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11 Must-Visit Sites & Things to Do in the Sacred Valley
11 Must-Visit Sites & Things to Do in the Sacred Valley
Just an hour’s drive from Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru is named after its importance to the Inca, whose ruined citadels and former agricultural terraces are dotted along the valley’s course.
It’s an awe-inspiring place to visit, flanked by serrated mountains and lush with corn that grows beside the Río Urubamba that flows right along the valley floor. For any visitor to Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is an unmissable spot on your trip to Peru.
Avoid just passing through on the way to the epic Inca fortress of Machu Picchu and instead spend a few days exploring one of Peru’s largest and most dynamic artisan markets, pre-Colombian salt mines and even one-of-a-kind hotels installed high up on the valley sides. Join us as we rundown the eleven Must Visit Sites and best things to do in the Sacred Valley.
Spoiler: yes, AMAUTA Spanish School offers Spanish classes at this amazing location (see #11)!
Spanish for Travelers: 68 Essential Travel Phrases To Know
Spanish for Travelers: 68 Essential Travel Phrases To Know
Heading on a trip to South America this year and want to make sure you don’t make yourself and those around you completely confused? Having a toolkit of invaluable travel sayings at your disposal will ensure your plans don’t go awry and it’s for that purpose we’ve put together this Spanish for travelers guide.
The 68 travel phrases have a particular focus on South America, where expressions sometimes have a distinctly different character than in Spain.
We’ve broken down these Spanish travel phrases into topic areas to ensure that, regardless of the situation, you’ve got a phrase at your disposal. If you want to go even further into learning Spanish ahead of your trip to South America, head over to our study Spanish online guides or consider taking a Spanish language immersion course when you arrive in the continent. (more…)
The Six most unmissable Places to Learn Spanish in South America
The Six Most Unmissable Places to Learn Spanish in South America
One of the easiest ways to pick up a new language is by studying abroad, where you have every opportunity to put your new linguistic skills to the test. Although Spain might seem like the obvious choice, the best place to learn Spanish is actually South America.
Not only are Spanish language classes affordable, local accents are comprehensible and you also get the chance to explore a new continent. But it’s a big place to choose from, so that’s why we’ve put together this run down of the six most unmissable places to learn Spanish in South America.
From the Inca heartland of Cusco to the pampas of Argentina via the beaches of Colombia, there are plenty of places to immerse yourself in Spanish.
Know before you go: where to learn Spanish in South America
Comprising 12 distinct countries and covering 6.89 million square miles, South America has plenty of options when it comes to language study – and maybe even too many options. (more…)
7 Extraordinary Benefits of Learning Spanish If You Like to Travel
7 Extraordinary Benefits of Learning Spanish If You Like to Travel
Whether you’re looking to travel to Peru or other parts of South America or you’re just lining up your next challenge, studying a second language is a valuable thing to do. The benefits of learning Spanish, particularly if you have designs on travel, can’t be understated.
So, if you’re looking for inspiration for why you should learn Spanish, read on as we take you through the six main benefits of picking up this language up.
Studying Spanish makes travelling abroad a whole lot easier
If you’ve yet to embark upon a journey through South America, you probably don’t quite appreciate the difficulties that you come across as a monolinguist or solo English speaker in these parts.
Want to get to another city? You’ll be needing the colectivo, or possibly the micro. (more…)
The 5 Best Peru Hiking Adventures For Your Bucket List
The 5 Best Peru Hiking Adventures For Your Bucket List
With the ridge of the Andes Mountains slicing the length of the country and 6,000m mountains that make the most adventurous drool, Peru is a trekker’s paradise. Some of the best Peru hiking options are easily accessed either from Cusco or by a bus journey from Lima. So once you’re done with your Spanish classes in Cusco, strap on your hiking boots and get ready to hit the trail!
1. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Cusco
Easily the most famous of all trekking in Peru, the Inca Trail that leads you directly to Machu Picchu is a classic hike, combining history and sublime landscapes with the chance to end your journey the exact same way the Inca would: at this former estate for Inca royalty.
There are several Inca trekking routes in Peru that go to Machu Picchu, however, the classic Inca Trail is a four-day 43km hike that winds up into the mountains beyond the Sacred Valley, summiting three high-altitude passes before terminating at the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu for sunrise on the final day.
The Inca Trail definitely ranks among the best hiking in Peru and the experience of travelling in the footsteps of this former civilization is one you won’t forget in a hurry. (more…)
The best way to learn Spanish: 8 scientifically-backed methods
The best way to learn Spanish: 8 scientifically-backed methods
Is Spanish easy to learn? What’s the quickest way to learn Spanish? What is the best way to learn Spanish?
These are just some of the questions that you asked yourself – and the internet – when you first started learning Spanish. There are plenty of ways that you can study Spanish – and plenty of debate around their effectiveness. But which are actually work?
Is it possible to learn Spanish in a month?
Before we begin, let’s put to bed a question that touches the lips of a lot of first-time language learners: is it possible learn Spanish (or any other language) in a month?
In a word, no. (more…)
The best 5 Cusco Applications
The Best 5 Cusco Applications
In this article, we will recommend you the Best 5 Cusco Applications you will want to use while living in Peru. Or when preparing your trip to Peru. Because once registered for your Spanish course in Cusco you will start preparing yourself for your adventure and Spanish immersion experience in Peru.
Obviously this will involve a lot of reading about Cusco and about Peru. There are many, many good blogs and articles online to be found.
For instance, here is a good link about what to pack for your trip to Peru.
Or this one with important cultural tips you need to know.
And if you are interested in the culture of Cusco, there is this interesting Cusco culture blog.
But of course there are great apps too, that wil be very usefull before and during your stay in Cusco. Here is a list with The best 5 Cusco Applications that will make your phone your personal assistant before and during your stay in Cusco. These applications will make your packing easier, but also the Spanish learning process, your stay in Cusco and maybe further travel. And the best part? They are for free!
Best places for Dinner in Cusco
Best places for Dinner in Cusco
After four weeks of living in Cusco – I’m taking Spanish lessons in Peru here at the AMAUTA Spanish School – it becomes hard to find some new nice places to go to for dinner. In contrast, when you are a new bee, it seems to be hard to make a choice between all the good and nice restaurants around. There are some really comfortable and good-quality restaurants in Cusco with affordable prices I can recommend.
Restaurant INDIGO
I think many travelers and Spanish students in Cusco agree that “Indigo” is always the right choice. Located close to AMAUTA and to the Plaza de Armas, right next to the club “Liberty”, INDIGO offers a menu with a huge range of Peruvian and Asian cuisine. You should really try the Indigo Sandwich with Avocado! But- it’s not only the food that makes the “Indigo” to what it is. After dinner, for those who like, you can order a dish for only 25 Soles and choose your favorite drink of the Happy Hour (2 for 1). You can also asked for games at the bar, like yenga.
Speed up your Spanish Conversations with locals in Peru
Speed up your Spanish Conversations with locals in Peru
Our Spanish teaches in Cusco made a list with words in Spanish with a double or even multiple meaning. Many people learning Spanish in Peru struggle with those words, especially in daily conversations. Multiple meaning words can be quite a challenge: there are spelled and pronounced exactly the same but………the meaning is totally different.
With our list of words in Spanish with a double meaning, you don’t have to worry anymore about your conversations with the local Peruvians, or with your host mum in Cusco! No more embarrassing (or funny) situations because you “missed’ a small detail…. Like for example not being sure if you were talking about animals or flames! 🙂
So let’s go to the animal/ flame case first. Here is our list of Words in Spanish with a multiple meaning so you can Speed Up your Conversations in Spanish with locals in Peru. (more…)
Spanish Lessons in Peru with fun fieldtrips
One of the things I enjoyed most during my Spanish lessons in Cusco (Peru), are the field trips. Learning Spanish in Peru is a great way to improve your Spanish quickly: during the four hours per day in small groups with my teacher, I spoken more Spanish than I’d ever done during my Spanish course home.
But the best opportunities to practice Spanish, to learn about Peruvian culture and to explore Cusco, were the field trips organized by AMAUTA. During one of those trips we went to the Qolwanpata Inca Park in Cusco. Here you can read my report of my Spanish lessons in Peru with fun field trips. (more…)
