Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
poshest joint offers divine comfort in the middle of nowhere while never straying too far
from rustic tradition. An onsite restaurant even tries its spin on Novoandina cuisine.
HOTEL
Hostal Hatunhuasi $
( 054-58-1054, in Lima 01-531-0803;
www.hatunhuasi.com
; Centanario 309, Co-
tahuasi; s/d S25/50)
A notch above the other options in town, this friendly guesthouse has
plenty of rooms situated around a sunny inner courtyard and hot water most of the time.
Food can be made upon request, and the owners are good sources of hard-to-get informa-
tion for travelers.
Hospedaje Casa Primavera $
( 054-28-50-89; primaverahostal@hotmail.com; Calle Union 112, Tomepampa; r per
person S20)
A good find in the tiny village of Tomepampa, this oldish hacienda-style
building has a balcony, some floral embellishments and views. There is a variety of
simple but clean rooms of different sizes and breakfast is included.
INN
GUESTHOUSE
Hostal Alcalá $
( 054-83-0011; Plaza de Armas, Alca; s/d S25/40, dm/s/d without bathroom S10/15/
25)
In Alca, this guesthouse has a good mix of clean rooms and prices, including some of
the most comfortable digs in the whole valley. There is 24-hour hot water here.
Getting There & Away
The 420km bus journey from Arequipa, half of which is on unpaved roads, takes 12 hours
if the going is good (S25). Over three-quarters of the way there, the road summits a
4500m pass between the huge glacier-capped mountains of Coropuna and Solimana
(6323m) before dropping down to Cotahuasi. Wild vicuña can also be spotted here run-
ning on the high altiplano.
Reyna
( 43-0612)
and
Transportes Alex
( 42-4605)
both run buses that leave Arequipa around 4pm. Buses return to Arequipa from Cotahuasi
at around 5pm.
There are hourly
combis
from the Cotahuasi plaza up to Alca (S3, one hour) via
Tomepampa (S2, 30 minutes). For Pampamarca, there are two daily buses (S5, two hours)
departing in the early morning and again mid-afternoon.
