On the weekend, overflowing rivers caused a large landslide that destroyed almost the entire village of Taray in the Sacred Valle in Peru, with flooded homes, destroyed roads, crops, infrastructure and lost lives. 80% of people have also lost their homes. The AMAUTA school building is situated on the far side of the valley from the affected area and is therefore fine. None of our students or Spanish teachers were there at the time. However, the devastation in the village of Taray is catastrophic, and the people there are left with nothing and in need of help. They are living in tents and are surviving only by the help of outsiders and organizations from Cusco.

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“Last week it was confirmed that Peru Rail will be running the route from Km82 to Machu Picchu Pueblo as normal from April 1st. Work on the train tracks - which suffered serious damage due to heavy rain falls and mudslides during the last week of January this year - will be continuing throughout February and March in order to meet this deadline. However, once the line is open services will be running with a lower capacity than normal – we are expecting train services to transport just 1,000 passengers per day as opposed to the normal 2,500 daily passengers. This reduced capacity is likely to cause some problems due to the already large list of people who were unable to travel to Machu Picchu in February and March and as such have rescheduled their trips for April and May. It is important that clients understand that all services to Machu Picchu during April and May are likely to be very busy and/or fully booked. One solution will be to operate more car tours to Machu Picchu in order to take the pressure off the train services. Priority will be given to those passengers whose tour reservations are already confirmed.
Looking further ahead, we expect train services to be running as normal from Ollantaytambo by May and from Cusco itself by June.”

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The AMAUTA Volunteer Work Program provides the unique opportunity to live and work in Peru and Argentina. Students will experience first-hand its rich cultural diversity while cultivating a superior level of Spanish proficiency. Through the Volunteer Program, AMAUTA and the volunteers are able to make contributions to local society and to help bridge the gap between foreign visitors and native people.

Participants may choose both, the field and preferred location, of their volunteer placement. Possible fields of interest include social work, education, tourism, cultural work and catering. A 4 week Spanish course is included for all volunteers as well as accommodation with a local host family or at our student residences, where you you will share daily life with many other students.

Participation in AMAUTA Student Activities (e.g. lectures, tango classes) is totally for free for all volunteers during the course of their volunteer work.
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Prolonged periods of heavy rain have led to severe flooding and landslides in the Province of Cusco, which continues to be in a state of emergency. Although much of the press has been focused on Machu Picchu, many other low lying areas as the Sacred Valley have been severely affected.

However, the city of Cusco is operating as normal - virtually no damage was suffered within the city, with the exception of some poorer residential zones on the outskirts. All flights to Cusco are operating and most road links too. Key damages in the surrounding areas include all road and rail links with Aguas Calientes, which left 2,000 tourists stranded in the town. All tourists have now been evacuated safely, but Machu Picchu remains accessible only by helicopter. Therefore all train tours and treks dependant on Machu Picchu are closed until further notice. The Inca Trail will not be open until 1st March at the earliest, and all other tours and treks will open once a transport link between Cusco and Aguas Calientes is established. All tours independent of Machu Picchu are running as usual.

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Due to heavy rains, the Cusco area and surrounding regions have experienced flooding, mudslides and bridge outages that have severely affected transportation in several sectors. Services and travel affected include the trains to Machu Picchu, which are not currently running due to damage to the rails; all hikes to Machu Picchu are also suspended. Some areas of the Sacred Valley (the road to Pisaq) are also unpassable though alternate routes have been opened. Within the city of Cusco, services are in normal operation (with exception of flights suspended or delayed during heavy rains). Mudslides have been experienced in some of the steeper, surrounding hills.

There are currently 10 AMAUTA students + a staff member stuck in Aguas Calientes. We are in constant contact with them and we know there are all fine. The spirit is good and they all have a hostal, food and water and are in good conditions. The government expects to get all people out of Aguas Calientes in a max. of 4 days with helicopters. Preference is given first to older people, people with health problems and mothers with children. People will be evacuated by Helicopter from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and from Ollantaytambo to Cusco, by bus. We are assured the whole rescue operation is for free and that rumours about people being charged for being taken to Cusco, are not true.
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One big joke… on you. But definitely an experience not to be missed!

If you are new to the traveling world, things can seem a little but crazy at first. I know that when I began traveling there were a lot of things I had to get accustomed to. From the irregularity of the bus system to the lack of streets signs, South America at times feels like one big joke…on you. To make a long story short, the fundamental character of traveling (especially in South America) is that of unpredictability. For those of you who are a little stressed or anxious about what lies ahead, here are some things to keep in mind on your first journey into the unknown.

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Cusco is a major tourist destination because it was once the capital of the Inca Empire. With its ancient architectural/archeological sights, suitable weather, bargain services, kind hearted people, and it being the central point for all Sacred Valley excursions you are bound to find something that you like. A perfect place to spend a few weeks – or even months – and study Spanish!

With it being the central point of tourism in Peru there are plenty of people to meet to make your adventure worthwhile. You can hike or bike Inca trail to get to Machu Picchu or the less tourist populated places like Choquequirao and Moray; all accessible by way of Cusco.

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It’s impossible for me to tell how important something as nervous, challenging, dangerous and yet adventurous traveling to another country! Let alone that country and that community to be Cuzco, Peru. A place on the globe that I frankly no nothing about. I was content to a degree in the place I was before i made the trip here; Chicago Illinois, is the place I called home just a few days ago yet somehow Cusco Peru was calling me too. September 26th is when i arrived in Cusco after a quite pleasant twenty hour bus ride on “Cruz de Sur” from Lima. Greeted with just the unknown I can say I was more than nervous! Armed with the knowledge of knowing how to count to twenty, say hello, goodbye, thank you, and how much is it. (más…)

Paucartambo, which means “flowered tavern” in Quechua, is situated in the district of Pasco in the south-east of Peru. It was right in the commercial route between Cusco, the capital of the great Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyo) and the Amazon valley Kosñipata. It is mostly known for the incredible sunrises that occur in the month of July.

Between the 15th and 16th of July Paucartambo is also the place to be to celebrate the festivities of La Virgen del Carmen, also called Mamacha Carmen. There is a great gathering which initiates this great feast on the Plaza de Armas in this Andean Village where many music bands play and different choirs singing in Quechua, this way introducing beautiful choreographies which tell parts of Peru’s history.

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