Homestay - Chinchero

For those who truly want to experience life with a typical campesino, we offer the opportunity to stay in Chinchero, famous for its weaving traditions.

With assistance, this Chinchero family has built an extra room onto their house for guests and received training in the hygiene requirements of foreign visitors.

Bathing and toilet facilities are basic, but the family will provide hot water for you to bathe. The house has electricity.

In total the family has seven children, though some of the older ones have moved onto to have their own children now. there are still three smaller children attending the local primary school.

If requested, you can take weaving lessons with your family. (see photos)

The family will provide your meal in the evening and in the morning.

Cost: $10 per person, per night. Includes dinner and breakfast.

Your payment goes directly to the family.

You should approach this experience with an open mind, realising standards will not be as you are used to. This family are a typical rural Peruvian family.

one of your host family -

A homestay in Chinchero, where you will stay with a traditional weaving family. Below, view from the house.

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learn weaving from your family...we can also organise more intensive weaving workshops. Please contact us directly at reservas@apus-peru.com

Suggested behaviours when staying with families

The price of $10 per night that has been agreed with the families is a fair price for their services. It is important that the families provide a good quality and friendly service in return for this payment and the payment is not seen as a hand-out. We do not want the local families to get into bad habits or grow lazy so it is important that the local families and visitors follow some basic rules.

1. Fixed price. The cost of staying with a familyis $10 USD including evening meal and breakfast. Please do not leave tips or extra payments.

2. Please do not leave gifts such as clothing, money, school equipment, Swiss-army knife etc. We recommend taking smaller and simpler gifts such as fruit, coca leaves, long-life fruit or milk drinks, tins of tuna etc. Remember that your well intentioned gift can sometimes emphasise the differences between cultures rather than build a bridge.

3. If you wish to contribute in a more substantial way, please do not give monetary or other gifts to teachers or village leaders. Please contribute via our 'Community Chest'

4. You are welcome to take photos of members of the host family you are staying with, though its polite to ask before you do so. You do not need to pay for these, but they cannot be used for commercial use or financial gain. When outside the house please try to limit taking photos of people as much as possible. Landscapes are fine and general views that include people in them are also OK but try to avoid close ups of people, without their permission.

5. If you do take photos of the family and you promise to send the photos to them please try to keep your promise.

6. Don't give the kids candy, sweet things etc. this only serves to corrupt and create begging mentality where none existed before.

7. In the evening there may be the opportunity to buy a beer or two. If you have been accompanied by a member of your host-family it is fine although not obligatory to invite them for a drink as well. Please enjoy the occasion but try not to drink too much and please don't invite each member of your host-family to more than one drink. Don’t stay up late.

8. Your family may try to sell you weavings in their home. There is absolutely no obligation to buy anything. If you do not think you wish to buy in the home it is probably best to firmly and politely decline to see the items.

9. Please bring plenty of small change as it is often difficult to change larger bank notes of S/.50 or higher.

10. Please do not leave valuables in your room. Keep them with you at all times.

11. If you have enjoyed your stay with the family please try to help promote the project by telling other travellers.

APUS PERU Adventure Travel Specialists - Email: apusperu@westnet.com.au

© A.Svenson 2005. The design, content and photographs (except where noted) are 100% original. The majority of our treks were designed by Apus Peru.