Best Hostels in Lima: Where to Stay on the Coast vs. Centro

Lima is maybe not the city you imagine when thinking of Peru. Far from the Andean spirit of Cusco or the peachy squares and arched architecture of Arequipa, landing in Lima means getting dropped inside a whirling cauldron of traffic, pollution, and noise. But… there’s more to Peru’s capital than meets the eye. I once got stuck in Lima for a week when almost all outbound transport was booked out over Easter. Try as I might, I couldn’t get a single bus to get me out of there — just one of those times spontaneous travel backfired on me. But as eager as I was to head south, the experience actually gave me a different appreciation for Lima. Despite being an overwhelming megacity, it also holds so much cultural and culinary interest. If you’re backpacking in Peru, then you might have a unique opportunity in Lima. Those on a quick holiday will surely want to rush to Machu Picchu (fair enough!), but you can have the chance to see a real Peruvian city, not just the Instagram version that gets posted from the touristy hotspots. While the city is chaotic, your hostel can be your oasis. It’s not just about choosing the hostel itself though, but also the location — because staying in El Centro ...