7 Best Cusco Hostels for 7 Different Kinds of Travelers

Your stay in Cusco will likely be an action-packed and tiring affair, as the typical backpacker itinerary is filled with treks, early-morning starts, and intense sightseeing. That’s why it’s even more important to choose the right base where you can catch your breath (literally — given Cusco’s high elevation!). Cusco has well over 50 hostels, but the range is bigger than what you’d expect – and which one is right for you depends on where you are in your Peru trip. Most travelers have one thing in common: Machu Picchu is somewhere on the itinerary. But everyone’s at a different point of the journey when they arrive. Some might be acclimatizing before a trek, recovering after days on the trail, settling in for a longer stay (because Cusco’s beautiful), or simply looking to find like-minded friends to explore with. There’s a different hostel for each experience with some overlap (naturally) since hostels are ultimately where all travelers come together, hang out, and make plans. Whichever point of the trip you’re at, you’re in luck on price: What you’ll instantly notice is how affordable and pleasant the hostels are in Cusco. Despite dorms usually costing just per night, a lot of the ...