Hiatus... Hoping: Peru

Maps:


National Geographic's
JiWire's wifi hotspots (not so hot...)


Pillars: Spanish study, volunteering, Inca study, Machu Pichu


Amauto - MB  Language school in Sacred Valley (40 min drive from Cusco) and in Cusco.  Sacred Valley accommodations are on-campus; homestays in Cusco.  Also has facilities in Argentina.


United Planet - Community development volunteering with homestay, bit of Spanish instruction, and excursion out of Cusco.  Optional add-on to floating islands of Titicaca.  Canadian based non-profit.  MB; this combo sounds good


Spanish in Peru - Language school with locations in Cusco, Sacred Valley and Tambopata.  Advertises a family program.  MB

Amigos - Language school with attached youth program; Cusco


San Blas - Language school in Cusco.  Says they have a program for kids.  MB


Casa de Avila - Hotel / hostel / language school in Alquileda (?) which has an enormous TA following


Machu Pichu:


Mountain Lodges of Peru - NGT-rec trek company that runs lodge-to-lodge trek on non-Inca trail ($$$)

REI lodge trek - very similar itinerary

Recommended Accommodations:


Lima: Second Home Peru: MB, Frommers rec; TA feedback very positive

Lima: Casa Andina San Antonio:  MB, Frommers rec but TA feedback mixed


Cusco: Ninos Hotel: MB, Frommers rec as great for kids; TA feedback positively rhapsodic; run by founders of Fundacion Ninos Unidos Peruanos; have four apartments suitable for families


Cusco: Casa Andina Cusco Korichanda: MB, Frommers rec; TA feedback generally positive.  (Note: there are four other Casa Andinas in Cusco; the Private Collection tier is more luxe)


Cusco: La Casa de Don Ignacio:  MB, Hospitality school associated; TA feedback limited.  WiFi and computer room on-site.  Same school runs a restaurant in Lima as well.

Ollantaytambo: Apu Lodge B&B:   (unvetted, but): has nice list of things to to in/around Ollantaytambo (from which bus to MP departs)


In-Country Logistics:


South American Explorers' Club - Lima and another clubhouse in Cusco -  LP, TA and Frommers all say to join.  Both Amauto and Spanish in Peru language schools give a 10% discount to members, so it would pay for itself for a family.  The Cusco clubhouse runs a Pub Quiz every Wednesday night, at which, evidently, it sells beer and uses the proceeds to support various local causes... which sound... well, maybe not so family friendly.