Spanish Spanish & 4 weeks Volunteering
Cusco School

"I booked with Cactus because I already had good experience with them in the UK and in Argentina. I loved Cusco - I would go back there in a heartbeat. I'm now planning some Cactus courses in London and Mexico." (Kirstie Waters, December 2009)

I already took Spanish evening courses in London with Cactus and I decided that it was time for me to go on an immersion in a Spanish speaking country. I had a great experience and I had amazing classmates from all over the world. Cactus was very helpful; I was led through the process at every stage and was given great advice by the team.” (Gareth Manning, August 2009)

"I chose Cactus becasue it was great value and seemed like a great option with the homestay and the locations and flexibility with starting dates.

The school had a really friendly atmosphere and was located very centrally. The staff and teachers were always really helpful and friendly, helping to organise trips and other things where necessary. The lessons were also really informative, ranging from having 1 to 4 in my class which meant the groups were small enough to have one-on-one attention whilst also being able to practise our conversational skills.

I really enjoyed my time in Cusco. It is beautifully located in the Andes with lots of things to do for weekend trips around other towns nearby. Also it's not too difficult to take longer trips down to the coast. I also felt relatively safe and I think 2 months was a good amount of time to get to know the city well enough.

I stayed with a family for 2 months. I couldn't have been treated better. My host parents didn't have any children, but there were usually one or two other students staying. They always helped with my Spanish when needed, although they spoke very good English, and were really welcoming all the time, always reminding me that it was my home too. I was a little anxious about staying with a family for 2 months with regards to freedom etc, however they were really understanding and with my own house key it meant it was really flexible. The food was also really great too - really accomodating to my dietary requirements. All in all, I really recommend the homestay, I couldn't have asked for a kinder hoast family and the location was also great and central.

I really felt my spanish improved so much and made some great friends from all over the world. My voluntary work was really well-suited for me - teaching underpriviliged children in a small town just outside of Cusco - and the whole time I felt at ease, within the school and within my host house. A really great start to the rest of my travels!
(Rebecca Hutter - April 09)

"I think that the school was in a good location and had good facilities. Cusco is great, and my family was lovely, they welcomed me and looked after me very well - the food was great! I most enjoyed being able to pick up a bit of the language and put it to use"
(Vicky Wake, May 2005)

"I chose Cactus because of price, locations, language+volunteering option. I was extremely satisfied with the quality of the classes at the school. The teachers were helpful, engaging, and thoroughly explained everything. I didn't know it was possible to learn a language so quickly! There is an incredible energy in Cusco, a magnetic charm that once you feel, you cannot get enough of. Perhaps it is the deftly crafted wall of Incan stones waiting around the corner to be discovered, or the varied nightlife resonating to the sound of every musical genre, or the taxi driver eager to exhange socio-economical views with you. Originally I planned to live with a homestay for only one month, but after two weeks I decided to extend my stay to three. Living with a local family provided an unparalleled insight into the culture of the country, ranging from the cuisine, music, dance, philosophies, and political sentiments, not to mention the advantages of having to speak the language everyday. I most enjoyed meeting people from around the world, my homestay family, traveling independently, the friendliness of strangers, cultural immersion, learning a new language, and working with disabled children"
(Patrice Loo, March 2005)

"I chose Cactus because of the website I guess, the no hidden cost, the fact there was only 4 students per class... the school was great, the classes and the activities too. I love Cusco, I would definitely recommend people to go there, only it's cold at night! I really appreciated my classes, the fact I learnt about Peruvian history too. The activities were great too and as we were not too many it was excellent to meet people."
(Anne Parmentier, Apr 2006)

“I chose Cactus because they offered trips to this location. I was impressed with the efficiency and friendliness of Cactus staff. The school was great. They were so friendly and offered so much support, even when I’d finished my classes, e.g. when I got sick they came round to visit, they called me to check up at times and were always there if I needed them. In the family home I was very comfortable. The food was good and the bedroom pleasant. In the volunteer housing I was happy too.”
(Roya Dabir-Alai, October 2005)

"Hi Sarah, Everything was wonderful with the program. My family during the home stay was amazing and everyone who worked at the school was extremely helpful and friendly. I thought everything in the program was well- planned, well-organized, and detailed which saved a lot of stress on my part. Thanks very much for your help and the opportunity, Laura.
(Laura Coppeto, July 2005)

" I chose Cactus because it was cheaper compared to others. I liked the school and the classes. The fact that they change the teachers every week is a very good system I think. I really liked Cusco so I changed my ticket to stay 1 week more in cusco before going to Lima. I enjoyed the whole experience of going there and get to know an other culture. Now I am in Lima for 7 weeks more so I haven't finished my experience yet! I think the service was really good and I only want to thank you, especially for moving my trip for one week because my boyfriend was in the hospital."
(Isabel Van Bemmelen, May 2005)

"I chose Cactus because you offered just what I needed (Spanish course in Peru and voluntary work with children) but I did not have time to organise it myself. The school was great. The staff were friendly and helpful. Some of the teachers did not speak English, which I understand is their approach to teaching. The location of the school was convenient being in the centre of town. It was great being located in Cusco with lots of things to do to suit all - cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, history, countryside.

I stayed with a single woman and lunched with her extended family every day. I had my own room and bathroom which was lovely. (I was expecting to rough it a little!). It was good being surrounded by Spanish speakers all the time - I learnt a lot. In the second month I stayed in an apartment with 5 other women doing voluntary work. It was good fun but we spoke English all the time so my Spanish did not improve much and I was not immersed in another culture, which, with the benefit of hindsight, I would have preferred. However, being 35 years old and single I did not want to stay in the confines of a family for 2 months. It would be good if you could arrange accomodation with Peruvians of the same sort of age and/ or interests. (Although this may be difficult as most Peruvians live in families.)

I most enjoyed voluntary work in the kindergarten - I absolutely loved it. It was the best thing I ever did. Also, living with the locals providing an interesting insight into another country and culture. Good balance of studying / voluntary work provided enough time to see and do other things in Cusco and surrounding area."
(Sue Blanch, March/Apr 2005 - Volunteer)
If you would like to contact Sue about her experience in Cusco, please email: sueblanch@gmail.com

'' I chose Cactus because simply appeared to be the most professional organisation, based on website and conversation with staff.The school and lessons: both excellent, a great place to learn spanish. Cusco is simply a mindblowing town, great sights, great nightlife, great people would heartily recommend it to anyone. Host family; was also excellent, great people, great food. The thing that I enjoyed the most was probably the people I met through the school''
( Jonathan Bright, May- 2005)

"I was very impressed. Classes were always imaginative, and the quality of the teaching was superb, taught by very intelligent individuals. The school also complemented the classes with a series of really enjoyable outings around Cusco with a Spanish speaking guide. Further, the school truly did have a very friendly and fun environment. If I return to Cusco, I certainly intend to go back to that school. I very much enjoyed my stay in Cusco.

It is a very beautiful, but also fun city. We were able to appreciate it even more through the intelligent and interesting guided tours offered by the school. stayed with a family. Again this was very successful. The family was very kind, the food was delicious and I learnt a lot of Spanish and a lot about the culture of Cusqueños. I would recommend a homestay very much.

I had not anticipated classes to be so enjoyable. These, I had assumed were going to be the least exciting part of my holiday, but in fact they were so much fun and taught by such intelligent and dynamic individuals that I was very pleasantly surprised. There was a certain amount of confusion at the beginning of my trip as to which family I was staying with. Beforehand, I would have appreciated more information about the family and more certain information.As above, more information about the family I was to stay with.

I had been led to expect that I would be collected at the school by someone other than the first lady you wrote to me about. In fact, I did end up staying with the first lady and have never received any explanation as to why there was a change and what happened. As above, more information about the homestay. Perhaps also more full information on Cusco and places to see, although the school amply compensated for this."
(Anna Gray, November 2004)

"The trip was fantastic thanks in many ways. The course was very good and in the end I got individual lessons for 4 weeks. I got up to Intermediate Medio, which means. I think, that I have finished the first major grammar hurdle, the imperative. I think (know) I need a lot more practice before tackling the next stage, the subjunctive. The homestay family were lovely, and spoke not bad English, in some ways a disadvantage, as I did not always practice as much as I should. Decent typical food (Rice and chips a bit too often which is normal), very friendly, decent room and a big bed.

The trips organised by the school to various ruins and around town were excellent. One good thing about this is that we managed to visit some sites than were not very touristed - Unlike Machu Picchu. Of course I went there but only for one day. Very beautiful of course but too touristy for me. Also I think they have done too much to renovate it - that is my opinion of course and not shared by everybody. Also I took the 2 day tour of Lake Titicaca, Uros, Amantani, Taquile, all very beautiful and interesting to see the level of poverty. Also 1 day rafting was great. When I go back I will include the Choquay corral visit, 4 day Inca trail, visit Arequipa, Nazca lines, and then proceed on the La Paz in Bolivia...."
(Steve Turner)

"I had a really good time in Cusco. I did a Quechua Course for 1 week and then 3 weeks of Spanish. The teachers were extremely good and it was fun to be with students from many different nationalities. We all did lots of day trips, and even went on the Inca Trail. The host family was also really friendly, they lived in a very calm and relaxing area and offered me loads of different food."
(Stephen Elms)

"Overall, as I mentioned in my last email, it was a fantastic experience. The language school was excellent, great teaching and extra curricular stuff making it very sociable and easy to make friends. The guide at the school was great and I went on loads of trips, seeing pretty much everything there was to see in Cusco! Administration was excellent and the staff always very helpful.

My homestay also was very good, food a little interesting at times, but I got used to it! Lunch was normally a major carbohydrate packed feast, soup with rice followed by meat, rice, pasta, potatoes!! Also incredibly cold in July.....perhaps students should be warned of no heating and drafty houses!
Cusco was a great place to spend 2 months, I would really recommend people to study there. Its an easy place to get to know, with great bars and cafes to ease the culture shock. Its very touristy, however still plenty of opportunities to speak Spanish and so much to see in the area.

Volunteer work was great. Marco Valle is a great place, the kids were all really nice and respectful to me, I never had any trouble with them. If anyone is placed there and has concerns about working in a "prison" please feel free to put them in touch with me! Teaching English was quite hard as I had to prepare a lot for each day but it meant I felt very useful. Speaking to other volunteers who were for example working in orphanages or schools with very young children found it tough as they didn´t feel as needed or helpful. I felt my Spanish improved during my work and learnt a lot from the teaching. Thanks for helping me set up a great experience. Since I finished the volunteer work I´ve spend a couple more weeks in Peru, and then have spent a month doing some amazing trekking in Bolivia. Another week or so in Bolivia then I´m off to Argentina!
(Katherine Moulder, Volunteer 2004)

"I chose Cactus because the service and the people seemed very efficient and you provided placements that i was interested in. Peru ....the school was great and the teachers were wondreful . All very patient and knowledgable and very professional as well as friendly and affable. Peru ... great to begin with .. the begging is a real issue after a while. A lot of the projects dont really know how to make best use of volunteers so being prepared with materials to take with you is a great plan. Books, pens, paper for teaching etc are rarely available there. I would suggest not going in the rainy season like i did beacuse it really restricts your ability to get out and explore the rest of Peru.... the things i was able to achieve with the kids in the project was what I enjoyed the most."
(Julie Screech. Volunteer Feb-April 2004)

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Public Holidays for this school

2010

October 8
November 1

Airport Transfer Options

Nearest Airport Cusco

An airport transfer service is available. £18 pp one way.
Choose the option in step 2 of the booking process.