Andrew Kolasinsky - Peru: The Best Hotels, Restaurants & Entertainment

Accommodations present themselves under various, sometimes confusing, names in Peru: hospadajes, hostales, and hotels. Only the full service establishments can legitimately call themselves hotel. A hotel will usually aspire to resemble an American-style hotel; expect a restaurant, elevators, hot water from a central heating tank. Beds are usually good quality. Some of the budget hospedajes and hostales are in the most interesting buildings and locations. Converted colonial mansions and even structures that were once original Inca hostelries and houses serve as excellent spaces for guest accommodations. In smaller, less popular towns, you can find a clean, comfortable room in a convenient location for as little as $10 per night. There are backpackers hostels throughout Peru. Near the hot springs in Aguas Calientes is one of them, with 24-hour hot showers. There is a television lounge, a communal kitchen, barbecue area, laundry service, bar, games room, free internet terminal and WiFi connection. A breakfast is included in the price. Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is a five-minute walk from Aguas Calientes on 12 acres of cloud forest on the banks of the Rio Vilcanota. The gardens are planted with hundreds of species of orchids, palm trees, ferns, and other exotic native plants. There are 85 rooms, all with views of the gardens and river. It is built in Spanish colonial style with one and two story bungalows and casitas, some with their own fireplaces, Jacuzzis, private gardens and pools. It is arranged to resemble an Andean cloud forest village. Rooms and suites have private bathrooms and telephones, WiFi, and television. There is a restaurant, caf, bar, chapel, spring water fed swimming pool, gift shop, fireplace lounge, illuminated gardens. The hotel also runs a tour company and an ecological reserve. These are just two of the hundreds of places to stay described here in detail, from luxury palace accommodations to campsites. And then there are the restaurants. Cuscos hottest Mediterranean restaurant serves Italian and Spanish favorites. There is a Tapas menu as well as full meals. It is in a colonial building behind Plaza de Armas. There is a Tuscan feel to the place and a display of their wine selections and an in-house bakery that provides good olfactory and visual stimulation. And for nightlife, here are a few of the hundreds of places you may want to consider: Paddy Flahertys in Cusco is an Irish pub near the Cathedral on the plaza. Sports events are on the TVs and Irish beer, Irish whisky, and Irish coffee are available, along with pub food. There are nightly happy hours for drink deals. Paddys boasts that it is the highest-elevation Irish pub in the world. The Cross Keys Pub is Cuscos only British pub. It is owned by the British Consul to Cusco. There are dart boards, satellite televisions with British programming, WiFi, smoke-free (except the balcony), imported British beer and other imports, Chilean wine, cocktails, pub grub, and a cozy fireplace. And then there is the nightlife. Ukukus is one of Cuscos most popular dance clubs for travelers and locals. Live music, usually rock, reggae and salsa begin every night at 11. They also have DJ music between live bands to keep the dance floor hopping. Ukukus shows movies on the big screen in the afternoons. Another one is Kamikaze, a disco dance bar that attracts locals and tourists with a blend of DJ music including Latin and salsa, reggae, rock and disco. There is also live music every night. These are just a few samples. All of the best restaurants, hotels and places to party are described in detail here.