La Posada de San Lázaro

We came to Arequipa for a 9 day business trip and needed an affordable base near everything, with a convenient spot for taxi or Uber pickups to different parts of town. This place ticked every box. It felt surprisingly quiet and very secure, and became a home away from home at the perfect price. There’s a lovely rooftop terrace and a relaxing outdoor seating area on the 2nd floor. The courtyard is adorable, too, a comfortable place to meet, work, or just sit and read. The warm, ridiculously friendly staff accommodated all our needs. Breakfast was fresh and delicious, sometimes made to order. It’s in the middle of the San Lazaro district, the oldest part of Arequipa, with narrow white cobblestone streets and volcanic rock buildings. Several great restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops are only minutes away on foot. I almost didn’t want to leave a review and expose this adorable little gem. Loved it, and I’ll check for availability next time we’re in town.

The main drawback for us was the lack of heat. One day and evening were comfortable after it got quite hot outside, but on the other two days, a little warmth in the bedroom would have made things just slightly more comfortable. If you don’t need extra heat, I’d recommend this property. It’s a beautiful place with a courtyard in a very quiet part of Arequipa’s historic center, basically at the end of the main street leading to the main plaza. There are hundreds of great restaurants nearby, and the city government keeps the historic center so clean. Our room and bathroom weren’t big, but the bed was comfortable, with great linens, a fantastic duvet, and blankets. The bathroom towels were soft, and there was plenty of hot water for showers. Breakfast was great, with good coffee, fresh fruit, fresh cucumber and tomato, and eggs cooked fresh for you.

They kept our luggage for a long time and gave us breakfast to take away for our trek. The breakfast was great, with a view of the volcanos!

Big mistake. The room was okay, and the bed and pillows were comfortable, but the noise throughout the hotel was too much to put up with. Dogs barked day and night, guests banged doors, and there was street noise too. Breakfast was a disaster, the worst on my long trip through peru. There was no brewed coffee, just instant rubbish. The fried eggs came on a cold plate, the fruit salad portion was tiny, the little pieces of cheese looked sad and tasted bland, the butter was rancid, and there wasn’t any jam. Not recommended.