Homestay
We strongly encourage students to stay with a Mexican family through our homestay program. You will practice your Spanish around the clock as well as get valuable insights into Mexican family life and culture. Our host families are carefully selected and all homes are within easy walking distance or a short bus ride from the school. You will be welcomed as part of the family while you stay.
What are the families like?
A variety of host families open their homes to our students. Some are young couples with small children while others have teenagers. Retired couples enjoy hosting as well, as their children have moved out and they love having company. The host families enjoy meeting you and learning about your family. It is a great ice-breaker to bring a small photo album with pictures of your house, your parents, your siblings, your pets, etc. Mexicans are very family oriented.
What are the houses like?
Some are in a condominium type setting, others are townhouses and some are stand alone houses. There may be a small garden, depending on the size of the home, and a few have swimming pools. If you request a single room you will have your own bedroom. If you request a double you will share with another Cemanahuac student. Some bedrooms have their own bath, while others share a bath. Bathtubs are not common in Mexico. The majority of houses are within walking distance of the school while some require a short city bus ride.
A variety of host families open their homes to our students. Some are young couples with small children while others have teenagers. Retired couples enjoy hosting as well, as their children have moved out and they love having company. The host families enjoy meeting you and learning about your family. It is a great ice-breaker to bring a small photo album with pictures of your house, your parents, your siblings, your pets, etc. Mexicans are very family oriented.
What are the houses like?
Some are in a condominium type setting, others are townhouses and some are stand alone houses. There may be a small garden, depending on the size of the home, and a few have swimming pools. If you request a single room you will have your own bedroom. If you request a double you will share with another Cemanahuac student. Some bedrooms have their own bath, while others share a bath. Bathtubs are not common in Mexico. The majority of houses are within walking distance of the school while some require a short city bus ride.
What is the food like?
The food is great. It is what people miss the most after they go back home. There will be traditional Mexican dishes as well as international dishes. You will get homemade soups, wonderful fresh fruit, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and lots of very Mexican things like ‘mole’ sauce, ‘nopales’, ‘pozole’ and lots more. If you like spicy salsas, just let your hostess know. If not, she will serve it separately. It you are vegetarian or allergic to something just let us know and we will pass on the information.
What do I do with the families?
If you are here during the school year, children will be getting up early and going to school. Parents will be going to work and going about their regular routine. Mealtime is a great time to visit, especially at ‘comida’, the main meal of the day. In the evenings kids will be doing their homework. You can watch the ‘telenovelas’ with the families or the news on TV. Some of the señoras will let you help them cook and teach you how to cook. The conversation you have with the family is your best chance to practice your oral skills. They will even help you with homework and pronunciation if you ask.
The food is great. It is what people miss the most after they go back home. There will be traditional Mexican dishes as well as international dishes. You will get homemade soups, wonderful fresh fruit, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and lots of very Mexican things like ‘mole’ sauce, ‘nopales’, ‘pozole’ and lots more. If you like spicy salsas, just let your hostess know. If not, she will serve it separately. It you are vegetarian or allergic to something just let us know and we will pass on the information.
What do I do with the families?
If you are here during the school year, children will be getting up early and going to school. Parents will be going to work and going about their regular routine. Mealtime is a great time to visit, especially at ‘comida’, the main meal of the day. In the evenings kids will be doing their homework. You can watch the ‘telenovelas’ with the families or the news on TV. Some of the señoras will let you help them cook and teach you how to cook. The conversation you have with the family is your best chance to practice your oral skills. They will even help you with homework and pronunciation if you ask.
I had many highlights during my stay in Cuernavaca. The biggest was my host family. They were very caring and included me in their daily life. I did not feel like a foreign exchange student, but a part of the family.
– Lauren Davis, Spanish teacher
Guest House
The Cemanahuac Guest House is located across the street from the school. Five private apartments provide a convenient and relaxing setting for students, travelers, and people looking for a longer-term place to stay in Cuernavaca. Each apartments is a two-room suite with a kitchenette and eating space in one room, a bedroom with two single beds in the adjacent room, a full bath (shower, no tub), and wifi. There is a large terrace on the roof which is great for sunbathing, reading, or hanging out. People staying in the Guest House are welcome to make use of the school´s facilities such as the pool, gardens, library, current events talks. Restaurants and grocery stores are within walking distance.
Hotels
Cuernavaca offers a broad range of hotels, from b&bs to boutique hotels to large chains. For current suggestions and reviews go to TripAdvisor.