Arica
The pleasant, clean and spacious (if a bit dark) rooms are reached via a long hallway lined with African-themed artwork. The cheapest rooms lack exterior…
Must-see hotels in South America
Cochabamba
This is a bright and freshly furnished hotel, perhaps excessively so. The fake pastel-colored flowers are a turn-off, however, the rooms are spacious…
Minas Gerais
Five minutes' walk from the bus station and the cobblestones of the historic center, and kitty-corner to a pleasant plaza, this quaint inn is long on…
Lima
A simple hotel with a restaurant, painted salmon pink. It has carpeted rooms adorned with folksy Peruvian paintings and amenities such as minibars and…
Lima
On a street cluttered with print shops, this comfy, 15-room hotel features simple, carpeted rooms, spick-and-span bathrooms and cable TV. Service could be…
Amazon Basin
Higher-end rooms at this banana-colored hotel on the plaza cater to the choosier visitor; cheaper ones fall into the turquoise trap but provide a crash…
Cuzco
A roomy place with a pleasant stone courtyard, well-kept colonial terraces and whimsical collections of old sewing machines, phones and typewriters…
Brazil
This simple, efficiently run guesthouse is one of several located near the Passarela do Caranguejo (Crab Lane), offering easy access to the beach and some…
Coastal Patagonia
The rooms are small and thin walled and the bathrooms positively tiny, but in a town short of budget rooms, this will do. Local newspapers and a basic…
Bolivia
Possibly Yacuiba's poshest hotel, the Valentín is a large, generic-looking bunker-like building only a half block from the train station. The pool is…
Suriname
This small and clean motel-style place is the pick of the backpacker options in Nieuw Nickerie. It also boasts the best restaurant in town, serving up…
Minas Gerais
This family-run place sits on a ridge just above the bus station. The nine small but spotless rooms have panoramic views – the location, garden and pool…
Santa Cruz & Gran Chiquitania
If you need a bed for the night, contact Tito Irving Rocha, who rents rooms with private bathrooms at his small pension, two blocks east of the main…
Huancayo
A long-time backpacker-accustomed place with spotless bathrooms. Rooms get lots of street noise but are not bad value. And it is still going. That is…
Atlantic Coast
The stone-and-stucco exterior helps this one stand out, and there's some interesting art on the interior walls, too. The rooms are a bit dated, yet they…
The Amazon
A 200m walk from the bus terminal, the Villa Verde has a huge leafy garden and eight cozy rooms, all with air-con and comfortable beds. Some have private…
Sur Chico
Some of the upstairs showers at the Elizabeth are a bit too narrow, but the 21 rooms are some of the nicer in town and it has a well-regarded restaurant …
Isla del Sol
Perched on the hill leading into town from the dock, these simple adobe bungalows afford great views and have 24-hour hot water. However, the beds are a…
Goiás
Opposite the bus station's northern exit, this almost-cheapie will do for an overnight stay before catching an early bus. Opt for a modernized third-floor…
Nazca & Around
This is a classic travelers’ haunt with a restaurant, manicured grounds and pool. It has narrow, tile-floor business-standard rooms. All in all it's an OK…
North Coast
This simple, family-run guesthouse near the sports field has a couple of basic rooms, a kitchen and a little living-room area. It's a good spot for bigger…
Mendoza & the Central Andes
If you wish to spend the night, lay your head at the modest Hospedaje Nora, featuring simple but spacious rooms with cable TV in a family house. Those in…
Gran Hotel Turístico Municipal
Central Highlands
San Pedro de Casta's only hotel is not as grand as its name suggests, but it gives you a roof over your head after the exertions of climbing up to…
Central Highlands
This bright red place above a shop, is decent enough by the town of La Unión's basic standards. You really do deserve to be termed a viajero (traveler) if…
Northern Highlands
The pick of the none-too-inspiring hotels in Pedro Ruíz is by the road junction, but try to get a room away from the noisy highway. Rooms are basic but…
North Coast & Lowlands
The Gran Hotel San Carlos 2 is comfortable with state-of-the-art air-con, cable TV and spotless floors. It's worth the $5 splurge if the original Gran…
Jujuy
An aging three-star spot, blessed with views of the hills above town. Rooms have wood furnishings and crown moldings, plush carpeting, cable TV and rather…
French Guiana
The utilitarian Central isn't interesting in any particular way, but the decently comfortable and clean rooms, central location and good service make it…
Inland Patagonia
On a slip of grass between the main road and the lake, this campground's spots have lovely water views. Campsites include shade, electricity hookup and…
Bariloche & the Lake District
Hostería San Jorge has big, spotless rooms set around a cute little garden in a great central location. However, the paltry breakfast and mattresses…
Rio Grande do Sul
Has 10 stylish wooden chalets, with Sky TV, minibars and heaters; some also have whirlpool bathtubs. In the main lodge, guests can congregate around the…
Pernambuco
The best budget bet in the center of the old town, this arty hostel has spacious air-conditioned private rooms with polished concrete floors and a large…
Cafayate
A newer hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby, a pool in the garden, and ceramic-tiled floors in rooms that feature local handicrafts. Rooms…
Rio de Janeiro
Tucked in a peaceful part of Urca, this place has simply furnished guest rooms, friendly service and a top-floor terrace with magnificent views (it's…
Mendoza & the Central Andes
A basic hostel with a variety of aging rooms in a residential neighborhood placed conveniently between the bus terminal and downtown. Good info on tours…
Otavalo
Small rooms with faux Santa Fe–style furnishings, mostly wood decor and tiny bathrooms. Some have the saving grace of volcanic views, and of course, a…
Paraguay
There are self-catering accommodations at the peccary program in a spic-and-span house, but you'll need to book in advance and take your own food and…
Lake Titicaca
Richard Cahui Flores works with lots of families and is the best point of contact for advance bookings. He will set you up with somebody else if he doesn…
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses
One of the original places to stay in Atins, Tia Rita is still a popular budget option, offering simple and clean rooms in a spick-and-span family home…
Pereira
A step up from the rest of the downtown budget options, this small, neat hotel is great value with hot water, cable TV and a laundry service. Go for a…
