Under US$10

An excellent budget option is Hostal El Mesón (Arequipa 273, tel. 066/31-2938, hselmeson [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$8 s, US$12 d). Clean rooms with tile floors front a sunny courtyard and include cable TV. Some rooms have private bathrooms, and there is 24-hour hot water.

The next best choice is Hotel Samary (Callao 329, tel. 066/31-2442, US$6 s, US$7 d), with communal and private bathrooms, bedrooms with tile floors, and hot water.

US$10–25

The best deal in town is Hotel Tres Máscaras (Tres Máscaras 194, tel. 066/31-4107, hoteltresmascaras [at] yahoo [dot] com, US$13 s, US$19 d). The gardens and cool sitting areas have great views of the surrounding hills. Large, carpeted rooms have good beds, cable TV, and lots of hot water.

Another great deal is the quiet, comfortable Hostal Florida (Cuzco 310, tel. 066/31-2565, US$14 s, US$21 d), with comfortable beds, hot water, cable TV, and even heating. The second-floor sunny terrace has great views over the city.

Hotel Marquez de Valdelirios (28 de Julio 720, tel. 066/31-8944, US$16 s, US$22 d with breakfast) is a restored old home with large rooms, a sunny courtyard, and cable TV. The hotel is in front of a nice park and near the crafts workshops of Santa Ana.

The Santa Maria (Arequipa 320, tel. 066/31-4988, US$24 s, US$32 d) stands out for its modern architecture, interesting art, and luxurious furniture. The huge rooms are decorated with dark wood armoires and comfortable beds. Downstairs is a bar, with leather couches, for sipping cocktails.

A lesser option, but only a half block from the Plaza de Armas, is Hostal Marcos (9 de Diciembre 143, tel. 066/31-6867, US$14 s, US$21 d with breakfast), with large, clean, though plain rooms and parquet floors.

US$25–50

The elegant courtyard of Hotel Santa Rosa (Lima 166, tel. 066/31-4614, hotel_santa_rosa [at] yahoo [dot] es, US$27 s, US$43 d with breakfast) is a beautifully restored colonial building, but the rooms don’t match up.

From the outside, Ayacucho’s most luxurious hotel is Hotel Plaza (9 de Diciembre 184, tel. 066/31-2202, hplaza [at] derramajae [dot] org [dot] pe, US$34 s, US$45 d with breakfast) but the rooms need an update. The best bet is a US$76 suite—two large rooms, queen-size bed, bathtub, and a balcony overlooking the Plaza de Armas.

One block from the Plaza de Armas, Hotel Universo (Grau 101, hotel.universo [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$31 s, US$58 d with breakfast) is another good option with all the amenities (telephone, cable TV, and Internet). Its blue walls and beds with crisp white sheets make for easy sleeping.

© Ross Wehner and Renée del Gaudio from Moon Peru, 3rd Edition