Getting Your Laundry Washed in Cusco

For all of its colonial and pre-Columbian charm, many of travelers will attest that the city of Cusco seems to be covered in a fine layer of dust… Add in a trek or two in the mountains or along the Inca trail, and you’ve got a recipe for some pretty dirty clothing and gear. Luckily, laundry services tend to be cheaper in Cusco than in Lima, Aguas Calientes, and other tourist destinations.

The most common laundry services in Cusco charge by weight and cost anywhere from 3 to 10 soles per kilo, with most being on the lower end of this scale. Be wary, however, as the cheapest laundries combine all travelers’ clothing in household washing machines and dryers, which unfortunately leads to the most common laundry complaint: you are likely to be missing a few items, and to receive some items that are not yours.

Although this is never asked for, providing a short list of items when dropping clothes off might help. Check items off your copy of the list upon receiving the clothing back, and call immediately if there’s been a mistake- it’s difficult to retrieve clothing that’s already been erroneously delivered to another client.

If you choose to send your laundry by weight, don’t expect anyone to read the care labels on your clothes! Damage caused by the wrong kind of washing is not recognized if you send all items by weight. Thus, while this is a great and economical service for your t-shirts, socks, and jeans, be careful about items like fleece jackets and down vests, which generally should be separated and paid for by item rather than by weight. Items like sneakers and backpacks can also be sent for washing, but these will always be separate and more expensive than clothing.

If you are traveling a few hours after dropping off your clothing, be carful. Many Laundromats that boast express service are not open all hours of the day, and you wouldn’t want to miss your bus or flight for such a small thing. It’s better to estimate a day for cleaning and save yourself the worry.

All of the Pirwa Hostels in Cusco use the same private laundromat, which only accepts travelers’ clothing from our hostels (´cause we own it). This avoids the issue of pieces of your clothing being delivered to clients in other hostels- we are accountable for your clothing. It also means that your clothing will be delivered back to the hostel, in the same way that our bed sheets are delivered daily. Rather than stopping by the Laundromat itself, you can simply drop your clothes off at reception.

Washing in water by weight is only S/3 Peruvian soles per kilo, but do remember to separate any special items that you think should be washed separately or without water. Dry cleaning is available starting at S/10 soles and varies by the item. It’s a simple way to start the next leg of your journey as fresh as possible.

Contact the laundry and take advantage our its delivery service: