Homestays and community tourism in Cusco: how to stay with a local family

Staying in a family home is one of the most authentic ways to get to know Cusco. There are two main options: staying with a family in the city, common among Spanish students and volunteers, or spending one or two nights in an Andean community in the Sacred Valley through what's called community-based or experiential tourism. Either way you share meals, conversations and part of everyday life. This guide explains how each option works, what's included, what to expect and how to choose an experience that genuinely benefits your hosts.

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Homestays in the city

Many Spanish schools in Cusco offer family homestays as part of their programmes. They usually include a private room, breakfast and sometimes dinner, and the chance to practise the language every day. Ideal for stays of a week or more.

• Pros: language immersion, reasonable prices, family support to find your way around.
• Keep in mind: house schedules and rules, sometimes a shared bathroom, a location that may be outside the centre.

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Community tourism in Andean villages

In several Sacred Valley communities, families welcome visitors into their homes and share farming, traditional cooking, weaving and ceremonies such as the offering to the earth. One example is Misminay, a community near Moray on the Maras plateau that offers one- or two-night stays with local families. Near Ollantaytambo, the community of Huilloc also welcomes visitors, including glamping-style accommodation run with local families.

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What's usually included

• Simple accommodation in the family home or in rooms built for visitors.
• Home-cooked meals with produce from the fields: native potatoes, quinoa, broad beans, maize, soups.
• Activities: farm work depending on the season, herding, weaving, cooking, walks around the area.
• Sometimes transfers from Cusco or Urubamba.

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What to expect

• Basic comforts: showers with limited hot water, cold nights and few distractions. Bring warm clothes.
• Rural rhythm: early to rise and early to dinner.
• Language: many families speak Quechua and Spanish. A few words of Quechua open hearts.
• Altitude: some communities are above 3,500 metres.

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A typical day in a community

1. Mid-morning arrival: the family welcomes you, often with muña or coca tea, and shows you your room.
2. Home-cooked lunch: soup, native potatoes and a stew, made in the family kitchen.
3. Afternoon in the fields: depending on the season, sowing, harvesting or herding sheep and llamas.
4. Weaving workshop: the women explain how they spin, dye with plants and weave their designs.
5. Early dinner and conversation: around the stove, with stories about community life.
6. Next morning: breakfast, a walk around the area and farewells.

How to book

You can contact community initiatives that have a website or social media directly, or book through Cusco agencies that work with communities. Always ask exactly what's included, what the accommodation is like, whether transfers are provided and what the cancellation policy is. Be wary of very cheap offers promising "authentic" experiences in a few hours.

How to choose a respectful experience

• Prefer initiatives run by the community itself or with clear agreements ensuring the money reaches families.
• Ask what share of the price the community receives.
• Avoid rushed visits that are just photo stops.
• Ask permission before photographing people.
• Buy crafts directly from the makers.

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What to bring

• Warm clothes, a hat and a light sleeping bag if you feel the cold.
• A head torch.
• Sunscreen and a hat.
• Cash in small notes to buy crafts.
• A small gift for the family, such as fruit or school supplies for the children, rather than sweets.

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How to fit it into your trip

A night in a Sacred Valley community fits well between visiting Moray, Maras or Chinchero and the train to Machu Picchu from Ollantaytambo. Sleeping a little lower than Cusco, at a calm pace, also helps you acclimatise.

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Travel insurance

Communities are often far from hospitals. Travel with medical insurance that covers rural areas and outdoor activities.

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Notice: This guide shares advice and recommendations based on research and local experience. Prices, opening hours and rules may change: always check with official sources and operators. Cusco Tips is not responsible for third-party services, bookings or decisions made using these guides; some links are affiliate links (see our affiliate policy).