If you are travelling in Peru or Argentina and you happen to be in the old Inca capital Cusco, or in trendy Buenos Aires on a Friday, you’re lucky!

AMAUTA Spanish School offers FREE SPANISH LESSONS for travelers and all other people interested in learning a bit of the Spanish language.

The Spanish classes are entertaining and adapted to the level of the students present in each class;  please sign up before Thursday 17.00p.m. by sending us an email to info@amautaspanish.com  

If you don’t have time to send an email , just stop by the Amauta Spanish School on any  Friday at 11.00a.m.

The Spanish classes are held at our two main locations. In Cusco, AMAUTA Spanish School is located at the Calle Suecia, just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas. We are situated a cozy Cusco building with a lovely

sunny terrace. Our student residence, our most popular accommodation option besides a homestay, is also incorporated into this building.

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AMAUTA Spanish School carries on its long-lasting commitment to the local communities of Cusco, by giving support to the social program ‘Vaso de Leche’.

The program, administered by the municipal government of Cusco, is solely designed to improve the welfare of those of fewer resources in the wide vicinity of the state capital.

Thousands of families are benefited through amongst other the periodic distribution of food products, such as powder milk, and offering free handicraft workshops to indigenous ladies. With the newly acquired skills they are able to create additional sources of income. 

Due to the program’s increased popularity and limited funding available, the local government has called upon the private sector to guarantee its continued success. AMAUTA decided to provide financial aid to the teacher of a weaving workshop, so there would be enough material to teach mothers how to decorate purses, pants, scarves and other clothes with different knitting techniques.

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The day is in honor to the great writer Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who passed away on this date in the year 1616 in Madrid.

Cervantes was known as "El Manco de Lepanto", the greatest writer of his time, leaving behind his immortal work "El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha", as well as other great literature such as "La Galatea", "Viaje al Parnaso" and his "Novelas Ejemplares".

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1. 6.    For those seeking adventures a bit more extreme. Don’t worry. Very close to Cusco you can live it up by going rock-climbing or off-road quad racing through some truly spectacular scenery. Perhaps you feel like soaring around like a condor while paragliding or take on some of the meanest rapids in the world of white water rafting. Whatever your challenge of choice, it will sure get your adrenalin pumping!
2. 7.    The food of Peru is worldwide known for its diversity and richness in flavor. Indulge yourself with some true Peruvian dishes (comida criolla) such as Aji de Gallina (spicy chicken stew), Anticuchos (marinated beef heart), Lomo Saltado (stir-fried beef) and local Andean delicacies such as roasted Cuy (guinea pig). Other favorites are Escabeche de pescado (boiled fish seasoned with onions, aji and lemon juice), Rocoto Relleno (beef and veggie filled pepper) and for a good digestion a ‘Chicha de Jora’. Highly recommended!



3. 8.    Join a salsa class and get acquainted with this sensual and very entertaining dance. Every Friday afternoon after lessons, AMAUTA Spanish School offers its students to participate in this free activity. And just in case you need some encouragement to get your hips moving, first taste a Pisco Sour; the traditional cocktail that has become the Cultural Patrimony of the nation of Peru.

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We often get the question, what else is there to do around Cusco besides trekking and hiking to Machu Picchu? Well, you will be amazed about all the options. Here goes our pick for students of Amauta:

1. 1.    Visit the typical market of San Pedro, hosting a myriad of stalls packed with local produce, including unfamiliar types of vegetables, fruits, cheese, flowers and even odd bits and pieces used in prosperity rituals and giving praise to the ‘Pachamama’ (Mother Earth). Not into cooking yourself? Just bench up with the locals at one of the many eateries and try out the deliciously prepared ceviche or chicharones and get a freshly squeezed juice to go with it.
2. 2.    Wander around the narrow cobblestoned streets of picturesque neighborhood San Blas, known as the art district of Cusco. It’s also the place to enjoy great organic coffee and some of the best fusion cuisine in town. At night, live music haunts like ‘7 Angelitos’ and ‘Km.0’ only add to its laid-back bohemian vibe.



3. 3.    Climb the stairs on the edge of town to the ‘Cristo Blanco’. From this plateau with an enormous statue of Jesus, you are able to overlook all of Cusco excellent for great photos. If you happen to have planned your visit around the 24th of June, you will lucky enough to experience a great festivity at the nearby ‘Sacsayhuamán’ (its pronunciation easier remembered as Sexy Woman) Inca fortress, where the cult of the Inca’s to the Sun God, their highest divinity, is celebrated in great traditional and folkloric glory.  

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The highly nutritious ‘quinoa’ is known to be the most sacred of grains to the Inca culture, who named it “Chesiya Mama”, meaning the “Mother Grain”.

It is said that the Inca emperor used a golden spade to plant the first quinoa seeds of the season and that offerings were made by high ranked priests to please the sun god Inti. 

It’s for good reason that the Incas valued quinoa so much; it contains all 9 essential amino-acids, plus plenty of anti-oxidants, making it the only seed or grain that is a complete protein. 200 Grams of quinoa easily replaces the same serving of meat or eggs, with the added benefits of ingesting far less calories at a much cheaper price!

Historians attribute, in part, the successful rise and rule of the Inca Empire to its ability to feed not only its own people but those of conquered tribes as well. Quinoa basically gives you the feeling of being well fed over a long period of time. The slow release carbohydrates prevent you from getting a sugar rush, so adios food cravings!

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that it is the main food-supplement for astronauts, and part of NASA’s progressive food program for growing crops in space.

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So what do you do when you study Spanish in Buenos Aires, you just watched an ‘Original Tango Show’ that sparked your imagination and got your energy going? You don’t just go home and sleep. Not in a city like Buenos Aires where you can go to the pharmacy all night long, buy a bouquet of flowers early in the morning while waiting for your 04.45 bus ride back to your barrio. After viewing a master Tango Show you end the night in style.

We didn’t know where to go but sometimes you just get lucky. First we headed down to the Avenida de Mayo. The streets here are long and sometimes have over 5000 numbers but what the heck, we were in the mood and willing to walk. We passed some places that seemed ok, but not quite perfect.

We crossed the widest street in the world, which at night is much easier and less frightening than during daytime, and all of a sudden I saw a sign up ahead. Café Tortoni. I had read about it and there it was, the place where Carlos Gardel and many, many other famous people had spent so many nights of their life. It was midnight, the streets where quiet and the place looked closed. Could I really be passing Tortoni’s without being able to enter? We couldn’t look in because white curtains where obscuring our view so I peaked through the crack between the doors and to my surprise I saw light.

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Now that you are living and studying Spanish, or doing volunteer work in Buenos Aires, you might be willing to go to the next level within the Buenos Aires transport system and travel by bus (or colectivo as they are called)…. If so,  here are some do’s and don’ts you have to keep in mind.

Do’s

• Do buy a Guia-T upon arrival in Buenos Aires. It’s a small and cheap booklet you can buy at any news stand (kiosko) that will help you figure out where you are and which bus gets you from A to B. This site is very helpful in figuring out the way to read Guia-T.
• Once you’ve figured out which bus to take you still have to find the bus stop that is closest to you. You can ask around but not everybody can help you because there are thousands of stops. The best way to find out is to check online here. Just give your place of origin and destination and choose your route. This site is a must if you don’t have a Guia-T by the way.
• Ask for monedas whenever you receive a 2-peso or 5-peso bill. People will reluctantly give it to you, as everybody understands the need for coins in Buenos Aires. You cannot travel by bus without coins*.
• Do stand in line at the bus stop. Everybody does and together you create a nice orderly line amongst the chaos.
• Wave franticly if you see your bus coming. It sounds silly but please do because otherwise the bus will pass you by. And if the bus can’t reach your stop because of taxi’s or other buses standing in the way, make a run for it, otherwise you will have to wait for the next bus.

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Most of my fellow students here at AMAUTA had their living arrangements taken care of by the Spanish school. They all live in the vicinity of the school, somewhere in Belgrano. Ole, the Norwegian guy, lives with a landlady who serves him breakfast and dinner and Luca, the one from Switzerland, lives in a student residence together with other students. Every day they leisurely stroll to school, ordering their medialunas on the way to Av. Federico Lacroze 2129.

I never thought about living with a host-family or together with other students because before I knew it one of my best friends had arranged for me to live in an apartment with an Argentinean girl. My very own place! In Holland I am used to having my own space for quite some time now so this was right up my alley. Of course, being from Amsterdam, I am also used to ride my bike wherever I want to go. Holland is a small country and you can get virtually everywhere within a couple of hours. Even by bike.

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Step 1: Choose YOUR trek. Choosing the right trek for you depends on your how much time you have before, during or after your Spanish studies, and on your personal preferences. The Classic Inca Trail Trek lasts 4 days and 3 nights and the Short Inca Trail Trek lasts 2 days and 1 night. It is important to note that this trek involves a lot less trekking and camping.

Step 2: Check available trek dates. Our travel partner Dos Manos Peru recommends booking your Inca Trail Trek approximately three months in advance, especially for the high season, which takes place from June through August. The Inca Trail is closed during February for maintenance every year. The Peruvian government limits the number of people, including trekkers, guides, porters, etc., that are allowed on the trail to 500 per day. To check the number of spaces available for any day, visit the official Peruvian Ministry of Culture website: www.machupicchu.gob.pe or send an e-mail to infodosmanos@dosmanosperu.com for updated info.

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