Development of Tourism in Rural Communities - Homestay Programs

Many visitors to Peru often end up doing the same traditional tours and rarely get the chance to meet and experience the real life led by many families in the villages of the Andes. Our homestay program puts you in touch with such a family and allows you the privilege of staying a night in their home. This gives you the opportunity to experience the Andean culture first hand as well as introducing tourism and its benefits to communities and families that genuinely welcome visitors.

Program: 1 day / 1 night

Saturday: Depart Cusco 3pm for the 45 minute ride to Chinchero. Introduction to your family. Explore the Plaza and Inca ruins. Evening meal with family and overnight accommodation

Sunday: Breakfast with family. A visit to Chinchero market. The market starts at about 9am and continues to midday. 80% of the market is dedicated to local produce and about 20% to handicrafts particularly handmade textiles which can be bought at a very reasonable price. The majority of tourists visit Pisac market on Sunday morning as part of a one day Sacred Valley tour. The market at Chinchero is much more authentic and traditional and has relatively few tourists. Most of the tour buses visit Chinchero late in the afternoon after the market has finished. However a smaller handicraft market operates in the main plaza to cater for the tour groups. 

Return to Cusco for lunch.

Costs:

The homestay program is a non-profit operation. Andean Travel Web charges a US$3 per person administration fee to arrange the accommodation. We suggest a payment of US$5 per person for overnight accommodation, US$2 per person for basic evening meal (optional) and US$2 per person for breakfast (optional). Payments are made directly to your host family. A reservation 2 days in advance is sufficient but earlier is much better.

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Andean Travel Web Guide to Peru  www.andeantravelweb.com/peru

Office Address: Calle Garcilaso 265, interior patio 2nd floor, Cusco, Peru (just 2 minutes walk from the main Plaza de Armas). If you are coming to Cusco please bring a couple of second hand clothes, toys, school equipment and drop them off in our office. We will help distribute the items to people who really need them in small village schools and communities in the Andes. For more details visit our web page www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/projects  A map of our office can be found by clicking here.

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This web page was last updated in November 2003.