Fernando and Marité founded Pirwa Hostels more than a decade ago with the dream of creating a welcoming haven where travelers could relax and interact, one providing an experience rather than merely a bed and shower. In the beginning, there was only one location, Pirwa Colonial Hostel in Cusco, but the Pirwa Family has grown steadily ever since these modest beginnings, and we've improving our facilities and services based on your feedback along the way.
Today, Pirwa Hostels boasts backpackers' hostels as well as bed & breakfasts, and has spread throughout Peru and into Bolivia. Currently, we have hostels in Lima, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Puno, Arequipa, Urubamba, Lamay, and Puerto Maldonado. In Cusco, where Pirwa first began, we now have four locations throughout the city center. The Pirwa family has also grown into a one-stop shop offering transport and excursions through our own travel agency, Inca World, whose friendly staff helps travelers with all aspects of their trip. The agency offers specially priced services to guests with reservations in any of our hostels, under the name Pirwa Travel.
There's also been quite a bit of formal recognition over the years, none prouder than when our agency became an officially recognized Inca Trail operator. Other notable events were Pirwa Colonial winning Hostelworld's #1 Hostel in Peru award in 2009, and Pirwa Machu Picchu B&B winning Hostelbooker's Cleanest Hostel award in 2011. At the end of last year, we opened a new hostel in Nazca, and at the beginning of this year it won its first award, from Booking.com, in recognition of its highly positive feedback.
It hasn’t been all work, however, as we’re adding new activities each year, such as free weekly walking tours of Cusco ending with free drinks, and a New Year's Eve Party at Pirwa Colonial Hostel that gets bigger every year!
We’re continually renovating and renewing our hostels, so that despite all these years and the wonderful memories they hold, they feel new again, and more adapted to the needs of our friends and guests from around the world.
Through hard work, trial and error, and lots of listening, Marité and Fernando have created something different, and you'll see them at various events still putting their all into making sure that guests enjoy their stay and have an unforgettable trip. Were it not for the support of our backpacking and traveling friends, we could never have experienced all of these things. So from all of the Pirwa Family to all of you, thank you for the memories.