Homestay Tour in Pisac

home stay pisac - Sacred Valley

Sam Travel Peru offers you something with a twist of a real difference. For the lovers of authenticity and the thirst for ancient living, Sam Travel Peru introduces an irresistible tour to experience life within the ancient Incan Community of Cayo Chico, which is sandwiched between Cusco and the Pisac Incan Ruins. It is forty minutes outside of Cusco and 10 minutes away from Pisac.

If you have a passion to experience an authentic unspoilt and genuine love of community and a groundedness of mother earth, then it’s time for your spirit to come to Cayo Chico. Welcome to life in the slow lane. Here, time dances to the rhythms of the breath that blows across the Andes and the sound of distant echoing voices from the locality of Pisac. In fact on a trip to Cayo Chico, you’d would be forgiven for thinking time has stood still.

Please take a look at our tabs below, then choose the best suited 2 or 3 activities for you:

ITINERARY FOR THE HOMESTAY TOUR IN PISAC

STAYING AT HOME WITH YOUR LOCAL FAMILY

You will be picked up from your hotel at 7 or 8 am and transferred to your homestay family. On the way, we will stop at the Animal Sanctuary, where you may see some native animal like condor, llama, bear and much more. Once, we arrive to the homestay, your family will welcome you with open arms and warmth so that you will feel like they are your own. If you don’t feel like a local now, you will when you leave.  You will have your own room, its basic but clean and if you’re really lucky it might be one of the ones with a perfect birds eye view of the Ancient Pisac Inca Ruins. Something you can take your time to explore after your tour of your homestead.

You will have the option of choosing 2 or 3 activities described in detail under the tabs:

  • Visiting Pisac Inca Ruins (additional 7o soles Tourist boleto)
  • Making your own jewelry (included in price)
  • Shopping at the local market for your dinner (included in price)
  • Learning how to cook the native dish Cuy or Guinea Pig (included in price)
  • Shopping at the handicrafts market in Pisac (included in price)

Our homestay has: a dining room with views to the Inca ruins, bedroom, kitchen, clean toilet, and a nice garden.

  • Lunch and dinner included in price

You will be picked up the next morning early between 4 to 6 AM depending on your planned tour or trek.

VISITING PISAC INCA RUINS DURING THE HOMESTAY TOUR IN PISAC

You may decide to journey to the ruins by foot or catch a taxi to explore. If you’re really keen to absorb as much history as possible you can hire a local guide from us to fill your mind with knowledge.  Time for a cup of tea to discuss what options you would like to experience for your stay. Then, the guided grand tour of your homestay begins!

A truly awesome site with relatively few tourists, this hilltop Inca citadel lies high above the village on a triangular plateau with a plunging gorge on either side. Allow several hours to explore.  Worthwhile but grueling, it’s good training for the Inca Trail!

The most impressive feature is the agricultural terracing , which sweeps around the south and east flanks of the mountain in huge and graceful curves, almost entirely unbroken by steps (which require greater maintenance and promote erosion). The terracing is joined by diagonal flights of stairs made of flagstones set into the terrace walls. Above the terraces are cliff-hugging footpaths, watched over by caracara falcons and well defended by massive stone doorways, steep stairs and a short tunnel carved out of the rock. Vendors sell drinks at the top.

This dominating site guards not only the Urubamba Valley below but also a pass leading into the jungle to the northeast. Topping the terraces is the site’s ceremonial center with an intihuatana (literally hitching post of the sun,an Inca astronomical tool), several working water channels, and some painstakingly neat masonry in the well-preserved temples. A path leads up the hillside to a series of ceremonial baths and around to the military area. Looking across the Kitamayo Gorge from the back of the site, you’ll also see hundreds of holes honeycombing the cliff wall. These are Inca tombs that were plundered by huaqueros (grave robbers), and are now completely off-limits to tourists.

PRICE FOR THE HOMESTAY TOUR IN PISAC

Price:

 $77 USD per person

Included:

  • Transfer from your hotel to Pisac
  • Lunch and Dinner
  • 2 to 3 activities
  • Pick up next morning early for planned tour or trek

Not Included

  • Boleto Touristic 70 soles
pisac ruins

MAKING JEWELLERY

MAKING YOUR OWN JEWELRY

Maybe you’re an artist and would love to create your own piece of priceless jewelry from local clay. How fortunate you will be to have your own personal teacher to show you the intricacy of their local designs as you create handmade beautiful bracelets and neck garlands.  You will have the opportunity to create and take home an exquisite and memorable expression of the local jewelery tradition that you have crafted.

Homestay Tour in Pisac

AGRICULTURE

Cayo Chico community is self sustainable through the agricultural techniques used.  The Andes are some of the tallest starkest mountains in the world. The Incas and the civilizations before them coaxed harvests from the Andes Sharp slopes and intermittent waterways. They developed resilient breeds of potatoes and corn in the region and they are still producing today, thousands of different species. This might be the perfect opportunity to learn some ancient techniques of agriculture to take home with you or to just take some time to get down and get dirty, to help round up the cows, work in the corn fields, pick some potatoes for the evening’s dinner or tend to anything that needs doing around the farm.

Imagine what the your neighbours would think if you were to go home and create terraces in your garden and grow produce like no other in your time!

Pisac AGRICULTURE

PRODUCE MARKET

SUPPLIES FOR DINNER FROM PISAC MARKETS

Once you have decided what you will be cooking for the evening, it’s time to go to the market of Pisac to buy local produce.  You will be able to choose from a large array of fresh produce that will compliment your main course of guinea pig. What about making some bread too!!

If you are vegetarian or have any special dietary requirements, the meals can be adapted for you likes and needs.

GUINEA PIG

LEARNING TO COOK THE TRADITIONAL DISH- CUY

It’s your turn to be the chef!!  First, you will need to go outside, choose, and catch your delicious Cuy or Guinea Pig.
Learn the Andean technique of how to make this traditional dish from scratch from your own personal teacher! As well as learn to make an array of tasty and spicy sauces to go with this dish! The nights are usually cold, you could warm yourself with a ceremonial tradition of the chicha drink.

PISAC MARKET

ENJOY THE LOCAL TEXTILES AT THE MARKET

Why not go to the renowned Pisac Market, which is full of Peruvian arts and handicrafts: including wood carving, basket making and fine cloth weaving, made by using techniques passed down through generations of Peruvian craftspeople. Readily available at stalls and markets all over Pisac, the handicrafts, artwork and weaving make beautiful keepsakes to remind travellers of their time spent in Pisac. Probably the most famous local craft is the use of alpaca wool for clothing and making decorative weaved cloth with traditional symbols and designs.

Make sure you pack plenty of memory for your camera to capture these special moments shared with the people of Cayo Chico and Sam Travel Peru. You simply won’t find anywhere else, people like there, connected by cultural unity and a respect for tradition.

Homestay Tour in Pisac

Join the thousands of satisfied customers who rate us #1 on TripAdvisor

Bernie s 2023/03/02

Had a great trip with our guide Ray Herrera and driver Alfredo. Lots of good experiences in a short period of time 4 days. Learnt a lot not just about the main tourist destinations but Peru in general by Ray. Ray has a passion for Inca history and local produce. Ray knows all the good photo spots and we managed the sun out every day .. Good culture and if you want to get on a tour ask for Ray at Sams Travel = amazing

Tanya H 2023/03/02

Ray was our Tour Guide and Alfredo was our driver for a 4 day tour we did with SAM Travel Peru. Ray's knowledge of the history of Cusco and Machu Picchu was outstanding. Ray was very accommodating with all our needs. He stayed alongside us when trekking and helped where he could. His sense of humour was pleasant to be around. Ray spoke very good English. He is such a nice guy. I would strongly recommend Ray to be your tour guide to visit Machu Picchu. Ray explained everyday what the plans were for the next day, which was reassuring what we needed to take etc

Captanjack 2023/01/012

Our 1 day tour thru the Sacred Vally with Danny was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable and able to answer all our questions in detail. I would recommend asking for him personally if you are able.

Sherry 2022/12/26

We booked the Classic Cusco to Machu Picchu tour with SAM travel which we really had a good experience. SAM travel is very responsive during the communication and cater to our changes needed. Our guide is Ray who is also an very awesome guide. He is knowledgeable, patient, humorous as well reliable, he help us take many good photos and also go extra mile to help with our request. Thanks Ray! Thanks SAM travel that gave us good memories in Peru! Highly recommend if you consider booking any tour in Cusco.

Reviews by Trip Advisor

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C Clark 2023/01/20

Wow. We had such an incredible experience in Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Our guide, Dayvit, is the most knowledgeable guide we have ever had. He has such an extensive knowledge of the history and is very friendly and helpful. If you are planning a trip to Peru, I highly recommend SAM travel and be sure to request Dayvit!

Emma Dinzebach Clark 2023/01/10

2 day tour sacred valley / Machu Picchu highly recommend! David was the best tour guide. He knows an incredible amount about Incan culture and is personable and funny. He also kept us up to date on a political situation happening when we were there and was informative. Overall, this tour checks all the boxes. Thank you!

Nupur Joshi 2023/01/02

We used SAM Travel for a 2D/1N trip from Cusco to Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu on Dec 25-26, 2022. The team was good with communication from the start - both Saul and Junior were very helpful and professional with answering any questions and clearing up any misunderstandings. Our guide, Miguel, was prompt, pleasant, and quite knowledgeable. We enjoyed his company and insight over the 2 day trip and recommend him to anyone booking with SAM Travel.

Xueying Chen 2022/12/20

We booked the Classic Cusco to Machu Picchu tour with SAM travel which we really had a good experience. SAM travel is very responsive during the communication and cater to our changes needed. Our guide is Ray who is also an very awesome guide. He is knowledgeable, patient, humorous as well reliable, he help us take many good photos and also go extra mile to help with our request. Thanks Ray! Thanks SAM travel that gave us good memories in Peru! Highly recommend if you consider booking any tour in Cusco.

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Brandon Slater 2022/09/30

My wife and I just completed two excursions with SAM Travel Peru and we absolutely loved them. We did the 4 Day Salkantay Wilderness + Machu Picchu and then the 2-Day Rainbow Mountain + 7 Lakes trek with guide Carlos Estrada, chefs Nerio & Lucio, and horseman Unarato. Over the last 6 days we have learned so much about the Inca culture, discovered some of the most incredible sights, and ate delicious food every step of the way. We would definitely recommend SAM Travel (especially with Carlos!) to anyone that wants an incredible Peruvian adventure. The Wilderness trek is a much quieter trail than the standard Salkantay and goes a bit higher elevation, but camping at the base of Salkantay was incredible. Carlos's guided tour through Machu Picchu was so informative. We would have missed so much without him taking the time to share his knowledge.

Kellie Taylor 2022/04/06

Big thanks to David he was an amazing tour guide who really cared for our group. He allowed us to go at our own pace and was a brilliant photographer He was really funny and is full of interesting information & his passion for his inca ancestors is very obvious and warming. He also brought us to great restaurants! This company are very good and from what I can recall were cheaper than most. Thank you!

Mike Geelhoed 2021/06/10

They took care of everything! Saul the owner is very responsive and helpful. Johnny our guide was fantastic, as were our chef, assistant chef and horsemen. I can’t recommend them highly enough and will definitely use them again if we return to Peru!

Janice-Kaneki Chen 2020/01/28

Three of us decided to choose Sam Travel Peru, reason being is it is a local travel company that help indegenious communities. We picked Lares Trek 4D3N to have cultural experience while hiking. Good foods provided by talented Mario Chef! Johnny is our tour guide, very helpful tour guide. He even helped me to carry my daypack as I was too exhausted to carry it on day 1 hiking. Strongly recommend to those like to have local experience while hiking.

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