Cusco Homestay

Fly from San Francisco, USA to Cusco, Perú.

¡Bienvenidos a Perú! Situated high in the Peruvian Andes at an altitude of 11,200 ft., the city of Cusco is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere. As the historic capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your bilingual Forum Tour Manager, who will remain with your group for the duration of your stay.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and explore the ruins around Puka Pukara – meaning the “Red Fort”, which most likely served as a checkpoint for travelers under the Incan Empire.

Continue to Tambomachay to see its ceremonial water fountains. Then, visit Qenqo Temple & Amphitheater where archaeologists believe Incans performed a variety of rituals and ceremonies.

End your afternoon at the Sacsayhuamán Fortress where Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, occurs annually.

Meet your host families and start your immersion program. While staying with local families, you’ll eat home-cooked meals and practice your Spanish in real-life situations.

Enjoy dinner with your host family and turn in for the night.

Have breakfast at your hotel and visit the famous temple of Koricancha. Dedicated to the sun, it features walls of polished stone that are considered among the finest works of Incan art.

Then, go on a city tour of Cusco. Discover the Plaza de Armas, the legendary founding place of the city, and visit the 17th-century Cathedral, a masterpiece of colonial architecture.

For lunch, roll up your sleeves and attend a cooking class to learn about traditional Peruvian cuisine. Enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Visit a local school where you will interact with local students while practicing your Spanish! Maybe challenge your new friends to a fútbol match!

Return to your host family for dinner and overnight accommodations.

Enjoy breakfast with your host family and board a bus to the heart of the Sacred Valley. Participate in an exhilarating zipline activity and take in the scenic views of the landscape.

Head to the village of Misminay, where you will interact with the local community and participate in some of their rituals and ceremonies.

Attend a weaving workshop and learn about traditional tools and coloring techniques.

Enjoy lunch with the community and continue on an agricultural tour to explore how crops are grown and harvested in the Andes. Did you know there are more than 4,000 varieties of potato in this area?

Return to your host family for dinner and overnight accommodations.

Enjoy breakfast with your host family and make your way to Pisac, an Andean pueblo located at the base of a former Incan citadel.

Visit the Pisac Village Market where members of the indigenous Quechua community sell their colorful weavings and handicrafts.

Discover the Incan Ruins of Pisac and admire the magnificent view of the Urubamba Valley.

Lunch at a local restaurant. And continue on your journey to Ollantaytambo – the only village that remains from the Incan period that is still inhabited today.

From Ollantaytambo, take a train to Aguas Calientes, a small town located at the base of Machu Picchu.

After dropping your luggage off at your hotel, head to the natural hotsprings for an evening dip.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Night accommodation at your hotel.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and head to the bus stop that will take you up to Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas“. Marvel at the jaw-dropping landscape on your way to the top – but be careful, you might not want to look down!

Once at the top, meet your local guide who will walk you through the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Machu Picchu is one of the most familiar symbols of the Incan Empire located at 8,000 feet above sea level.

Head back down to Aguas Calientes, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, make your way to the train station to head back to Cusco.

Return to your host family for dinner and overnight accommodations.

After breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima. Say adiós to your host family, and don’t forget to keep in touch!

After you drop-off your luggage, go on a walking tour of Lima and visit the Plaza de Armas – where you will see the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, and the colonial mansions & Moorish balconies. Marvel at its baroque architecture and ornate carvings.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Monastery of San Francisco – famous for its catacombs containing 70,000 graves.

Then, make your way to the popular Plaza San Martin, one of the most representative public spaces in the city.

For the rest of the afternoon, explore the modern and upscale district of Miraflores.

Experience the Magic Water Show of Lima, an exceptional display of water fountains choreographed to music and light designs.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, and return to your hotel for the night.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and go to the Museo Metropolitano de Lima, which is the country’s first virtual museum. Immerse yourself in 10,000 years of Lima’s history, through movies, 3D and even 4D projections, as well as holograms. Get a glimpse of what Peru’s capital might look like in 2050.

Then, head to the Museo de Arte de Lima, which houses authentic Peruvian art, with works from the pre-Columbian period up to recent years.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and some free time to explore at your own pace, or shop for any last minute souvenirs!

Enjoy one last dinner with your group at a local restaurant and board your bus to transfer to the airport – Hasta Luego Perú!

Fly back to your home country overnight from Lima.