Lima's Hidden Gem: The Secret Garden Hostel - Unbelievable Peru Adventure!
Lima's Secret Garden Hostel: My Peruvian Paradise (and a few bumps in the road!) - A RAW Review
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the real tea on the Secret Garden Hostel in Lima. Forget those polished, PR-approved reviews. This is me, fresh off the plane from my Peruvian adventure, still buzzing from the altitude, the ceviche, and the sheer, unadulterated experience. Consider this a messy, lovesick ode, sprinkled with the occasional grumpy rant.
First Impressions (and the Elevator Mystery)
"Secret Garden" – sounds dreamy, right? Well, it mostly is. The hostel is tucked away in a surprisingly peaceful part of Lima, a welcome escape from the city's vibrant chaos. The exterior is gorgeous, all cascading bougainvillea and sun-drenched terraces. Finding it was a minor odyssey (GPS lied to me, shocker!), but the moment I stepped inside, a wave of "Ahhhh" washed over me. The vibe? Boho-chic meets cozy-chic. Think reclaimed wood, mismatched furniture, and vibrant murals.
One early observation: the elevator. Or rather, the lack of consistent elevator operation. This is a multi-storied building, and I'm not exactly a marathon runner at the best of times. So if you're on a higher floor… well, building those glutes is a bonus, I guess? It felt like a lottery ticket with some days the elevator worked and some days not.
Accessibility? (It's Complicated)
Now, for the real talk. Wheelchair Accessibility: No. Straight up. The Secret Garden unfortunately isn't built for complete wheelchair accessibility. There are stairs and uneven walkways. While the staff are incredibly helpful, this isn't a place where you can roll in and expect smooth sailing. Sadly, the beautiful exterior corridor - and the beautiful terrace - require some maneuvering on foot. So, sadly not suitable for people with mobility issues.
For those without mobility issues, you'll still appreciate the elevator (when it's working!).
Cleanliness and Safety: My Inner Germaphobe Calmed Down
Okay, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. (Don't judge, you probably are too, secretly.) But The Secret Garden nailed the cleanliness thing. Big points for Anti-viral cleaning products and Daily disinfection in common areas. They really did make an effort. Lots of Hand sanitizer stations everywhere. And the staff, bless their hearts, were constantly wiping down surfaces. My inner hypochondriac breathed a sigh of relief.
And yeah, rooms were sanitized between stays. And even more reassuring, Rooms sanitized between stays, combined with professional-grade sanitizing services, made me feel a lot safer.
Food, Glorious Food (and My Ceviche Obsession)
Let's talk about food, because obviously.
- Dining, drinking, and snacking: They've got it ALL. Restaurants, a bar, a coffee shop (the coffee's surprisingly good, even by Lima standards!), even a poolside bar. I mean, talk about decadence.
- Breakfast: Breakfast [buffet] – which was the perfect fuel for exploring. They also had a Breakfast takeaway service, which was super handy for those bleary-eyed mornings. And, yes Breakfast in room is available if you're not feeling social. The Asian breakfast was really amazing - I did not expect that.
- Lunch and Dinner: A la carte in restaurant, meaning I got to indulge my ceviche cravings! The Vegetarian restaurant was also an absolute star and the International cuisine in restaurant was also very delicious. They also really went out of their way to give me and my friend Alternative meal arrangement when we had weird food requests.
- Poolside bar: Yeah, living the dream! While the Pool with view was a little less "infinity edge looking over the Andes" and more "lovely courtyard", it was still a gorgeous, relaxing spot. Drinks were strong, the snacks were plentiful, and the people-watching was chef's kiss.
The Poolside Bar - My Happy Place
Okay, I need to come clean. I essentially lived at the Poolside bar. And it's the perfect spot to relax and do some people-watching. I may have spent an entire afternoon nursing a Pisco Sour (or two…or three…) while contemplating the meaning of life. (Spoiler alert: it involves more Pisco Sours). The staff were amazing there – friendly, efficient, and always up for a chat. Seriously, I miss that bar. It's a vibe. And I probably drove them crazy. Sorry not sorry!
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the "Why Didn't I Think of That?"
- The Good: The Concierge was a lifesaver! They sorted out my taxis, recommended restaurants, and generally made me feel looked after. They also had Luggage storage, which was a godsend. Laundry service was super convenient (clean clothes are a must!). Cash withdrawal and Currency exchange were handy. The 24-hour Front desk was peace of mind.
- The Mediocre: The Air conditioning in public area wasn't always as effective as it could be. (Lima can get HOT, people!) Dry cleaning, was available, but a bit expensive and slower than expected. Invoice provided, so easy to expense as a business trip.
- The "Why Didn't I Think of That?": Contactless check-in/out! Genius move. Cashless payment service: Made whipping out my wallet a non-issue. Super convenient.
- Car park [free of charge], and Car park [on-site]: Always good for safety but I didn't have a car.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (Spa Day Dreams)
- Ways to relax: Seriously, this place is designed for chilling out. The Pool with view (see above!), the Spa, the Sauna, the Steamroom – it's a little slice of heaven.
- I had the Massage. So amazing. I swear, the masseuse worked out knots I didn't even know I had. Pure bliss.
- Spa/sauna was great too.
- Things to do: They offer a lot of outdoor venue for special events, and even Indoor venue for special events.
For the Kids (I Don't Have Any, But Still…):
- Family/child friendly: Yup, definitely.
- Babysitting service (handy!)
- Kids meal (because picky eaters exist everywhere!)
- They also have Kids facilities.
Internet & Tech Stuff (Because, You Know, We're Online Addicts):
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: Praise be! And it was actually pretty decent. A life-saver for planning my next adventure.
- Internet access was available in plenty of places.
- They had Wi-Fi in public areas, and Internet [LAN].
- Wi-Fi for special events
In-Room Features (Comfy Zone):
- Air conditioning in all rooms! (Hallelujah!)
- Coffee/tea maker (essential for a caffeine addict like myself).
- Free bottled water (because hydration is key).
- Extra long bed (thank goodness, I never fit on normal beds!)
- Slippers (a nice touch!).
- Daily housekeeping (bliss!).
- Smoking area if that's your thing.
- Non-smoking rooms, Couple's room
- And of course, the usual suspects: Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Blackout curtains, Closet, Complimentary tea, Desk, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Mini bar, Mirror, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
Safety & Security: Sleep Soundly (Mostly)
- CCTV in common areas.
- CCTV outside property.
- Fire extinguisher.
- Safety/security feature.
- Security [24-hour].
- Smoke alarms.
- They also mentioned the exterior corridor, which sounds great, if I wasn't on a high floor.
- Check-in/out [express], the opposite of leisurely.
- Check-in/out [private].
- Front desk [24-hour].
Getting Around (A Bit of a Mixed Bag):
- Airport transfer (a must, and
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. We're diving headfirst into Lima, Peru, from the chaotic heart of The Secret Garden hostel, and it's gonna be a glorious, messy, and probably slightly hungover adventure.
The Secret Garden Hostel - Lima, Peru: "Operation Get Lost in the Chaos (and Hopefully Find Some Amazing Ceviche)" - A Completely Unreliable Schedule
Day 0: Arrival & Existential Dread (aka "Where the Hell Did My Passport Go?")
- Time: Roughly whenever the hell my flight lands (fingers crossed it's not delayed again).
- Destination: Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) – pray for my luggage.
- Means of Transport: Airplane (duh). Then, a hopefully-not-sketchy taxi to the hostel. I really hope I haggled well.
- Mood: Initially, a mix of jet lag, anxiety about arriving in a new country alone, and the profound feeling that I've forgotten something incredibly important. Like, is it even legal to be in Peru without my passport? I'm gonna check it right after this. Okay, good. It's there. Whew.
- The Unvarnished Truth: Ah, the airport. The gateway to adventure, or in my case, the place where I suddenly transform into a disoriented, overly-caffeinated mess. My first instinct is always to buy the most overpriced bottle of water available. I’ll probably regret it later. The taxi ride to the hostel is usually a blur of honking, close calls, and the sinking realization that my Spanish vocabulary is limited to "Hola" and "cerveza."
- Evening: Check into The Secret Garden.God, the dorms are so much smaller than they looked online! I’m already picturing myself tripping over someone's backpack. Find my bunk (pray it's not the top one, the ceiling looks low), and try to unpack without causing a disaster. Immediately, the urge to nap hits like a freight train. Resist. I'm trying.
- Eat: Something street food, preferably that smells and looks like a risk but is delicious, because that’s what travelling is all about. Try the local specialty, something that could potentially induce food poisoning and maybe a good story. If I survive the first night, it's probably a good sign.
Day 1: Miraflores Madness & Ceviche Dreams (And a Little Bit of Panic)
- Morning: Wake up with a headache (perhaps a premonition of the Pisco Sours to come). Wander downstairs for the "free" hostel breakfast. By "free" they probably mean, “two slices of bread, some questionable butter and coffee that tastes vaguely of disappointment." I'll survive.
- Destination: Miraflores district. Apparently, the fancy part of town. I'm probably going to feel incredibly out of place, wearing what I think is a stylish travel "fit" but is very likely attracting judging eyes.
- Activity: Explore the cliffside park, Parque del Amor. Seriously, is this a romance novel cover? Probably. Take a selfie with the statue, even though it’s cheesy as hell.
- Mid-day: Discover the thrill of paragliding off the cliffs! (Or, more likely, watch other, braver people paraglide, while I clutch my stomach and pretend I’m not terrified. I really hope someone takes a good photo of me.)
- Late Afternoon: CEVICHE TIME. Find a reputable cevicherÃa (hopefully recommended by someone who hasn't already been poisoned). Order the most delicious ceviche imaginable. Take pictures. Devour it. Feel absolute bliss.
- Anecdote of the Day (Because this Trip WILL be a Narrative): Last time I tried ceviche, I was convinced it tasted like…seaweed. But I feel like this time will be different. Seriously hoping for a transformative ceviche experience that washes away all that pre-travel anxiety.
- Evening: Drink a Pisco Sour. Or three. Learn a few key phrases in Spanish from some friendly locals. I'm hoping I will be more fluent in Spanish by the end of this trip, because it's been my lifelong dream. Return to the hostel slightly tipsy, and probably more confident than I should be. Midnight snack is a must.
Day 2: Barranco Bohemian & Graffiti Glory (And Maybe a Cultural Awakening, Sort Of)
- Morning: Nurse the inevitable Pisco Sour hangover. Curse myself for not drinking more water last night. Resolve to do better today. Fail immediately.
- Destination: Barranco, the artsy, hipster district. I’m hoping to feel cultured.
- Activity: Wander through the colorful streets, admiring the art. Take a million photos of the graffiti and the houses. Get lost. That's the point, isn't it?
- Mid-day: Visit the Bridge of Sighs. Make a wish for something ridiculously ambitious. Like, world peace, or maybe just finding a decent pair of travel pants that don’t make me look like a tourist.
- Afternoon: Explore a local art gallery. Pretend to understand abstract art. Buy a souvenir. Get ripped off slightly. Call it a "cultural investment."
- Anecdote of the Day: I met this guy at the hostel who kept talking about "authenticity" and how he refuses to go anywhere that "tourists" go. That is, until I found out he's from… the city I live in. I’m not sure I can hang out with him anymore.
- Evening: Dinner in Barranco – something authentic and delicious, but also somewhat familiar, because I will have reached peak travel exhaustion by this point. Head back to the hostel and attempt to have a meaningful conversation with someone, but quickly devolve into sleep-deprived rambling.
Day 3: Pachacamac Ruins & a Dose of Ancient History (If I Can Actually Get There)
- Morning: Actually, get up before noon. I've gotta see the ruins.
- Destination: Pachacamac ruins, an ancient archeological site.
- Means of Transport: Public transportation. Wish me luck. This is where the real adventure begins (or where I get completely and utterly lost).
- Activity: Explore the ruins. Try to imagine what life was like back then.
- Mid-day: Find a small, local restaurant. Order something I can’t pronounce. Hope for the best.
- Afternoon: The emotional rollercoaster of getting the bus there, and then getting the bus back will probably be the biggest highlight of the day.
- Anecdote of the Day: Before I leave, I'm going to have to learn how to say ‘Where's the toilet?’ in Spanish. I'm not going to the toilet on the bus.
- Evening: After the ruins, there’s a sense of achievement. Reward myself with a massive pizza, followed by a quiet evening at the hostel. Pack my bag for tomorrow, and try to decide if I would like to fly home.
Day 4: Farewell Lima & the Agony of Leaving! (Or, Maybe Just the Agony of Packing)
- Morning: Pack. Why is it always so impossible to fit everything back into the same bag? Curse my tendency to overpack. Throw away half the things I bought on impulse.
- Breakfast: Last hostel breakfast! Savor it. Even if the coffee is still disappointing.
- Destination: Jorge Chavez International Airport (again).
- Activity: Last-minute souvenir shopping. Buying things I don't need.
- Emotional Reaction: A bittersweet mix of sadness to leave the city, excitement to get home, and the inevitable post-travel blues. And a longing for more ceviche. Always more ceviche.
- The Unvarnished Truth: Leaving is always hard, isn't it? Saying goodbye to friends, to adventures, to the sheer unpredictability of travel. But hey, there's always the next trip, right? And the memories… will keep me going until then. The memory of that perfect ceviche.
Important Notes:
- Flexibility is Key: This schedule is a suggestion. Stuff will go wrong. Embrace it. Get lost. Get confused. That's where the best stories come from.
- Hydration: Drink water. Seriously.
- Sunscreen: SLATHER IT ON.
- Learn Basic Spanish Phrases: It will help you. A lot.
- Enjoy the Mess: This is your adventure. Make it memorable. Make it your own. And for goodness sake, take lots of pictures! (Even if they're blurry.)
- Most importantly: Travel (and life) is about the experiences, not the itinerary. So loosen up, let go, and dive right in!
- P.S. Leave me a review when you get back. Oh, and have a safe flight! (You'll need it.)
The Secret Garden Hostel: Seriously, Is It REALLY That Good? (FAQs, Because You're Probably Curious)
Okay, Spill. Is This "Secret Garden" Hype Just BS?
Alright, deep breaths. Look, I was skeptical. Like, *majorly* skeptical. "Secret Garden"? Sounds cheesy, right? Like something out of a bad rom-com. But… yeah, the hype is mostly justified. Walking through that door, you're instantly hit with this… *vibe*. Think: less gritty Lima, more colorful, vibrant explosion. It's not perfect, mind you. More on that later. But the people, the atmosphere… it’s like stumbling into a party you desperately needed to be at. And the courtyard? Forget about it. Hammocks, plants everywhere, a general sense of "chill." You *will* want to extend your stay. I did. Twice.
The Rooms… Are They Actually Clean and Not Revolting? (Asking for a Friend… Okay, Me)
Okay, let's be real. Hostel rooms can be… dicey. I've seen things. Things I'd rather not talk about. But the rooms at the Secret Garden are… decent. Not pristine hotel level, mind you. But clean enough. The dorms are basic – expect bunk beds, lockers, and maybe a questionable stain on the mattress cover (let’s be honest, it's inevitable in ANY hostel). The private rooms are a step up – comfier beds, your own space, and usually a less harrowing view (pro tip: ask for one NOT facing the street if you value sleep). They DO clean them, and the staff *tries* to keep things tidy. Sometimes they succeed! Don't expect luxury, but expect something you won't immediately regret waking up in. Trust me, I’m a germaphobe, and I survived.
The Location… Is it actually safe? I've heard Lima is… well, intimidating.
This is a big one. Miraflores, where the Secret Garden is, is generally considered the safest area in Lima… but Lima is still Lima. It's not Disneyland. The hostel is in a pretty good spot, close to the main streets, the cliffs, the beach. Loads of restaurants and cafes nearby. I walked around at night, but I wouldn't recommend it – especially alone. Take a taxi or Uber at night. The staff is helpful, and they can give you tips on staying safe. Listen to them! They know the area. I will say, the first night I was there, I was SO jet lagged, I wandered out to get some water at like, 2 AM (stupid, I know). A very kind, very grumpy older woman yelled at me from her window. I got the point. So, yeah, safe-ish. Be smart. Be aware. And don't go wandering around in the dark, even if you're desperate for a bottle of water.
Food, Glorious Food! Is Breakfast Included? And is it… edible?
Breakfast is included! Hallelujah! And, thankfully, it's... decent. Not a gourmet experience, but it gets the job done. Usually: bread, jam, butter, coffee (strong!), maybe some fruit (usually a banana or two), and sometimes, if you're lucky, some scrambled eggs. Look, you're not going to the Ritz. But it’s free food, and free coffee is the fuel of backpackers everywhere. Don't expect Michelin-star quality, but it's a good start to the day. Plus, the shared breakfast table is a great way to meet people. I met this amazing couple from Germany there, who gave me the BEST recommendation for a ceviche place… (Which, by the way, you HAVE to try.)
Tell Me About This "Courtyard" Everyone's Raving About. Is it Actually Magical?
Okay, the courtyard. This is where the Secret Garden earns its name. It's… yeah, it's pretty magical. Not literally, of course (unless you count the magic of good vibes and strong pisco sours). Imagine: a lush, green space, with hammocks gently swaying, plants everywhere, and people chatting, laughing, and generally having a good time. It's the heart of the hostel. You'll probably spend a lot of time there, reading, chatting, or just staring at the sky. They often have events – movie nights, barbecues, sometimes even live music. I spent hours there, and I rarely left the hostel for days. I swear, the hammocks were so comfortable, I almost didn’t leave. I made friends. I had deep conversations. I think I even fell a little bit in love… with the courtyard, at least. It’s definitely worth the stay.
What About the Staff? Are They Actually Helpful, or Just… There?
The staff is generally awesome. They're young, friendly, and generally helpful. They'll give you advice on what to do, where to go, and how to get there. They also speak English, which is a huge bonus if your Spanish is, well, non-existent like mine. They're not perfect - sometimes they can be a little… disorganized. I once asked for a taxi at 6 AM and it didn't arrive until 6:30, making me miss my tour. (Granted, that was probably the taxi’s fault, even if the staff called it. I was still grumpy). But overall, they’re genuinely nice people who want you to have a good time. They’re definitely a highlight.
Is It a Party Hostel? Because I'm Too Old for That Nonsense.
No, it's not a *raging* party hostel. There's definitely a social vibe, and people do like to hang out and have drinks in the courtyard, but it's not a constant rave. It’s more of a chill, social atmosphere. They usually have organized events for social interaction. They do close the courtyard down at a decent hour (around 11 pm), which is great if you actually want to sleep. I saw all age groups, from young travelers to older couples. You can definitely have a good time without feeling like you’ve wandered into a frat house. You can socialize if you want to, hide in your room if you don't want to. That's what makes Secret GardenSleep Stop Guide
