Pariwana Hostel Cusco — Hotel in Distrito de Cusco

The bad: NO RUNNING WATER. This means no showers, no washing your hands after using the bathrooms, no flushing the toilets. Just imagine being in a dorm where 6-12 people can’t flush or wash their hands after urinating or sh*tting. It’s not ok that I wasn’t informed during check-in. Not uncommon for rural areas of Peru but for the historic district of Cusco, unacceptable.

Upon checking in, there was one staff (very kind and friendly, clearly burnt out and understaffed) with another volunteer who could show people to their rooms (also really friendly and trilingual). I brought my belongings to my room went to pee and then couldn’t wash my hands. I thought it maybe was just my room but as I tried another bathroom and asked my bunkmates, they said no water in the entire neighborhood.

I went back to reception and politely asked about the water situation and they said “oh nobody told you during check in?” I said no and they apologized and pointed to a sign down the reception bar with some info about the water situation. There’s lots of flyers on the bar so I didn’t think to walk down and read it. Something as important as running water needs to be mentioned UPFRONT. They couldn’t answer as to when the water would come back on. They treated this like a minor inconvenience when it’s actually a health & sanitation issue.

I’m traveling by motorcycle so a bed, shower, and bathroom are the most important necessities for me. They refused to give me a refund because it’s a neighborhood crisis and hey, I should’ve read the sign.

In general, this hostel is partly open air so it’s pretty cold at night.

The good: Luis, the receptionist was pretty nice despite being understaffed. There’s a free tea bar which I definitely appreciate. The beds are comfortable and warm. The WiFi is good. There’s nightly activities like karaoke and salsa dancing. The beds and lockers have electrical outlets, a shelf, and a personal reading light. There’s a bit of street parking across the street. There’s a storage locker with tags and the staff lock the room and accompany you inside and watch as you gather your belongings (you’ll need to wait in the check-in line for someone to let you in, which is also the line for all guests who need anything— towel rental or a water bottle or...

Pariwana Hostel Cusco offers a cozy and inviting stay, with awesome staff (for example Sheila and Anthony) who warmly welcome guests, making you feel right at home from the moment you step in and are incredible nice and helpful people. ||The hostel itself is charming, with a unique flair and a friendly atmosphere that's evident throughout. Its common area, complete with comfy sofas and various seating arrangements, is perfect for striking up conversations and making new friends.||For those needing to work or study, the coworking space is a real boon. |It's well-equipped with enough desks and comfy sofas, ideal for both productivity and relaxation. ||The kitchen area, handy for quick meals with its microwave and fridges, adds a touch of convenience to your stay.||The rooms are neatly kept, each with a personal light and power outlet at the bed, ensuring a comfortable and practical space. The mattresses are commendable for their comfort, and the cleanliness of the bathrooms, with daily cleaning service, is impressive.||Adding to the hostel's vibrant vibe is the third-floor bar, which is a great spot to unwind. The evening programs like BBQs, table tennis, and beer pong competitions offer fun experiences and a chance to mingle. ||The hostel's Wi-Fi is reliable throughout the premises, and the security of in-room lockers is reassuring.||Free tea available all day is a nice perk, adding to the homely feel of the hostel. Conveniently located, the hostel is within easy reach of the main square, surrounded by mini-markets, street food, and restaurants, making exploring local flavors easy and enjoyable. ||Pariwana Hostel Cusco is an excellent choice for a comfortable, friendly, and conveniently located stay.||Thank...

I’m not a party hostel kind of gal and simply stayed here one night so I could enjoy the Halloween party, then book back into a nicer, intimate hostel. I was hoping that maybe Pariwana would be good enough to just stay, but I couldn’t wait to get out of there, though I did enjoy the party and the activities they had, as well as the warm “club” upstairs opposed to freezing outside in the courtyard. The positives: Breakfast spread was one of the best I’ve seen. The staff were nice. The building and rooms were actually warm which is rare in Cusco. Not sure if this is just due to the sheer amount of people staying at this huge maze of a hostel. And hot water in the showers.

However the whole place seemed unclean to me. The bathrooms were always full, damp, and unclean. You had to wait ages for one to free up and when I arrived in the evening it was full of hair, shavings, make-up (Halloween) and people were puking in half of the toilets! Not sure if it was because of altitude or alcohol or both, but at 8pm that’s pretty poor. The 10 bed dorm room I stayed in felt a little uncared for and the full length mirror they had made you look like a dumpy alien as it was cheap so didn’t reflect properly. For a huge “social” hostel the whole place seemed impersonal and lonely to me. I was lucky I arrived with a group, as everyone seemed to be in their own crews already. Not ideal for a solo traveller. Felt like people only make friends here because they’re drunk. Getting around the convoluted maze was impossible. I got lost several times which was a little frustrating.

In conclusion: go here for the party, then go back home to your comfy hostel at the end of the night, which will be cheaper as this place is...