Hotel Friendly AQP is a welcoming and unpretentious hostel located in the quiet residential neighborhood of Vallecito, just four blocks from Plaza de Armas. The family-run hostel offers simple dorms and private rooms, providing a comfortable stay for backpackers.
Why you should go
1
Enjoy stunning rooftop views of volcanoes from the terrace
2
Experience fast wifi perfect for video calls and remote work
3
Convenient location within walking distance of attractions in Arequipa
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We loved our stay so much, we ended up extending for an extra night! The hostel has been recently refurbished and our private double room was perfect – comfy bed, new TV, and hot and powerful shower.
I’d read an earlier review mentioning street noise, but we didn’t have any problems at all. The windows seem to be brand new so the double glazing must have sorted it.
The rooftop is lovely for relaxing, and while it’s not a super social hostel, it’s ideal if you’re looking to unwind and get a good night’s sleep. The staff were incredibly friendly and responsive, and we were able to pay for a late checkout until 7pm, which was a huge help as our bus to Ica wasn’t until 9:30pm.
I had a room towards the street - it is VERY NOISY all day all night. sleeping well was not possible. on top of that you can hear all sounds from reception, the kids screaming, doorbell etc. the general attitude of the family running it was very neutral from the beginning, it‘s not overly welcoming. you should like kids if you stay there, they are around at breakfast and at reception all the time and you have to listen to the same videos and games the kid is playing every single morning. the small kitchen one can use is their kitchen so often when you want to cook at night the whole family is using it for big meals which leaves not much space for guests. it’s also one of the only hostels in peru where they did not have hot water ready all day, usually they do that. it’s these small details that make you feel the focus is not on guests, it’s clearly on family life. the rooftop looked like a mess and was often used for drying clothes. breakfast was ok, though I prefer buffet-style rather than having a cold pancake served to you. wifi was good, it was clean, and centrally located (though loud location as mentioned).
TL;DR: Fast wifi, hot showers (if you're early), friendly staff, great rooftop views. Bit noisy from reception, 15min walk to center.
The host here is exceptionally accommodating and friendly. Rooms are basic but do the job - just note that hot showers are shared with the whole building, so early birds win that race. You can leave your big bags if you do an overnight trip to Colca canyon.
Standout feature is the wifi - solid 300+ Mbps that actually delivers for video calls and remote work. The rooftop terrace is a gem with stunning views of the volcanoes, and access to the kitchen is a nice bonus.
Location is decent - you can walk everywhere, though it's about 15 minutes to most restaurants. Convenient Western Union nearby for USD exchange before Bolivia.
Main drawback: the layout means you'll hear reception doorbell, lobby chat, and music. Not exactly loud, but definitely not private either.
Good value for money, but can pay more to be closer to the square.
We loved our stay so much, we ended up extending for an extra night! The hostel has been recently refurbished and our private double room was perfect – comfy bed, new TV, and hot and powerful shower.
I’d read an earlier review mentioning street noise, but we didn’t have any problems at all. The windows seem to be brand new so the double glazing must have sorted it.
The rooftop is lovely for relaxing, and while it’s not a super social hostel, it’s ideal if you’re looking to unwind and get a good night’s sleep. The staff were incredibly friendly and responsive, and we were able to pay for a late checkout until 7pm, which was a huge help as our bus to Ica wasn’t until 9:30pm.
I had a room towards the street - it is VERY NOISY all day all night. sleeping well was not possible. on top of that you can hear all sounds from reception, the kids screaming, doorbell etc. the general attitude of the family running it was very neutral from the beginning, it‘s not overly welcoming. you should like kids if you stay there, they are around at breakfast and at reception all the time and you have to listen to the same videos and games the kid is playing every single morning. the small kitchen one can use is their kitchen so often when you want to cook at night the whole family is using it for big meals which leaves not much space for guests. it’s also one of the only hostels in peru where they did not have hot water ready all day, usually they do that. it’s these small details that make you feel the focus is not on guests, it’s clearly on family life. the rooftop looked like a mess and was often used for drying clothes. breakfast was ok, though I prefer buffet-style rather than having a cold pancake served to you. wifi was good, it was clean, and centrally located (though loud location as mentioned).
TL;DR: Fast wifi, hot showers (if you're early), friendly staff, great rooftop views. Bit noisy from reception, 15min walk to center.
The host here is exceptionally accommodating and friendly. Rooms are basic but do the job - just note that hot showers are shared with the whole building, so early birds win that race. You can leave your big bags if you do an overnight trip to Colca canyon.
Standout feature is the wifi - solid 300+ Mbps that actually delivers for video calls and remote work. The rooftop terrace is a gem with stunning views of the volcanoes, and access to the kitchen is a nice bonus.
Location is decent - you can walk everywhere, though it's about 15 minutes to most restaurants. Convenient Western Union nearby for USD exchange before Bolivia.
Main drawback: the layout means you'll hear reception doorbell, lobby chat, and music. Not exactly loud, but definitely not private either.
Good value for money, but can pay more to be closer to the square.
For quieter rooms, request accommodations away from street noise or reception area
If you prefer privacy in showers, aim to use them early before they are shared by other guests
Consider leaving big bags at the hotel when going on overnight trips like Colca Canyon tours
Exchange USD conveniently at nearby Western Union before heading to Bolivia
Reviews
Hotel Friendly AQP in Arequipa is praised for its fast wifi, hot showers (if you're early), and friendly staff. Guests appreciate the great rooftop views but note that it can be a bit noisy due to reception sounds. The location is decent with a 15-minute walk to the center. Reviewers highlight the accommodating host, basic yet functional rooms, shared hot showers, solid 300+ Mbps wifi suitable for remote work, gem-like rooftop terrace with volcano views, convenient access to kitchen facilities, and the option to leave big bags during overnight trips.
We loved our stay so much, we ended up extending for an extra night! The hostel has been recently refurbished and our private double room was perfect – comfy bed, new TV, and hot and powerful shower.
I’d read an earlier review mentioning street noise, but we didn’t have any problems at all. The windows seem to be brand new so the double glazing must have sorted it.
The rooftop is lovely for relaxing, and while it’s not a super social hostel, it’s ideal if you’re looking to unwind and get a good night’s sleep. The staff were incredibly friendly and responsive, and we were able to pay for a late checkout until 7pm, which was a huge help as our bus to Ica wasn’t until 9:30pm.
I had a room towards the street - it is VERY NOISY all day all night. sleeping well was not possible. on top of that you can hear all sounds from reception, the kids screaming, doorbell etc. the general attitude of the family running it was very neutral from the beginning, it‘s not overly welcoming. you should like kids if you stay there, they are around at breakfast and at reception all the time and you have to listen to the same videos and games the kid is playing every single morning. the small kitchen one can use is their kitchen so often when you want to cook at night the whole family is using it for big meals which leaves not much space for guests. it’s also one of the only hostels in peru where they did not have hot water ready all day, usually they do that. it’s these small details that make you feel the focus is not on guests, it’s clearly on family life. the rooftop looked like a mess and was often used for drying clothes. breakfast was ok, though I prefer buffet-style rather than having a cold pancake served to you. wifi was good, it was clean, and centrally located (though loud location as mentioned).
TL;DR: Fast wifi, hot showers (if you're early), friendly staff, great rooftop views. Bit noisy from reception, 15min walk to center.
The host here is exceptionally accommodating and friendly. Rooms are basic but do the job - just note that hot showers are shared with the whole building, so early birds win that race. You can leave your big bags if you do an overnight trip to Colca canyon.
Standout feature is the wifi - solid 300+ Mbps that actually delivers for video calls and remote work. The rooftop terrace is a gem with stunning views of the volcanoes, and access to the kitchen is a nice bonus.
Location is decent - you can walk everywhere, though it's about 15 minutes to most restaurants. Convenient Western Union nearby for USD exchange before Bolivia.
Main drawback: the layout means you'll hear reception doorbell, lobby chat, and music. Not exactly loud, but definitely not private either.
Good value for money, but can pay more to be closer to the square.
We had a great experience at friendly aqp. The name exists for a reason. Everyone who works there is super friendly and caring, always supporting one with the things you need. We booked different tours through them and could leave out luggage there. The breakfast is amazing and sometimes changing. The view from the rooftop is great! Can only recommend.
This hostel has a really nice family run atmosphere to it, the owners are so friendly and helpful. If you want to do any tours you can book them through reception and pay when you check out, which is convenient. Good and fast laundry service too! We stayed in a double private room which was very comfortable and had housekeeping in the middle of our stay. Only downside was the shower was cold for a couple of days during our stay, but we mentioned it to the owners and they were able to resolve the issue. Price is very reasonable so overall would definitely recommend!