Best Hostels in Lima: Where to Stay on the Coast vs. Centro

Lima is maybe not the city you imagine when thinking of Peru. Far from the Andean spirit of Cusco or the peachy squares and arched architecture of Arequipa, landing in Lima means getting dropped inside a whirling cauldron of traffic, pollution, and noise. But… there’s more to Peru’s capital than meets the eye.

I once got stuck in Lima for a week when almost all outbound transport was booked out over Easter. Try as I might, I couldn’t get a single bus to get me out of there — just one of those times spontaneous travel backfired on me. But as eager as I was to head south, the experience actually gave me a different appreciation for Lima. Despite being an overwhelming megacity, it also holds so much cultural and culinary interest. 

If you’re backpacking in Peru, then you might have a unique opportunity in Lima. Those on a quick holiday will surely want to rush to Machu Picchu (fair enough!), but you can have the chance to see a real Peruvian city, not just the Instagram version that gets posted from the touristy hotspots. 

While the city is chaotic, your hostel can be your oasis. It’s not just about choosing the hostel itself though, but also the location — because staying in El Centro or Barranco can give you a dramatically different experience. In this guide, I’ll help you find your ideal base in Lima. 

I personally stayed in two hostels, while others I’ve added based on recommendations from our team (see: our other Peru guides), word-of-mouth, location, and reviews.

El Centro or Coast?

First, a bit of important orientation.

Pull up a map of Lima’s hostels and you’ll see essentially two clusters. One sits inland around the Plaza Mayor, in the old centre. The other is on the coast to the south, within the adjacent areas of Barranco and Miraflores.

If you’re judging purely on vibes, Barranco wins easily. It’s a colorful, artistic, and bohemian quarter, offering plenty of fresh air and sea views to boot. There are tons of restaurants and nightlife around here and most things are walkable.

Although more appealing than El Centro, don’t expect the coast here to be some tropical beach boulevard place — this isn’t Rio de Janeiro. During some parts of the year, the coast in Lima is regularly shrouded in thick fog (a phenomenon known as garúa) and the waters are chilly year-round.

And even though the name of Waikiki Beach in Miraflores may make you think of Hawaii, it can actually feel closer to being on a beach in Scotland. It’s really more about the neighborhoods themselves than necessarily having to be close to the beaches — though getting some fresh air is always nice!

Miraflores is actually where most of the hostels are. Both Miraflores and Barranco are known to be safe and tourist-friendly. Overall I find Miraflores to be more upscale and modern, while Barranco feels more bohemian and artistic, which makes it my top pick for local character.

That said, I would still make the case for staying in Centro Histórico. It’s a much better location for sightseeing, with sights like the cathedral, museums, parks, catacombs, etc. all within arm’s reach – and you can even tackle them in the morning before crowds arrive. There’s a lot of colonial architecture in the old center – when I stayed at 1900 Backpackers Hostel, it felt so cool to stay in a historic mansion. 

From the coast the sights in the old center will take 45 to 70 minutes to reach, depending on traffic. Miraflores/Barranco are also much further from new international airport (opened in 2025) – about 50-70 minutes vs. 30 minutes from El Centro. So if you’re on a quick layover then the old centre can be a bit more practical.

The TL;DR – Honestly, I think Barranco has the best vibes, though I really enjoyed my stay in the old center. If you’re starting and finishing your Peru trip in Lima, you could simply decide to stay in one area first, then stay in the other before you fly out. That way you’ll get two different perspectives. 

Best hostels in Barranco

Viajero Lima – for the social scene

Popular Viajero Lima Hostel (formerly known as Kokopelli) is one you’ll hear about from travellers all the time, as it’s one of the most consistently recommended hostels in Latin America. Its reputation is well-earned thanks to getting the fundamentals right: a genuinely social atmosphere, well-organized events, and a great location.

The hostel is set in a spacious 1914 heritage building, with plenty of different spaces to match whatever mood you’re in. There’s a coworking space and bar, a restaurant out back, an arcade/game room, a garden, and a communal living room, alongside private rooms.

As a guest you can also get a packed activity calendar to plug into like walking and food tours, salsa classes, cooking classes, and evening events most nights.

Viajero is just two blocks from Barranco’s main square, with restaurants, bars, galleries and viewpoints all within easy walking distance. You’re also close to the famous Puente de los Suspiros and the route down towards the coast.

Ancestral Hostel Barranco – for rooftop ocean views & sunsets

If Viajero is the choice for a more organized, activity-filled backpacker scene, Ancestral is better suited to travellers who want a relaxed atmosphere and a bit more breathing room. It occupies another restored house on the same stretch of Barranco as Viajero, but it’s quieter and more work-friendly.

The rooftop terrace is the biggest draw, with Pacific views and a front-row seat for sunset – unlike any of the hostels I’ve listed here. It doubles as a workspace by day and a social hub by evening. Downstairs rounds it out with a bar, shared kitchen, coworking space, and a mix of open and enclosed common areas.

You’ll be just steps from the seaside, a short walk from Barranco’s main square and Puente de los Suspiros, with plenty of restaurants, bars and shops around you.

The Point – for partygoers

The Point is the more social, party-focused option in this part of Lima.

It’s totally designed around meeting other travellers, with daily activities, coworking spaces, and a rooftop where the hostel’s evening events and themed parties take place. The atmosphere is particularly geared towards solo travellers, with plenty going on every night, such as:

• A nightly lineup of events, like karaoke, salsa and bachata lessons, and pisco sour classes
• A rooftop party scene
• A location within 2 km of both Playa Makaha and Waikiki Beach

Besides dorms the hostel has private rooms with their own ensuite bathrooms, and some with balconies (rare at this price range).

Best hostels in El Centro

1900 Backpackers Hostel – my favorite

The 1900 Backpackers Hostel is my main recommendation for the historic center. I’ve actually stayed in it twice across two Peru backpacking trips.

The tall ceilings and marble floors give this hostel a bit of a bougie vibe, but it actually has a very informal and social atmosphere. It’s super centrally located, just a 15 minute walk from the main square. 

When I was stuck in Lima for many days, I didn’t mind nearly so much since I was staying here, a place where I could quietly read a book in the lobby just as I could connect with likeminded travellers over drinks every night. The super friendly staff made it feel like a home away from home!

Best hostels in Miraflores

NAIA Miraflores Lima – for remote work

NAIA Miraflores Lima sits in one of Miraflores’ little music-heritage pockets, close to the Vinyl Factory and Jazz Zone. Although housed in a converted 70s building, it has more of a design-hotel feel than most of the other hostels around here.

It’s adults-only and very social, with dorms and private rooms opening onto shared terraces. There’s also a cocktail bar, coworking space, yoga area, Peruvian restaurant and plenty of art and most interestingly, a dedicated movie room. The bar doubles as a nightlife spot, with its own club and karaoke nights, plus happy hour and live sports when there isn’t a DJ on.

Casaroma Hostels – for quiet & comfort

Casaroma Hostels sits in one of the quieter, more residential pockets of Miraflores, a short walk from the surf breaks and the coastal parks. It’s a good pick if you want a comfortable base in Lima where you can meet a few people, cook your own meals, and recover from adventures.

Rooms come as private doubles (some with their own balcony or garden view), twins, and a single spacious six-bed dorm with an ensuite bathroom and lockers. The hostel features a communal kitchen, a garden that’s the property’s best feature, free breakfast, free parking, bike parking, security lockers, and 24-hour check-in.

You’re still close enough to walk to Miraflores’ restaurants, cafés and nightlife, but the quieter setting gives you a bit of breathing room when you come back.

Next steps for your Peru itinerary

So there you have it, many different ways to stay in Lima — but wherever you choose, you’re bound to have a great time!

Most travelers use Lima as a springboard south. Here’s the natural southern route from here:

• Head to the desert – Huacachina, Paracas & Nazca get you sandboarding down dunes, sipping pisco, and flying over the Nazca Lines.
• Circle around to Arequipa – the best stopover on the long haul to Cusco and an amazing city in its own right. The hub from where you can do trips like the 2-day hike into Colca Canyon. You can potentially push further here to Lake Titicaca on the border with Bolivia.
• Get to the Inca capital of Cusco. This is where most Peru itineraries really slow down, with Machu Picchu and the surrounding treks the main event. Your choice of base matters here, too, so be sure to read our best hostels in Cusco guide.

Or see it all mapped out: 2 weeks in Peru: the classic itinerary.