Patrick and Mary Go Round

Below are the places that we stayed and some thoughts about each. They are listed in chronological order.

Ecuador:

1. Secret Garden - Quito, Ecuador
2. La Luna Hostel - Otavalo, Ecuador
3. Secret Garden - Quito, Ecuador
4. Secret Garden - Cotopaxi, Ecuador
5. Secret Garden - Quito, Ecuador
6. Residenciales Rosita - Baños, Ecuador
7. Hotel Imperial - Riobamba, Ecuador
8. Hotel Milan - Cuenca, Ecuador
9. Le Rendez Vous - Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Peru:

1. La Posada - San Ignacio, Peru
2. Hostal Johumaji - Chachapoyas, Peru
3. Hotel Plaza - Chachapoyas, Peru
4. 5 Day Trek - Chachapoyas, Peru
5. Hotel Revash - Chachapoyas, Peru
6. Overnight Bus - Chachapoyas to Trujillo, Peru (via Movil Tours)
7. Hostal Naylamp - Huanchaco, Peru
8. Overnight Bus - Trujillo to Lima, Peru (via Cruz del Sur)
9. Hitchhikers’ Hostal - Lima, Peru
10. Overnight Bus - Lima to Cuzco, Peru (via Cruz del Sur)
11. Hostal Sweet Daybreak - Cuzco, Peru
12. 4 Day Trek - Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru
13. Hostal Sweet Daybreak - Cuzco, Peru
14. Overnight Bus - Cuzco to Lima, Peru (via Ormeno)
15. Overnight Bus - Lima to Huaraz, Peru (via Movil Tours)
16. Seeds of Hope Volunteer Housing - Huaraz, Peru
17. Overnight Flight - Lima, Peru to New York, NY (via Spirit Airlines)

9/28-10/2/2008, 10/5/2008, 10/8/2008
Name: Secret Garden

Location: Quito, Ecuador
Rate: $20/night ($10/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, Hot Showers, Rooftop Terrace, Restaurant/Bar, Internet (too slow for Skype), Very Friendly Staff, Laundry Service (add’l charge), Convenient Location, Fun Place to Hangout/Meet People, Music and Nightly Campfires, Spring Water (free bottle refills)
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10/2-5/2008
Name: La Luna Hostel

Location: Otavalo, Ecuador
Rate: $20/night ($10/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, Hot Showers, Restaurant/Bar, Television w/ extensive DVD collection, Nightly Hearth Fires, Secluded Spot with Plenty of Privacy, Shared Hammocks, 4km Outside of Town Overlooking Farms, Nearby Hiking (free), Spring Water (free bottle refills)
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10/6-8/2008
Name: Secret Garden

Location: Cotopaxi, Ecuador
Rate: $50/night ($25/person)
Description: Very Tranquillo, 2 Dorm/Bunk Beds in Shared Room, Shared Bathroom, Hot Showers, Meals Included and Very Tasty, Hearth Fires All Day, Composting Toilet, Treks to Glacier/National Park ($25 extra/person) and All Day Horseback Riding ($25 extra/person), Candlelight, Very Friendly Staff, Fun Place to Hangout/Meet People, Spring Water (free bottle refills), Shared Hammocks
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10/9-14/2008
Name: Residenciales Rosita

Location: Baños, Ecuador
Rate: $10/night ($5/person) weekdays and $16/night weekends
Description: 2 Single Beds in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, Hot Showers, Nearby Tours/Baths/Nightlife, Good Location, Thin Walls, Close to Street (Noisy), Very Friendly Staff, Nearby Hiking (free)
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10/14-15/2008
Name: Hotel Imperial

Location: Riobamba, Ecuador
Rate: $10/night ($5/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, Close to Street (Noisy), Nearby Train Station, Balcony
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10/15-16/2008
Name: Hotel Milan

Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
Rate: $22/night ($11/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Private Bathroom, HOT Showers, Breakfast Included, Internet Included, Television, Phone, Balcony, Spring Water (free bottle refills)
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10/16-20/2008
Name: Le Rendez Vous

Location: Vilcabamba, Ecuador
Rate: $22/night ($11/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Private Bathroom, Porch with Table/Chairs, Private Hammock, Free DIY Laundry, Delicious Breakfast Included (with Real Coffee), Tranquillo Atmosphere, Slightly Older Clientelle, Library and Local Information, Very Helpful Staff, Spring Water (cheap bottle refills), WiFi ($4 extra/day), Nearby Hiking (free)
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10/20-21/2008
Name: La Posada

Location: San Ignacio, Peru
Rate: $5/night ($2.50/person)
Description: 2 Twin Beds in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, Shared Porch, Restaurant/Bar, VERY Thin Walls, Close to Street (Noisy), Neighbors with Children wake-up for in-hallway soccer at 6AM
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10/21-24/2008
Name: Hostal Johumaji

Location: Chachapoyas, Peru
Rate: $12/night ($6/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Private Bathroom, Noticable Echo in Hallway (Noisy), Nearby Central Plaza, Good Location
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10/24-25/2008
Name: Hotel Plaza

Location: Chachapoyas, Peru
Rate: $X/night ($X/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Private Bathroom, TV, In House Restaurant, Directly on Central Plaza, Great Location
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10/25-29/2008
Name: 5 Day Trek with Andes Tours (at Hotel Revash)

Location: Chachapoyas, Peru
Rate: $66/day ($33/person)
Description: Various Lodging Locations including: Hostel Kuelap (Proper Hostal in Lamud), Hotel de las Vacas (Shack in the Valle de Belen), Hotel de las Gallinas (Boarding House in Congon) and Hostal de los Perros (Proper Hostel in Choctomal), Great Food
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10/29-30/2008
Name: Hotel Revash

Location: Chachapoyas, Peru
Rate: 1 Free Night after Trek
Description: 2 Twin Beds in Private Room, Private Bathroom, TV, Phone, HOT Showers, Directly on Central Plaza, Great Location
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10/30-31/2008
Name: Overnight Bus (via Movil Tours)

Location: Chachapoyas to Trujillo, Peru
Trip Length: 14 Hours
Rate:
Description: 2 Semi-Cama Seats next to the Bathroom, Single Level, TV/Movies, Food (not great)
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10/31-11/2/2008
Name: Hostal Naylamp

Location: Huanchaco, Peru
Rate:
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Private Bathroom, Warm Showers, Free Internet, WiFi, Porch with Table/Chairs, Shared Hammocks, Free DIY Laudry, Book Exchange, In House Restaurant, Directly Across Street from Pacific Ocean, Good Location
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11/2-3/2008
Name: Overnight Bus (via Cruz del Sur)

Location: Trujillo to Lima, Peru
Trip Length: 8 Hours
Rate:
Description: 2 Semi-Cama Seats in Second Row of Upper Level, 2 Levels, TV/Movies, Food, Creepy Guy from Station Interupted Sleeping
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11/3-5/2008
Name: Hitchhikers’ Hostal

Location: Lima, Peru
Rate:
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, Warm Showers, Free Internet, WiFi, Home-Style Common Rooms, Library and Local Information, Kitchen, Continental Breakfast Included, Posh Neighborhood (Milaflores, Lima), Great Location
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11/5-6/2008
Name: Overnight Bus (via Cruz del Sur VIP)

Location: Lima to Cuzco, Peru
Trip Length: 22 Hours
Rate: $58/seat
Description: 2 Bus-Cama Seats in Back Row of Lower Level, 2 Levels, TV/Movies, Good Food, Blankets, Pillows, Extra-Wide Seats, Good Sleeping, Nervous Route
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11/6-13/2008, 11/16-21/2008
Name: Hostal Sweet Daybreak

Location: Cuzco, Peru
Rate: $22/night ($11/person)
Description: Double Bed in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, HOT Showers, Free Internet, WiFi, Picnic-Sytle Common Area, Small Book Exchange, Kitchen, Posh Neighborhood (San Blas, Cuzco), Great Location, Funky Couple Actively Trying to Break into Hostel Business
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11/13-16/2008
Name: 4 Day Trek with Peru Treks

Location: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru
Rate: $213/day ($106/person)
Description: Camping in Various Campsites, Guide and Assistant, Porters, Cook and Assistant, Excellant Food, Fantastic Experience
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11/21-22/2008
Name: Overnight Bus (via Ormeno Royal Class)

Location: Cuzco to Lima, Peru
Trip Length: 29 Hours
Rate: $47/seat
Description: 2 Bus-Cama Seats in Middle of Upper Level, 2 Levels, TV/Movies, Separate Bathrooms for Men/Women, Good Food, Blankets, OK Sleeping, Cabin Hot while Sunny, Bus Interior Very Dirty, NOT a “Royal” experience
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11/22-23/2008
Name: Overnight Bus (via Movil Tours Bus-Cama)

Location: Lima to Huaraz, Peru
Trip Length: 8 Hours
Rate: $22/seat
Description: 2 Bus-Cama Seats in Middles of Upper Level, 2 Levels, TV/Movie, Food, Blankets, Extra-Wide Seats, Good Sleeping, Nervous Route
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11/23-12/22/2008
Name: Seeds of Hope Volunteer Housing

Location: Huaraz, Peru
Rate: $800/month ($15/person/night)
Description: 2 Single Beds in Private Room, Shared Bathroom, Spotty Warmth in Showers, Free Internet, WiFi, Large Cafe/Common Area, Small Book Exchange, Large Kitchen, Great Location, On-site Adventure Company and Cafe to support the NGO, Price includes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Monday-Friday and Spanish Lessons
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12/22-23/2008
Name: Overnight Flight (via Spirit Airlines Emergency/Last Minute)

Location: Lima, Peru to New York, NY (LaGuardia)
Trip Length: 36 Hours
Rate: $1005/seat (purchased 3 hours before boarding)
Description: 2 “Deluxe Leather” Seats in Middle of an Airbus A319, No Entertainment, No Blankets/Pillows, Snacks and Drinks Available for Purchase, Very Poor Sleeping, Emotional Trip
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Our Ratings:
We generally use the following criteria to come up with the above ratings:
- 5 Stars, Very Highly Recommended. If you’re anywheres near these places, definitely stay, without a doubt. If you’re unsatisfied, we’ll pay for your room.
- 4 Stars, Highly Recommended. This is a great choice and we encourage you to stay here. There may be other places around, but these are sure bets and have little room for improvement.
- 3 Stars, Recommended. This is a good choice and we’re glad to have stayed here. There may be other equally nice or better places; this one is OK, but there may be areas for improvement.
- 2 Stars, Recommended with Reservation. This may have been a good place in a pinch or may have a couple flaws. Some places are always nicer than others; when you’re on a budget, you’ll stay in some cheap hostels.
- 1 Star, Not Recommended. Don’t stay here — we wish we hadn’t.
Obviously, these ratings are very subjective and only recommend our experiences over one or two nights.
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