EL TUCO HOSTEL — Hotel in Santiago

Interesting experience.

I stayed here one night just before visiting MachuPicchu. Everything was perfect. The owners were friendly, generous, and informative.

I left my luggage in this place and got back a day later. They were generous to keep my luggage for free.

I messaged this hotel, i will be arriving around 10pm. But i got back to the hostel very late. When i was on the bus from MachuPicchu, we had an accident because the rocks were falling from the mountain. So i got Cusco around 1am. My phone already died. No cash for taxi. I knew the direction so just walked from Plaza to here.

When i rang the bell, the owner immediately came out and opened the door. And kindly took out my luggage. I already had booked another hostel but didnt know the direction. I could get out of the hotel only when the owner opens the door for you. So i asked him if I can charge my phone just for five minutes till it's turned on. He kindly said yes.

We were sitting at the reception. Just two of us. Completly quiet. The owner wasnt saying anything. Complete silence. I knew the owner wasnt feeling great. I started to feel nervous, because i was being nuisance.

Time passed, around 10-15minutes. My phone was still not being turned on. The owner told me, he needs to go to the bed. I felt sorry, so i said sorry. And just went to the exit with him. He opened the door for me, said goodnight, and closed the door behind me. It was quick, simple process.

I still dont know how to express, how i felt that moment. It was almost 2am. My phone was still dead. Black city with blurry orange lights, a few local people walking, looking at me, chuckles. Backpack on my shoulders, felt embarassed with a long line of charger and useless phone in my hands.

I wouldn't let a female traveler who doesnt know where to go, to go out to the unfamiliar street alone in the night. But this is a business, not a family affair. That's why it remains an interesting experience to me. I still sometimes wonder, how much responsibility people can expect from an...

We stayed a few nights here and you can definitely find a better place for the same price or cheaper.

First they don't let you keep the keys of your room and you don't have the keys of the front door either so you have to ring and wait each time you want to go in or out. You can feel that the beds were comfortable but not anymore with holes in the middle.

You are 15mn minutes away from the center in a crossroads with a lot of noise. The curtains in our room were totally transparent so you have the sun in your face before 6am. It's also really cold in the room during the night. The checkout is at 9 so the earliest hotel I've ever been. The owner is rude (his wife or the woman working here is really nice). We booked the first night with the breakfast (way more expensive) to have oily eggs and dry bread.. no one in the tabble finished the plate. When we stop the breakfast we switch to the "economic room" so they removed our towel already used (not nice but fair enough) but they also thrown away OUR soap already used in our room. It's not normal given it was ours and it's a really pathetic...

We really enjoyed our stay at El Tuco Hotel. The hosts, Coco and his wife, are incredibly kind and welcoming people. They help you in every way they can and give lots of useful advice. If you happen to get sick, you can be sure that you’ll be well taken care of by these wonderful people.

Every morning, Coco serves a delicious breakfast. The hotel is very safe and secure. The rooms are simple, but for us they were more than enough: clean, with a warm bed and a hot shower.

Our flight was suddenly cancelled and delayed by seven hours, which was a huge problem for us since we needed to catch a bus to Huaraz. Coco advised us to go to the airport anyway and try to get another flight. We followed his advice, and after a lot of complaining at the airport, we actually managed to get a different flight. Without Coco’s advice, we would have only arrived at our next destination the following evening—but thanks to him, we made it there in the morning instead.

Thank you, Coco and wife, for the warm welcome and the great advice. We definitely recommend...