and Metro, all with decent fruit and bread sections.
For affordable everyday clothes, head to the Galerías shopping arcades on Avenida Aviación or the Gamarra district, though be prepared for crowds.
The cheapest way around Lima is the Metropolitano bus system (a single ride is about 2.50 soles); from the airport take the Airport Express bus for about 8 soles or a local bus into the centre for under 2 soles.
Eat lunch at market stalls or set-menu restaurants rather than tourist cafés. Use Metropolitano buses instead of taxis for longer routes. Fill a reusable water bottle at safe taps — Lima's tap water is drinkable in most areas.
Good to know — Lima
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · PEN
Emergency Contacts
LimaDial 105 for police, 106 for ambulance, and 116 for fire brigade. For general emergencies or to reach the national emergency system, you can also call 911, which works in Lima for all services.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Lima, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hostal Imperio
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Bitcoin ATM - Shitcoins.club — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk — pharmacy · Botica El Álamo — 375 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Central Lima (Estacion Central) → Hotel Bahia (Angamos stop, Miraflores)
💡 Only useful if you're already in central Lima. Buy a Tarjeta Metropolitano at the station. Avoid during rush hour (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM) as it gets packed.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Hotel Bahia (Miraflores, Larco Mar stop)
💡 Book online for a small discount. The bus has luggage space and WiFi. Get off at Larco Mar, then a 5-minute walk to the hotel.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Hotel Bahia (Miraflores)
💡 App-based ride is safer than street cabs. Pickup is outside the arrivals exit. Cabify often has fixed prices; Uber may surge late at night.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Hotel Bahia (Miraflores)
💡 Pre-pay at the official booth inside arrivals. Ignore touts outside; they charge more and are less safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hostal Imperio?
Request rooms on the 4th or 5th floor facing the interior courtyard. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but still within easy reach via the lift, and the courtyard side is quieter than the street-facing rooms.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostal Imperio?
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors, especially those facing the street (Calle de la República). The 1st floor is close to the reception and breakfast area, which can get noisy early in the morning. Rooms facing the street pick up traffic noise from Lima's busy roads.
Is Hostal Imperio noisy?
The hotel is on a main road in Miraflores, so street noise is constant from early morning until late evening. The lift is a source of clanking noise, especially near rooms adjacent to it. Breakfast starts at 7am, so rooms near the dining area hear chair scraping and conversation.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostal Imperio?
Ask for a top-floor room (5th floor) facing the interior courtyard for a pleasant view of the building's inner architecture and sky. Street-facing rooms offer a glimpse of Miraflores city life but with traffic noise.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostal Imperio?
1) Check in after 2pm to request a courtyard-facing room, as these are quieter and more popular. 2) If you're sensitive to noise, pack earplugs even for a courtyard room—the hotel's older construction doesn't insulate well from internal sounds.
What time is check-in at Hostal Imperio?
Check-in at Hostal Imperio is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostal Imperio have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests – one device per person, speed ~10 Mbps download; no login constraints (open SSID); paid upgrade to 30 Mbps (PEN 10/day) available
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostal Imperio?
None for domestic guests; international visitors pay 18% IGV on room rate (included in quoted price) – no additional tourist tax at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostal Imperio?
A set menu almuerzo with soup and a main course costs 10-15 soles in neighbourhood cafés or markets.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostal Imperio?
The cheapest way around Lima is the Metropolitano bus system (a single ride is about 2.50 soles); from the airport take the Airport Express bus for about 8 soles or a local bus into the centre for under 2 soles.
When is the best time to visit Lima?
January to March: summer in the southern hemisphere, with clear skies and beach weather. Also July: the Fiestas Patrias national holiday fills the city with parades and street food, but crowds are manageable outside the main plaza.
Top Attractions in Lima
💡 Guards change at the Government Palace at noon most days—arrive early for a clear spot.
💡 Go just before sunset to see paragliders land on the grass below—best photos come from the far end of the park.
💡 Skip the overpriced guided tour; the self-guided route covers the key chapels and crypt.
💡 Visit for the evening tour (6 PM) when the weather is cooler and lights highlight the adobe patterns.
💡 The fourth floor has a stunning collection of Andean weavings, often overlooked by visitors.