Accommodation

The host families live in different areas of Cusco. Some are in the center, 10 – 15 minutes walking distance from the school, while others live in the quieter, more affluent areas of Cusco, outside the tourist district. From these places you can easily reach the school by taxi or public bus within 15 minutes. Transport in Cusco is very inexpensive – taxis are only about $ 0.50 per ride.

We usually assign the host family to each student in the week before arrival and students receive the address upon arrival in Cusco. Upon request, we can send you the details of your host family earlier, but placements are always subject to change.

All home stays are based on half board and include breakfast and lunch. However you are free to go out for meals whenever you wish. Meal times are the greatest opportunities you will have to spend with your family and where you can practice your Spanish, so we recommend that you eat with your family as frequently as possible.

Yes, you can book a double room with a host family. However, prices are always per person and are the same whether you have your own room or a shared room.

You can book extra nights with your host family, at the beginning or at the end of your stay. All bookings must go through the school. It is also possible for you to stay in a hotel for your first night, or in the school residence. If you want additional days after finishing your course, please inform us with a few days notice to ensure there is space before the family’s new students.

Our host families have experience with the preparation of vegetarian meals, so this is not an issue. Also, if you have other dietary restrictions or allergies, just let us know in advance. However, traditional Cusquenan cuisine is based on a lot of meat, potatoes and rice.

AMAUTA guest families are carefully chosen and monitored through regular inspections and student feedback. Members of the family enjoy having foreign students around and introducing them to Peruvian life. Some speak some English but not all of them. An AMAUTA staff member visits two or three families each week and we are in constant contact with the guest mothers. Three times a year we hold a meeting for all host families to exchange experiences and ideas.

If you choose to stay with a host family and you are not happy during the first week, you can change your accommodation. We can move you to another family or you can move into the student residence or a student flat. After the first week there is a change fee of $33.00. Before arrival you can make change without any additional cost, subject to availability.

Of course you can, that is one of the advantages of staying in a flat. The kitchens of the flats are fully equipped and going shopping to a typical Peruvian market is a unique experience, however there are also some supermarkets in the city centre as well.

We provide all the sheets and blankets and change your bed each weekend for you. Please do bring your own towel however.

Of course, this is great to experience different parts of Peru. You can spend one week in Cusco, one in the jungle of Tambopata and one in the Sacred Valley. Also if you book several weeks in Cusco, you can always change one or more weeks to one of the other locations. Please note that we have set dates for Tambopata, as this is our special jungle location, we take a group of students there about once every six weeks.

You do not have to take a gift but it is a nice idea to bring something typical from your country. Or you could take some cookies or a cake when you arrive. Or, you might like to offer a gift when you leave the family instead.