If there’s one thing that Cusco is definitely not short of, it’s low lost accommodation in the form of cheap hotels and hostels.

For many years Cusco has been a bit of a Mecca for backpackers and travellers touring around South America. I think I’ve read that Cusco is one of the top 3 tourist destinations in all of South America, although don’t quote me on that! But that’s the main reason why there are so many hostels.

When I knew I was moving to Cusco the first thing I did was book myself into a hostel for about a week so that I had somewhere to stay while I was looking for someone to live.

Personally I’ve always preferred hostels to hostels but it’s all down to personal preference. If you’re looking for luxury then you won’t find it in a hostel.

What I love most about hostels is the social aspect. Most hostels contain a common room and/or dining area which are always great places to meet fellow travellers (who are usually very open and friendly). I’ve met many great people while staying in hostels and had many amazing conversations.

In Cusco the cost of staying in hostels can vary quite a bit, which is usually down to the amount of services offered. Some hostels provide a lot more services than others. If you have a laptop then you’ll be pleased to know that several hostels in Cusco are now offering wifi which is always a bonus.

How to find a hostel in Cusco

If you’re travelling around Peru for any length of time then you most likely have a Rough Guide to Peru, or a Lonely Planet guide or something like that. Those books always list a number of the best hostels.

Personally I usually use the internet when I’m looking for a hostel. The site I normally use is http://www.hostelsworld.com. Another popular site is http://www.hostels.com/. What I like about these kinds of sites is that they allow travellers to rate and review the hostels they’ve stayed in so you can really get an idea of whether the hostel will be ideal for you based on other peoples experiences. Another great advantage of these websites is that you can book a bed or a room online so you don’t have to worry about the hostel being full up when you arrive.

If for some reason you’re unable to make a booking before you get to Cusco then there’s no need to worry. There are cheap hotels and hostels all over the main tourist centre of Cusco, and most of them are within a 10 minutes walk of each other, so it should never take you very long to find a place to stay.

In a future article I will be listing most of the highest rated hostels in Cusco.