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Loki Backpackers Hostel

Cusco

6 of 32
Address
Cuesta Santa Ana 601, Cusco Peru
Price
Location/Contact
Details
Loki Backpackers Hostel Online Booking
Arrival Date:   Nights:  People: 
Their Description

Features

  • Free Breakfast
  • Kitchen
  • Lockers
  • Bar
  • Lounge / Common space
  • BBQ
  • Food/Restaurant
  • Washing Machine (laundry)
  • Travel information provided
  • 24 Hour Free Hot Showers
  • Phones (public or in room)
 
The Hostelz.com Review
Loki Backpackers Hostel is fantastic for those who are eager to party hard in Cusco, but for those who wish to get up early and see the sights this may not be the best option.

Location

In the area of Cuesta Santa Ana this is a great location, about five minutes' walk from the centre of Cusco. However the Hostel is located on possibly the steepest street you will ever have encountered -- a bit of a trek after a tiring day. It's well worth the sweat and tears, though, as the views from the hostel are phenomenal. Be aware of taxi drivers trying to take you elsewhere when you first arrive -- stay assertive about where you want to go.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The hostel is a restored, four-hundred-fifty-year old national monument. The layout is lovely, with built-in square shapes around grassy grounds. The problem is that there is a draft, so most of the bedrooms are freezing cold during wintertime, however you do get the signature Loki duvet and the rooms are always spotless. There are also lockers underneath the beds that can fit all of your stuff. Not all rooms are cold but with this comes other odd quirks -- one room is connected to the bathroom with an unlocked door. This doesn't make you feel particularly secure. The bathrooms are very clean and there's plenty of showers and toilets to go around.

Common Spaces

The bar is great, very lively and fun with cheap drinks all night. However there's not one clue that you're actually in Peru -- you could be anywhere with sarnies and chips on the menu and the all Australian bar staff. There's a small but cosy TV room, however it can be a bit too crammed on busy nights. Internet is free and there are many computers so if there's a wait it's often a quick one.

Summary

Loki hostels are good value for money with free internet and a free (but basic) breakfast. Loki Cusco is renowned for being the party hostel so you if want to be where the action is, look no further. However by staying here you give up a bit of your real Peru experience, sheltered away from any trace of the Spanish language, Peruvian food, people, or culture -- you may miss out on the real Cusco.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2009


Ratings & Comments
4.3
11 Ratings

This is an open forum, and unlike other hostel guide websites we don't censor out the negative comments.
We can't validate the legitimacy of comments posted on this site—so take what you read here with a grain of salt.
Comment by Jay, Australia
March 2009
Didn´t have running water most of the time -- people were getting sick
Loki Hostel had its moments of being a fun hostel, but if you don't want to be surrounded by eighteen-year-old English high school leavers on their post graduation trips, who never leave the hostel and trapse around wearing identical alpaca jerseys, then don't go to Loki. Running water was also something that Loki could not seem to guarantee. Water for showers, washing hands, flushing toilets was only available for short periods in the early morning and late at night. So inconvenient, and had everyone in the hostel over it! Especially those returning from Inca Trail treks in desperate need of a hot shower who were unable to have one. Things started to become really unhygienic with massive buckets of water placed outside bathrooms for use in flushing toilets in place of running water. Toilets were being used and not flushed all over the hostel. People were starting to get generally irate, which made for an unpleasant environment and others were coming down with bacterial infections from all the human waste that was not being disposed of. The female manager of the hostel was unapologetic, essentially telling guests they had the choice to leave. I would not recommend this hostel.
Comment by Rich, USA
September 2008
This place is overrated
I stayed at Loki for one night and could not sleep. There was so much noise from the Hostel all night long, Not to mention the drunk people yelling at each other. I was really looking for a nice peaceful place. Bad choice.
Comment by PJ, London
January 2008
A real party place
Loki is a fun place and great for meeting people. It's a large hostel in a sixteenth century mansion, with thick walls. It has plenty of facilities, including free internet and Wi-Fi, and twenty-four-hour hot water. Its location is good but not outstanding, on a steep hill above the centre of town. My main gripe with this place is that the music in the bar/restaurant is absurdly loud after 8 p.m., far too loud for socialising, or indeed anything except dancing, which nobody did while I was there. That doesn't only affect you while you're in the bar -- it is also a problem if you have a room near the bar and want to sleep. This is a serious problem even if you're a party animal because treks leave for Macchu Picchu, the main reason to go to Cusco, at 5 or 6 a.m., so everybody has at least one night when they need some good sleep. A very good experience overall though.
Comment by Catherine from Anchorage, Alaska, USA
August 2007
Friendly, Clean, Safe, Location, Location!
I used Loki as my base for one week in June 2007, while I toured Cuzco and also went to Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes for one night. It has a spectacular view of the entire city from its bar/cafe. Loki serves regular breakfast besides its free continental breakfast, plus buffet dinners, and happy hour in its bar. The hostel can accommodate one-hundred-forty travelers, but they are so busy with their tours and activities, and the historic estate building is so huge and sprawling, that there is peace and quiet in the rooms. Four free Internet computers; free TV; tour bookings; friendly and helpful staff; security lockers and storage; secure electrical outlets for camera batteries; mostly young 20-somethings, but older folks are welcome; hostelers are mostly Brits and North Americans (lots of English spoken here). Many bathrooms with lots of hot water for showers -- very clean. For those planning the Inca Trail trek, the steep street/steps up to the hostel from the city is good practice! Loki is within walking distance of the cathedral and its festivals and parades, which I attended.
Comment by Verena
February 2007
The best I have seen during my ten months' travels. Especially the beds and the powerful hot shower is a delight. also people and the view from the bar. great!
Comment by Ash, USA
January 2007
Unbelievable! this word in bold doesn't even begin to describe what an amazing hostel this is. great courtyard -- you can go bask in the sun, read, listen to music, or whatever. super comfy beds and really warm bedding. they have an awesome bar with a mural that was painted way back when, that they are refinishing. kitchen, internet room, tv room with a dvd player and dvd's, and it gets super dark in there for those who had a late nite and just want to veg. the facilities are great. the view is spectacular of the whole city from the bar. this is by far the best hostel i have ever stayed in. the four guys that own and run it are fabulous. Now the most fun part is the walk up the stairs after a night out to get to the hostel. wow, after a really good night i would have to stop at least three times and catch my breath. hehe, alrighty guys and girls i hope i convince everyone to stay here cause if you don't you are sincerely missing out on the best place ever and experience. And for you partygoers, it has a great scene but if you don't want to party, no worries you can go to your room and can get away from noise. hope everybody enjoys this place as much as i did.
Comment by Andy from London
August 2006
Comfy bed, hot showers, free luggage storage and email, breakfast till 1pm! Good range of rooms and reasonably priced. The security guards on the door are the friendliest I have come across (ever!). Currently seem to be having a few issues with water supply and were restricting shower and bathroom use! Very well managed hostel, and party central if thats what your looking for too.
Comment by Dion & Av
January 2006
Loki hostel was great really clean, run really well they do great breakfasts & dinners & a great place to meet up with people.
Comment by Kristan
January 2006
Amazing view from the bar! The place itself is great. The guys have done an impressive job on the renovations. We ended up staying several nights longer than planned.
Comment by Jacinta
August 2005
This is really a super place — it is the best hostel that I have stayed in, in South America. Very clean and comfortable and the owners are very hands on, which makes a noticeable difference in standards.
Comment by Elaine
July 2005
LOKI hostel has been the best hostel I have stayed at in South America, with the best showers, beds, bar, atmosphere and the lads are lovely. If you want comfort and good craic stay here. I had some of my best nights out here.
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