Under US$10

Hostal California (Junín 835, tel. 073/32-8789, US$5 pp) is a popular choice with backpackers because it’s clean and safe.

US$10–25

Hostal Santa Lucía (Ayacucho 773, tel. 073/30-9464, US$12.50 s, US$18 d) is a good low-budget choice offering clean rooms with private bathrooms, cable TV, and WiFi.

Hotel San Miguel (Apurímac 1007, tel. 073/30-5122, US$16–23 s, US$27–35 d) is a great choice in this price range. Located in the southern end of town, on Plaza Las Tres Culturas, this is one of the few inexpensive hotels in Piura on a quiet street. Pricier rooms have air-conditioning. It also has telephones and cable TV in rooms, laundry service, a café, and a tour agency.

US$25–50

Four blocks off the Plaza de Armas is Hotel Perú (Arequipa 476, tel. 073/33-3421, US$18–43 s, US$32–46 d), which offers comfy and quiet rooms, cable TV, fans, or air-conditioning (hence the difference in the rates), and WiFi.

Hostal las Arenas (Av. Loreto 945, tel. 073/30-5554, www.hostallasarenas.com, US$25–32 s, US$36–43 d) is three blocks away from Óvalo Grau. The rooms are simple, clean, and comfy, with cable TV, fans or air-conditioning, and WiFi. The hotel also has a swimming pool with Jacuzzi, a café, private parking, and Internet.

US$50–100

Hotel Los Portales (Libertad 875, tel. 073/32-1161, www.hotelportalpiura.com, US$91 s, US$108 d with breakfast) is on the Plaza de Armas. Several of the hotel’s rooms wrap around an elegant, sun-filled courtyard. The colonial house has large rooms with high ceilings, and modern remodeling projects have ensured that all rooms have air-conditioning, a fridge, cable TV, dial-out phones, WiFi, room service, and marble-made well-equipped bathrooms. The bar offers a complimentary welcome cocktail, and there’s a restaurant by the pool.

Over US$100

Costa del Sol (Av. Loreto 649, tel. 073/30-2864, www.costadelsolperu.com, US$105 s, US$129 d, US$198 suite, with buffet breakfast) is two blocks away from Óvalo Grau, in a less noisy neighborhood than downtown Piura. Rooms are big and tastefully decorated, with minifridges, phones, cable TV, WiFi, and big bathrooms. Facilities include a swimming pool, a gym, and a casino. A good bar and restaurant are available too.

The four-star Río Verde Hotel (Ramón Mujica, Urb. San Eduardo el Chipe, tel. 073/32-8486, www.rioverde.com.pe, US$151 s, US$170 d with buffet breakfast and airport transfer included) might be confused for a Caribbean beach resort, with its coconut palms, shaded poolside dining areas, gardens, and gift shop. Rooms include phones, cable TV, WiFi, and air-conditioning. Golfing can be arranged through the hotel’s connections to Piura’s nearby country club. The hotel is a five-minute taxi ride from the center, but the peaceful neighborhood makes it the best luxury in town.

© Ross Wehner and Renée del Gaudio from Moon Peru, 3rd Edition