Peru - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 807

Ì Hostal Revash Jr. Grau 517, Plaza de Armas T 041
477 391. Right on the plaza, this hostel in a colonial
building has good-value spacious rooms, some looking
out on the plaza, around a tropical patio (there are plans
under way to expand the garden and open a library and
add computers). There's also wi-fi and TV in all rooms, plus
an in-house tour company, Andes Tour s, a g reat source of
info. Does a decent breakfast too (S10). S70
Hostal Rumi Huasi Ortiz Arrieta 365 T 041 791 100.
In keeping with its name (literally “stone house”), this
place is a bit bare, but it's clean, light, has hot water,
a laundry serv ice, wi-fi, TV in all rooms and is pretty good
value too. S40

9

mummies, but it does let you get up
close to one of the sarcophagus heads
from Karajía.
he Museo de Santa Ana , at Jr. Santa
Ana, block 10 (Mon-Sat 9am-1pm &
3-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm & 3-5pm; S5;
T

041 943 869), has some local costumes,
religious garments, ceramics and local
history on display. There is also
a memorable mirador (viewpoint) that
you can reach if you walk west from
the Museo de Santa Ana to the end of
the road and take the steps.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Most companies have their own separate termi-
nals on block 9 of Av Salamanca, or a few blocks north
from the Plaza on Grau, Libertad and Ortiz Arrieta. A taxi
anywhere in town from the bus stations costs S2-3.
Destinations Cajamarca (2 daily; 12hr); Chiclayo (4 daily;
10hr); Lima (2-3 daily; 20hr); Trujillo (daily; 12hr). Many
of the buses to Chiclayo will stop in Pedro Ruíz (1hr 30min,
or ask around for combis or colectivos ), where you can catch
buses to Tarapoto and Yurimaguas for boats to Iquitos (see
p.816). There is a new minibus service direct to Tarapoto
from Chachapoyas with Tursimo Selva (Jr. Salamanca 956,
T 961 659 443; S34). Departs at 6.30am & 10am (8hr) -
make sure to book a seat in the front next to the driver as
the roads are winding.
By combi There are no combis that run within the city -
everywhere is walkable and taxis are cheap - but there
are minivans and colectivos servicing nearby towns such
as Huancas and Pedro Ruíz. Their terminals are along
Jr. Ortiz Arrieta, north of the Plaza de Armas.

EATING AND DRINKING
You'll find the Mercado Central one block north of the
Plaza de Armas between Grau and Ortiz Arrieta; small,
but with plenty of fresh produce.
Ì Café Fusiones Chincha Alta 445 T 041 479 170.
A chilled-out café serving excellent espresso (S3.50), along
with breakfasts, snacks, juices and shakes. Also offers wi-fi,
a book exchange and local handicrafts. The owner speaks
English, and is a good person to ask about volunteer
projects in the area. Daily 7am-1pm & 2-9pm.
Ciomara Café & Arte Jr. Ortiz Arrieta 524, Plaza
de Armas. Overflowing with art, magazines, records
and even some sculptures, this quirky place is a delight.
Breakfasts served (from S4), as well as juices (around
S2.50), sandwiches, burgers, tamales , etc. Daily 7am-3pm
& 4-10pm.
El Eden Jr. Grau 448 T 041 478 644. A vegetarian
restaurant that's good enough and ridiculously cheap.
Also sells health-related books. Breakfast from S2, lunch
menu S4.50. Sun-Fri 7am-9pm.
Panificadora San José Ayachucho 816. You can't get
better (or much cheaper) than this bakery/café for bread,
breakfasts and snacks. Fruit salad S5. Daily 6.30am-1pm
& 3-10pm.
Romana Jr. Amazonas 1091 T 041 477 212. For a very
good set lunch (Mon-Sat) - three courses and bread roll
for S8 - also does an excellent range of ceviche . Daily
7am-10.30pm.
Silvias Pub Jr. Ayacucho 822. A time warp of a bar,
with posters of John Lennon, Kurt Cobain and Bon Jovi on
the walls, and English-language pop on the sound system.
Go for their good selection of locally made macerado
(fermented fruit rum). Daily 9pm-1am.
Ì Terra Mia Jr. Chincha Alta 557 T 041 477 217.
A cultured hangout with an artistic air - walls are painted
a deep red hue and there are colourful Andean cushions.
But what marks this place out are the breakfasts (from
S12) - a welcome change from bread, juice and coffee.
Try the spinach and cheese omelette or yogurt with honey
and cereal. Daily 7am-10.30pm.

INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist information Jr. Ortiz Arrieta 5 (Mon-Sat
9am-6pm, Sun 9am-1pm; T 041 477 292). Run by iPerú;
English spoken.
Tour operator Turismo Explorer, at Jr. Grau 509 on the plaza
( T 041 478 162, W turismoexplorerperu.com), is highly
recommended and the guides speak excellent English.

ACCOMMODATION
Hostal Karajía Jr. 2 de Mayo 546 T 041 312 606,
E [e-mail]. Their tagline claiming “elegance”
may be overstretching things a little, but this is a nice
budget hostel with homely t ouc hes. All rooms have private
bath, hot water and cable TV. S30
Kuelap Jr. Amazonas 1057 T 041 477 136, W hotelkuelap
.com. A big rambling colonial building that also has a new
part tacked on (the old part is much more atmospheric
but can get da mp so best to inspect first or stay in the
modern wing). S20