Your stay — Hostel Lima
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The Property — Hostel Lima
Hostel Lima buzzes with a youthful, backpacker energy. The lobby is a chaotic hub of travellers comparing routes, with worn sofas, a noticeboard thick with tour ads, and a small bar serving pisco sours into the night. It's clean and functional rather than stylish, best for anyone on a tight budget who wants a social base, not quiet comfort.
Chronicles of Lima
Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro as the 'City of Kings', becoming the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru. Its historic centre retains colonial balconies and plazas, but the 20th century saw a dramatic expansion and a wave of brutalist architecture. Today, it's a sprawling, gritty metropolis where pre-Columbian ruins sit beside modern high-rises, and a fierce culinary identity — from ceviche to Nikkei — defines its cultural clout.
Best Time to Visit
Full Lima guide →Best months
December to March: summer brings clear skies and beach weather along the Costa Verde, with manageable crowds outside the Christmas/New Year spike.
Peak / festival surge
January: peak Peruvian summer and school holidays; hotels can be pricier (50-70% above low season), driven by beachgoers and the Mistura food festival in September, but January's main draw is sun.
Budget shoulder season
May and November: milder, grey days but fewer tourists; room rates can drop by 30-40%, with decent discounts from Hostel Lima if you book direct.
Weather & packing
In July (your stay), Lima is deep in its winter overcast — expect thick grey skies with a persistent drizzle called 'garúa', but no rain. Pack a windproof jacket and layers; a light scarf is essential against the damp chill.
Live City Briefing — Lima
- The Lima Metro's new Line 2 is partially open, but construction still snarls traffic on Avenida Aviación and near the historic centre — allow extra time for journeys.
- Peru's political landscape remains tense: protests are rare in Lima now, but check the UK Foreign Office advice for any short-notice security issues near government buildings.
- The Larco Museum and the Plaza Mayor are both open, but entry to the Government Palace (Casa de Pizarro) requires a booking weeks in advance — plan ahead if you want a tour.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hostel Lima, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request upper floors (5th–7th) facing the rear courtyard. These rooms are furthest from street noise and get good light without direct sun in the afternoon.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1 and 2. Street noise from Avenida Arequipa carries up to these levels, especially during morning traffic and late-night buses. Also skip rooms near the stairwell on any floor—people tramp up and down until midnight.
Best views
Rooms on the upper floors facing the courtyard have no view to speak of (just walls and other windows), but rooms on the street side (floors 5+) offer a glimpse of the skyline and distant Pacific on a clear day.
Quietest floors
Floors 5 to 7. The lift stops at all floors but these are high enough to reduce street rumble and away from the first-floor lounge.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel sits on Avenida Arequipa, a main thoroughfare. Early-morning street sweeping, taxi horns, and late-night clubbers from nearby bars are the main culprits. The lift is old and creaky, so walls adjacent to the shaft rattle when it moves.
Insider tips
Ask for a room on floor 6 or 7 at check-in—the staff usually oblige if you're polite and arrive before 4pm. If you're in a street-facing room, use the heavy curtains to block both light and sound; the desk can provide earplugs on request.
- 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 Lima
Free to all guests – speed around 15 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login, just connect to 'Hostel Lima Wi-Fi'.
A single lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
No printed newspapers. There’s a shared tablet in the lobby for free digital access to El Comercio and La República.
Check-in from 14:00; luggage drop from 11:00 if room not ready. Late check-out until 13:00 costs 50 PEN, after 13:00 you pay for another night.
Free storage on day of arrival and departure, but no locker; bags kept behind the front desk.
Step-free entry from the street; the lift fits a standard wheelchair. No grab rails in shared bathrooms, and the shower on the ground floor has a shallow curb.
No on-site parking. The nearest public garage is Estacionamiento Petit Thouars, one block away, ~25 PEN per night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no municipal tourist tax for this class of property)
Deposit & card hold: One night’s charge taken at booking; a $50 USD incidental hold on your card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: Radha Soami Satsang Beas-Peru (286 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia Matriz Virgen Milagrosa (307 m · ~4 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia La Reparación (460 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Las Buenas Nuevas (943 m · ~12 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centro Comercial Esperanza — 154 m · ~2 min walk
Ovalo de Miraflores — 75 m · ~1 min walk
Casa Museo Ricardo Palma — 258 m · ~3 min walk
La Tarima Café Concert — 59 m · ~1 min walk
Mesas Ajedrez — 184 m · ~2 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 108 m · ~1 min walk
Mifarma — 23 m · ~1 min walk
NaturLandia Vegetariana — 220 m · ~3 min walk
Estación Angamos — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use bank ATMs for the best rate; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport and tourist centres, which mark up badly.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants and shops; Amex less so. Contactless works in most modern terminals.
Round up taxi fares by 1–2 soles. No tip needed in cheap eateries; 10% expected in mid-range restaurants; hotel porters get 3–5 soles per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Black coffee from a bakery or café de barrio runs about 3–5 soles.
A menú (set lunch) in a local cebichería or chifa costs around 8–12 soles including soup and drink.
Main dish at a casual pollería or Chinese place: 10–15 soles.
Look for anticucho stalls in the evenings near markets or plazas, especially in Barranco or Miraflores. Also emoliente carts.
Supermercados Peruanos and Tambo are the budget chains found across Lima.
Gamarra wholesale market (La Victoria) is the go-to for cheap clothes, but watch your belongings. Polvos Azules for fakes.
The Metropolitano bus (integrated system) costs about 3.50 soles per ride. From the airport, the cheapest route is the Airport Express bus to Miraflores (8 soles) or the regular bus Aero Lima with a prepaid card.
Eat at menú joints for lunch instead of tourist restaurants. Buy water from supermarkets, not street kiosks. Use the Metropolitano instead of taxis to cross the city.
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 Hostel Lima
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 108 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · Mifarma — 23 m · ~1 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 Hostel Lima?
Request upper floors (5th–7th) facing the rear courtyard. These rooms are furthest from street noise and get good light without direct sun in the afternoon.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hostel Lima?
Avoid rooms on floors 1 and 2. Street noise from Avenida Arequipa carries up to these levels, especially during morning traffic and late-night buses. Also skip rooms near the stairwell on any floor—people tramp up and down until midnight.
Is Hostel Lima noisy?
The hotel sits on Avenida Arequipa, a main thoroughfare. Early-morning street sweeping, taxi horns, and late-night clubbers from nearby bars are the main culprits. The lift is old and creaky, so walls adjacent to the shaft rattle when it moves.
Which rooms have the best views at Hostel Lima?
Rooms on the upper floors facing the courtyard have no view to speak of (just walls and other windows), but rooms on the street side (floors 5+) offer a glimpse of the skyline and distant Pacific on a clear day.
What are insider tips for staying at Hostel Lima?
Ask for a room on floor 6 or 7 at check-in—the staff usually oblige if you're polite and arrive before 4pm. If you're in a street-facing room, use the heavy curtains to block both light and sound; the desk can provide earplugs on request.
What time is check-in at Hostel Lima?
Check-in at Hostel Lima is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hostel Lima have Wi-Fi?
Free to all guests – speed around 15 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login, just connect to 'Hostel Lima Wi-Fi'.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hostel Lima?
None (no municipal tourist tax for this class of property)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hostel Lima?
A menú (set lunch) in a local cebichería or chifa costs around 8–12 soles including soup and drink.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hostel Lima?
The Metropolitano bus (integrated system) costs about 3.50 soles per ride. From the airport, the cheapest route is the Airport Express bus to Miraflores (8 soles) or the regular bus Aero Lima with a prepaid card.
When is the best time to visit Lima?
December to March: summer brings clear skies and beach weather along the Costa Verde, with manageable crowds outside the Christmas/New Year spike.
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.