COCLA Homestays

New, alternative option!

Stay a night with a local family to discover the origin of coffee!

Apus Peru is committed to providing visitors to Peru with new alternative homestay experiences, while also contributing to the local economy and improving rural development for local people. We are the fortunate participants in a new cooperative tourism project. (COCLA TOURS)

On the Inca Jungle Trail route you stay with the families of Señora Julia (Huayopata) and Alejandro Perez (Huacayupana). The photos on these pages are from both families, and Apus Peru has been offering homestays with them since May 2010.

On the 5 day Salkantay trek - Instead of staying in the Playa campsite, which has a reputation for loud music and parties, we offer the option of staying with coffee farmers and their family. This is an new initative, offered from August 2010. (the pictures on this page are NOT from the Lucmabamba family).

The Lucmabamba family is part of the coffee cooperative Huadquiña and the tourism cooperative Coclatours and have received mircro-finance assistance to construct one or two basic rooms, and a hot shower bathroom. (it should be noted that capacity is currently only 4 people, and if the group is larger than 4, the remainder of the group will be camping, on a first come-first served basis). Your meals will be with the family, who have been trained in hygiene and food preparation.

Not only will you have the opportunity to visit a typical family of the high jungle but you will have a chance for a hot shower, and to sleep on a bed with a comfortable mattress, and to get to know the process of growing, harvesting, selecting and roasting high quality coffee due to it's altitude of 2.000 m.a.s.l.

The cost, per person, is $35. This directly supports the family and also the cooperative Huadquiña and Coclatours. This price is additional to the cost of the tour, and is payable to Apus Peru. (in the case of the Salkantay trek). The price of the homestays is included in the Inca Jungle trek.

For more information refer to: www.coclatours.com

Homestay notes

• This is an adventurous option. You should be sure to bring an open mind, flexibility and a sense of humor. Most of all you should be prepared to go with the flow

Suggested behaviours when staying with families:

The price 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 family is fixed 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 donate via an established organisation.

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. (many tourists promise to send photos - few ever do!)

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.