When I landed in Cusco, I had only a hazy idea of what lay ahead. The air was thin and brisk in August. The mountains golden. I’d lost my luggage and missed my original connecting flight in Lima. The sun had barely risen and I was cold, anxious and eager for guidance. Though rewarding, travel is never seamless.
And as I settled into the rhythms of a new city, a new country, a new culture, I was so grateful to be staying with a Peruvian family. Choosing to live with a host family enlivens experiences abroad and brings structure to what can be overwhelmingly new otherwise. It helps you acclimate, and eventually, grow.
Of course, as with anything, everyone’s experience will be a little different. Homestay hosts range from large families with young children and pets to older couples or singles. You might share your space with other travelers, or you can request a private room. Some hosts like to be involved in their guests’ lives. Others, you might only see at breakfast and dinnertime.
But particular living arrangements aside, opting for a homestay over an apartment or hostel is likely to make your travels more meaningful. Whether you’re heading to Costa Rica, Peru or Guatemala, staying with a host family will give you greater insight into the culture and do wonders for your Spanish. So if you’re interested in cross-cultural exchange, why not go all the way?
True Cultural Immersion
Living with a homestay family allows you to see what locals’ daily lives are like from the inside. It’s truly the epitome of cultural immersion. And if you arrange your placement through an organization like Maximo Nivel, you get the benefits of authenticity without risking your personal safety.
All Maximo host families are approved in advance to provide volunteers, students and interns the best experience possible. You can expect to stay with welcoming, reliable community members. Wifi, showers, two meals a day and a comfortable place to sleep are guaranteed. This way, you won’t have to worry about the essentials. Instead, use that time to take in your surroundings.
Home-cooked meals are another perk of staying with a host family. Whether it’s a plate of ají de gallina in Cusco or a bowl of pepián in Antigua, the food you’ll get to sample at your homestay will be way more traditional than anything you could pick up at a local food chain. Eating together is also an ideal way to learn more about your hosts’ interests, customs, religious beliefs, etc.
Real Spanish Practice
And better yet, you’ll be doing it all in Spanish! Homestays are particularly beneficial if you’re visiting Latin America to learn the language. This isn’t to minimize classroom instruction. Learning in a formal setting is also valuable, especially when you’re just starting out. But after you’ve put your vocabulary flashcards and conjugation charts aside, what you really need is practice.
Communicating in Spanish at home is the perfect way to activate what you’re learning in the classroom. Applying your Spanish to real life situations in real time will help you improve more than any textbook ever could. Reuniting language with authentic context makes it feel more relevant.
Finding Your Footing
It’s also okay to arrange a homestay simply for its practical benefits. Living with a local family can give you a support network that extends beyond cultural exchange and language immersion. Culture shock isn’t a myth; it’s a real phenomenon. And when you’re adjusting to a completely new environment, a host family is a valuable resource.
This isn’t to say that you should expect your host family to make extravagant arrangements for you. However, they are a vetted point of contact, and by answering your questions they can help you become more independent in your new city. In the past, hosts have helped me navigate public transportation, given me walking instructions, advised me to avoid certain areas, and offered me local shopping tips.
And while I was still learning the fastest bus routes and finding the best market stalls, I didn’t have much to worry about. Because I could rely on two hot meals a day and a safe place to sleep, I had space to thoughtfully develop routines that I would carry into the rest of my time abroad. I wasn’t distracted by apartment hunting or haggling the moment I touched down.
Even if you’re planning to stay for the long-haul, don’t rule out a homestay. Think flexibly. Staying with a host family is the perfect stepping stone when you first move to a new place. This doesn’t mean you’ll never move into your own apartment, just that you’ll get a glimpse of local life before stepping out alone. Get to know the city’s neighborhoods, markets, and make connections before you sign a lease.
But will opting for a homestay suddenly make travel seamless? The honest answer is no. I encourage you to expect the unexpected whenever you step into the unknown. And always remain open to learning from your experiences! However, connecting with a host family will help you get the most out of your travels. Create an experience abroad that is authentic and safe. Pack your bags and get ready to grow!