Begin with two owners who have a passion for helping travellers. Add in one building and fill it with antiques and recycled decor. Pour hearts into hostel until you have amazing facilities for backpackers and an incredible social vibe. Result: A quirky yet homely hostel with an incredible feeling of community. Welcome to Limbo Jump Hostel, Arequipa, Peru!
Meet Mino and Sabrina – Owners at Limbo Jump
Bubbly, helpful and full of enthusiasm, owners Mino and Sabrina are keen to get to know their guests and recommend activities to do around Arequipa. Having run a hotel in the past, they knew exactly what they wanted to deliver with Limbo Jump: the same comfort, just on a backpacker friendly budget.
This is an aim that they have fulfilled admirably. There are thoughtful homely touches which make it easy to forget that you are staying in a budget hostel. For Mino and Sabrina, Limbo Jump is not just a job but a passion.
Immaculate facilities
Limbo Jump has everything that backpackers need. Located a convenient 10-minute walk to Arequipa’s centre, the hostel is strategically placed to avoid the noise of the main city. The dorm rooms are spacious with big lockers per bed.
The bunks themselves are incredibly comfortable and even come complete with a real quilt! When was the last time on your trip that you were able to enjoy one of them?!
The shared bathroom facilities are immaculately clean as is the kitchen, where a delicious breakfast is served every morning. Once the afternoon rolls around, the kitchen is open for guests to use for the rest of the day. For those who can’t be bothered to cook, owner Mino rustles up a few tasty options on request, making full use of his Italian heritage!
Social atmosphere
Everyone knows that no matter how aesthetically pleasing a hostel is, it is the atmosphere that makes it. Luckily, Mino and Sabrina know this too. They have created some incredible common spaces which makes it easy for backpackers to get to know each other, whether it is over the communal breakfast table or chatting in the lounge with a beer. The relaxed and laid back nature of this hostel means that you immediately feel at home and before long, you will come to view your fellow travellers as friends.
Kind to the Earth
Perhaps the coolest thing about Limbo Jump is the way it looks. Pretty much the entire hostel is made from recycled materials which really makes it memorable. Old oil drums have been given a new lease of life as Coca Cola seats and forks have been bent to become kitchen hooks. In a country with so much work to do when it comes to recycling, Limbo Jump is a refreshing reminder of the small things we can all do to limit our global waste impact.
Another huge plus for the responsible traveller is the clay water filtration system there. You can top up your drinking water bottle for just 50 cents. This is a huge plus if you are somebody who wants to cut down on their single-use plastic.
Homely touches
A stay at Limbo Jump really does feel like a home away from home and Mino and Sabrina have thought of everything when it comes to keeping their guests happy. There is a small tuck shop where backpackers are able to stock up on the essentials, as well as soap in all of the bathrooms. This is a rare and exciting treat in South American accommodation!
Sabrina makes a mean pie which if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to sample during your stay. There are also homemade sauces and small oregano packets for sale. This is definitely appreciated by all of those backpackers hoping to save money on eating out but don’t want to skimp on flavour!
Read more about backpacking Peru here!
Prices at Limbo Jump Hostel, Peru.
A bed in a six-person dorm room starts at 30 soles per night including breakfast (that’s approx. $9 US). There is also a four-person dorm room for women only, prices start at 37 soles per night ($11 US). You can check availability and reserve on Booking.com.
Sheree Hooker | Editor @ South America Backpacker + Winging The World
Sheree is the awkward British wanderluster behind wingingtheworld.com, a travel blog designed to show that even the most useless of us can travel. Follow Sheree’s adventures as she blunders around the globe, falling into squat toilets, getting into cars with machete men and running away from angry peacocks.
