Peru - Lonely Planet Publications [414]
MIDRANGE
All the following have rooms with bathrooms, fans and cable TV.
Hotel América (57-5989; hamericapcl@speedy.com.pe; Portillo 357; s/d with air-con S80100, s/d without air-con S45/60, mini ste S130; ) Rooms are modern but small and amenities vary; minifridges, telephones and hot showers are available. There is also a cafeteria and a small restaurant here. A continental or American breakfast is included in the rate.
Hostal Arequipa (57-3171, 57-1348; www.hostal-arequipa.com; Progreso 573; s/d with air-con S80/100, s/d without air-con S50/65; ) This is a popular, professional and often full midrange choice, and has hot water, minifridges, a restaurant, and attractive public areas decorated with Shipibo art. The pricier rooms with air-con also include a continental breakfast.
Antonio’s Hospedaje (57-3721, 57-4721; antonions_hs@hotmail.com; Progreso 545; s/d with air-con S90/100, s/d without air-con 80/70; ) Rooms here are huge and have hot showers, nice tiled bathrooms, comfortable mattresses and minifridges. One of Pucallpa’s best swimming pools now awaits in the garden. Higher rates cover airport pickup and air-con.
Río Hotel (57-1280, 57-2771; www.riohotelcasino.com.pe; San Martín 475; s/d incl breakfast S90/135; ) An odd-looking hotel-cum-casino with only three of its six stories completed, it nonetheless takes guests. Rooms are Spartan but bigger than average, and have phones, warm showers, cable TV and minifridges.
Grand Hotel Mercedes (57-5120; www.grandhotelmercedes.com; Raimondi 610; s S90-115, d S135-175; ) Pucallpa’s first good hotel has recently had a sprucing up. All rooms now have air-con and minifridges. There is a dated elegance to this clean, comfortable place, with its echoing tiled corridors, beige room decor and gorgeous garden courtyard with swimming pool (also open to nonguests, S3).
Hotel Luz de Luna (57-1729, 57-1206; www.hotelluzdelunaeirl.com; San Martín 283; s/d/ste incl breakfast S110/130/300; ) A brand new addition to the top-end hotel scene, this offering sports ample rooms with plump beds, minifridges, telephones, 21-inch TVs with DVD players and free internet. The top-floor restaurant boasts great views; there is also a roof terrace and a cafe. Several suites with Jacuzzis are available.
TOP END
Hotel Sol del Oriente (57-5510; hsoloriente@qnet.com.pe; San Martín 552; s/d/ste S230/285/460, s/d with Jacuzzi S285/320; ) This is about the best you’ll get in Pucallpa proper. It’s not that flash but it’s comfortable. The rooms are of a decent size, have air-con, TV, minifridges and good, always-hot showers. Within, the hotel boasts a pool and a palm-shaded garden: you get a welcome cocktail on arrival.
Eating
Pucallpa does cafes and ice-cream parlors well, but has few noteworthy restaurants. The heat in the middle of the day means that restaurants tend to open by 7am for breakfast. Many are closed Sunday.
C’est Si Bon (Independencia 560; snacks from S3) This bright spot does Pucallpa’s best coffee. Also head here for breakfasts, good ice cream, sandwiches and other snacks.
Restaurant Kitty (57-4764; Tarapaca 1062; menús S5-15; 7am-11pm Mon-Sat, to 5pm Sun) The Kitty is clean and popular, and brings in local lunch crowds for a wide variety of Peruvian culinary classics. Join ’em!
Dolci Pensieri (59-1263; Sucre 331, mains S6-20; 11am-11pm) This well-designed, attractive heladería-cum-restaurant does great cakes and juices, plus a line in pizzas and Mexican food in the evenings.
El Portal Chicken (57-1771; Independencia 510; mains about S10; 5pm-midnight) This three-story restaurant, with its open-air plaza views and the brightest neon lights in town, is Pucallpa’s best chicken restaurant.
Cebichería El Escorpión (57-4516; Independencia 430; meals S10-20) This option has a prime plaza location, with (noisy) sidewalk tables, and serves good seafood (tender and fresh despite Pucallpa’s distance from the coast) for breakfast and lunch.
Restaurant El Golf (57-632; Huáscar