Located in the centre of Arequipa, in a traditional colonial building, Le Foyer must surely be the city’s prettiest hostel. Offering hotel style service alongside a variety of rooms for all budgets, this is a hostel that doesn’t skimp on the details. The rooftop bar is a great place to grab a drink or a bite to eat and overlooks one of Peru’s most spectacular landscapes.
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Beautiful colonial style setting
Le Foyer Hostel is nothing short of beautiful. Located on the corner of Calle Ugarte, this old style colonial building overlooks the breathtaking Andes Mountain range. The interior of the hostel is in keeping with style and features many flowers and plants.
The rooms at Le Foyer are spacious and clean. There is everything from 4 bed mixed dorms which start at 33 soles per night and a range of private rooms. Some rooms come with a balcony, which makes for a beautiful spot to sit and people watch.
Complimentary snacks for early morning tours
The staff here know that Arequipa is frequently used as a springboard for Colca Canyon and take this into account. Many tours to the canyon, especially day trips, will leave very early in the morning, perhaps 2.30 am or 3 am.
In the instance that you are picked up from Le Foyer at this time, staff will provide a small pack of snacks for your trip, free of charge. This usually consists of a cake and a juice box. It is a small touch but a really nice one, especially when you’re so tired you haven’t even begun to consider breakfast!
Hotel style service
Although Le Foyer is a hostel, it is easy to forget this with the standard of care paid to guests. Every day, your room is cleaned and your sheets are changed. They provide fresh towels (a luxury for a backpacker who travels with a microfibre!) and empty all of the bins in the room.
It is possible to arrange tours through them and even to get them to book your onward travel. There are printing facilities which cost just 50 cents for one page – a great option if you are using a service like BusBud to reserve your tickets.
Central location
In terms of location, it is hard to find a more central hostel than Le Foyer. Situated just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, it is within a stone’s throw of all of the city’s main sights and attractions. There are some great bars and restaurants nearby, with westerner favourite Las Gringas sitting just around the corner.
Although it can be loud at night, especially if you have a front facing room with a balcony, this is nothing that a pair of earplugs can’t solve. These are provided for free at the reception desk. The views from the windows around the property are incredible. Surrounded by the Andes, on a clear day, you can see both the Misti and Chachani volcanoes as well as the white stone buildings that Arequipa is famous for.
Rooftop bar
This recently opened rooftop bar is a great place to spend an evening in Arequipa. The view is stunning on a clear day as you can see the top of the cathedral as well as the surrounding volcanoes. The bar/restaurant is decorated with fairy lights which makes it a beautiful area to relax in the evening. Pisco Sour workshops are held here daily, with guests getting a discount on the full price.
There are happy hour deals and all guests are given a special happy hour discount card upon check-in. Breakfast is served here in the morning and consists of an extensive spread including, fruit with yoghurt and eggs. It is possible to order food in the evening from the restaurant which is very reasonable in price. A chicken burger combo including chips and a mojito comes in at just 15.90 soles! It is definitely a nice excuse to have that drink you’ve been craving.
Prices
A single bed in a mixed dorm room comes in at 30 soles per night and privates start at 83 soles. You can reserve and check availability at booking.com.