Florentia Rossini

About Florentia Rossini

Modern-day Peru is heavily influenced by its past. The country and its inhabitants are an interesting mix of cultures from Spain, which once ruled Peru, and the various native cultures, such as the Inca and Nazca. Because of this mix, the country has a diversity you might not expect at first glance. You can walk the streets of Peru's cities and be surrounded by lovely colonial structures on one day and then be hiking through the Andes to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Machu Picchu the next. Peru boasts a thriving eco-tourism industry.

Peru's capital city of Lima is a large and modern city with both slums and historic colonial buildings at its core. Cusco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was once the capital of the Incan Empire. It is a great place to begin your trek to Machu Picchu. Lake Titicaca (fun to say, isn't it?) is on the border with Bolivia and the largest lake in South America. Despite what seems like a steady influx of visitors and an increasingly healthy economy, nearly half of Peru's residents live under the poverty line. The further you get from the cities, the more likely you are to run into this.

Budget accommodations are plentiful in Peru. Many budget hotels are akin to hostels in other parts of the world, so don't be tied to the word "hostel" in the property's title. In fact, the truly budget hotels might even be below the standards of most hostels! Wherever you stay, sleeping cheap offers you a better look at the local culture and people as well as the opportunity to meet with other social travelers. You can browse the Peru hostels by clicking on the city names listed on this page. You can also let the computer do all the work for you - all you need to do is put your travel information into the search box on this page and the computer will tell you exactly what properties are available when you are going to be there. Then all you need to do is find the hostel that suits your personality. You might also want to refer to the Lima hostels page for more information.

If you're still in the planning process for your Peru trip, you can find information about what to do and see in the country in our Peru Travel Guide and also search for international airfare to Peru. And if you're interested in an organized trek to Machu Picchu, you can read about what's offered in the World Adventures Peru section.