Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [248]
Festivals & Events
There are hundreds of fiestas in Huancayo and surrounding villages – supposedly almost every day somewhere in the Río Mantaro valley. Ask at the tourist office.
Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day; see left)
Semana Santa (Holy Week) One of the biggest events in Huancayo, with big religious processions attracting people from all over Peru at Easter.
Fiestas Patrias (28 & 29 July) Peru’s Independence Days are celebrated by processions by the military and schools. Hotels fill up and raise their prices during these times.
Sleeping
BUDGET
Hotel Villa Rica (21-7040; Real 1293; r without bathroom S15, s/d with bathroom S25/35) Conveniently located for the bus stations at the south end of Real, this is a secure hotel and the best of the budget bunch in the vicinity. There is hot water in the evenings and rooms are clean.
La Casa de la Abuela (22-3303; incasdelperu@gmail.com; Giráldez 691; dm S20, s with/without bathroom S50/40, d S60/50; ) Incas del Perú runs La Casa de la Abuela and makes every effort to welcome tired travelers. This brightly painted, wooden-floored house is clean, friendly and efficient, offering a garden, reliable hot water, laundry facilities, a games room, cable TV and DVD. It’s popular with backpackers, who are mothered by la abuela (Lucho’s mom). Ten cozy rooms sleep between two to six people; rates include continental breakfast with homemade bread and jam and real, freshly brewed coffee. Good tourist information is available too.
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MARKET DAYS AROUND HUANCAYO
Each village and town in the Río Mantaro valley has its own feria (market day).
Monday San Agustín de Cajas, Huayucachi
Tuesday Hualhuas, Pucara
Wednesday San Jerónimo de Tunán, Jauja
Thursday El Tambo, Sapallanga
Friday Cochas
Saturday Matahuasi, Chupaca, Marco
Sunday Huancayo, Jauja, Mito, Comas
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Peru Andino (22-3956; www.geocities.com/peruandino_1; Pasaje San Antonio 113; s with/without bathroom S35/30, d S70/60, all incl breakfast) A backpacker favorite, this quiet, secure residential house is near Parque Túpac Amaru a few blocks northeast of the map. You couldn’t be in better hands than those of the couple running the place and there is a self-catering kitchen, laundry facilities, hot showers, some tour information and free bus/train station pick-up, given advance notice.
Hostal Las Lomas (23-7587; laslomashyo@yahoo.es; Giráldez 327; s/d S35/45) Spotless hot-water bathrooms and excellent mattresses make this a fine, central choice. Rooms vary in size; many are quite large, some get lots of street noise.
Hostal y Baños Sauna Las Viñas (36-5236; Piura 415; s/d S35/45) Rooms are small but squeeze in hot baths, cable TV and phone. Its sauna is open 6am to 9pm. The building offers lovely views from the upper floors.
Hotel Rogger (23-3488; Ancash 460; s/d S35/50) Around the corner from the plaza, you can stay at this clean, friendly place, which matches the rooms of its plaza-facing neighbors for size, facilities and (almost) ambience – for less money. Expect cable TV and black-and-white-tiled bathrooms dishing out 24-hour hot water.
MIDRANGE
Hotel los Balcones (21-1041; www.losbalconeshuancayo.com; Puno 282; s/d/tr S/45/55/75; ) Next to the El Marquez and sporting plenty of namesake hard-to-miss outside balconies, this is an attractive modern, airy and spacious new-style hotel. Tastefully furnished rooms come with cable TV, phone, alarm clock and reading lights: there’s complementary internet access and a busy in-house restaurant too. Look no further for reasonably priced city-center comfort.
Hotel Santa Felicita (23-5476; irmaleguia@hotmail.com; Giráldez 145; s/d S45/60) Large rooms at this attentive hotel get plaza views, sizable hot showers, cable TV and phone. An attractive cafe lies downstairs.
Susan’s Hotel (20-2251; susans_hotel@yahoo.com; Real 851; s/d S50/70) This spotless, cheerful hotel has rooms with good-sized bathrooms, cable TV, writing desks and firm mattresses. However, rooms are dark and overpriced for what they are; get one at the rear for peace and quiet.