Backpacking Peru budget

So, Peru, it’s over after 1 month of exploring from north to south! One thing is certain, we have joyfully discovered this magnificent country! For us, Peru has been synonymous with beautiful encounters, but above all, incredible treks! Whether to visit Machu Picchu in an alternative way or during our passage through the Cordillera Blanca, Peruvian nature and landscapes have managed to captivate us! Let’s look back on our 5 weeks of travel, and as usual, we’ll give you all the details about the budget and prices so you can plan your backpacking trip to Peru.

How much does a trip to Peru cost?

It’s difficult to answer this question precisely because often there are as many travel budgets as there are travelers! Initially, we had planned an average budget of 27 euros per day per person to visit Peru. In the end, thanks to the numerous treks, we managed to limit our expenses and spent less than expected.

Daily budget

To give you an idea of the budget to plan for, here are our figures by expense category:

In total, we spent 1451 euros for 2 people for 35 days of travel, averaging 20.7 euros per day per person. But beware, today the daily budget would be closer to 30 euros per person due to price inflation, especially for visiting Machu Picchu. Also, these are averages! Since we camped a lot and ate during treks, it doesn’t quite equate to the same budget as staying in hotels and eating at restaurants! Therefore, the daily average is not very representative. To give you an idea of expenses, we’ll break down the prices of this trip to Peru just below.

Our recommendations

In summary, a daily budget of 30 euros per person is ideal for those who love hiking and camping and aren’t afraid to walk a bit and carry their own food. On the other hand, if hiking and instant noodles are not really your thing, then a budget of 35 euros per day seems more suitable. But in any case, Peru remains a South American country where it is possible to travel on a reasonable budget.

Transportation budget

After traveling for 9 months in Asia, I can promise you that we had rather low comfort standards… In Ecuador, we were already impressed by the quality of the roads and buses, but that was before Peru! Here, the buses are incredible: very comfortable and quite affordable!

Here’s a summary of the routes we took, the type of seats, and of course the price.

• From Cuenca (Ecuador) to Chiclayo: Super Semara, 12 hours, about 20 dollars per person in semi-cama
• From Chiclayo to Trujillo: 4.5 hours, 10 dollars each
• From Trujillo to Huaraz: Movilbus or Julio César with meal on board, 10-hour journey, 15-20 dollars per person
• From Huaraz to Lima: ZBus, 7-8 hours journey, 50 soles per person in semi-cama with a taxi to the bus station and meals included
• From Lima to Cusco: Civa, a good bus for 23 hour’s journey, affordable price of 30 dollars per person in semi-cama with all meals on board. Benoit’s stomach bug slightly spoiled the pleasure, but overall, a good option!
• From Cusco to Cachora: Bredde, about 4 hours journey, 14 dollars per person
• From Cusco to La Paz (Bolivia): Nuevo continente, 18 hours journey, for 28 dollars per person in cama

Accommodation costs

In total, over the 5 weeks of travel, we spent 10 nights in a tent and 4 nights on overnight buses. But don’t worry, we also found 2-3 accommodations with a bed for not too much money, you will find many hostels throughout the country and budget hotels.

• Average price of a double room: 60 soles (15 euros)
• Our most expensive night: 65 soles in Chiclayo
• Our cheapest night: apart from camping on the Choquequirao trek, 50 soles in Trujillo
• Lima: Hotel España, an old renovated building in a rather kitsch style (crystal chandelier, Greek statues, and gilding). The price of the private room with a shared bathroom: 55 soles. Special mention for the rooftop terrace which offers a view of the cathedral. Plus, 2 peacocks, 5 turtles, and 2 parrots roam freely there.
• Cusco: El Puma apartment hotel, a bit uphill from Plaza de Armas. Great manager, spotless room, but it’s freezing cold!

Sightseeing/leisure budget

Being almost adventurers at heart, it’s certain that the different treks and the visit to Machu Picchu have increased our budget, but they have also reduced hotel expenses in a way… We’ll break down the prices of the different treks and must-see activities in Peru.

Visit to Machu Picchu

So, Machu Picchu is an incredible site, it’s even the number 1 attraction in Peru, but it’s also a well-established business! The bill will be more or less hefty depending on how you visit Machu: through a trek, an organized tour, or on your own…

We won’t rewrite the article dedicated to the Inca citadel, but in summary:

• on your own: you should count the round trip transport from Cusco, 1 night in Aguas Calientes + 1 night in Cusco (or Aguas Calientes if you prefer to take the road the next day), entrance tickets for Machu Picchu, and meals/snacks. In total, for 2 days, it will cost you a minimum of 145 dollars per person by taking the bus and staying in the cheapest rooms in Aguas Calientes.
• taking an organized tour from Cusco: the bill is simpler because everything is included except food and drinks. Expect around 300 dollars each for an all-inclusive day.
• trekking: this is the most expensive option, even more so if you do the legendary Inca Trail, accessible only with a guide. Prices for self-guided treks are $250/person for the Choquequirao trek and $150 for the Salkantay trek. Through an agency, treks cost around $500 per adult.

Huaraz, paradise for hikers

Another hub of hiking in the Andean mountains, Huaraz and the Huascarán National Park in the Cordillera Blanca are also ideal destinations for beautiful treks. Here are some prices:

• Santa Cruz: $60 self-guided / $200 per agency;
• Laguna 69: $40 from Huaraz (access fee and transport included);
• Laguna Wilcacocha: $1 from Huaraz;
• Pastoruri Glacier: $54 from Huaraz.

Mountain of 7 Colors (Rainbow Mountain)

You’ve probably already seen a photo of this multicolored mountain, Vinicunca, in southern Peru. Good news: tours offer this visit in 1 day from Cusco for a very reasonable price, considering that it’s hard to get there on your own.

Food/drinks budget

Finally, eating and drinking in Peru won’t break the bank. Sure, the cost of food is the most important, but Peruvian cuisine remains very affordable. Don’t miss Lima, it’s in the Peruvian capital that we had our best meals!

• A dish in a local restaurant: $3-5 per person
• A pint of beer: $1.5-2
• An espresso in Lima: $2
• A dozen eggs: $2.5

5 weeks in Peru, our review

We were warned that Peru is one of the best countries for hiking in South America. And we were not disappointed! Between the Huascarán park and its impressive Cordillera Blanca and the Machu Picchu region, we had a wonderful time. In the end, our Peruvian trip amounted to nearly 280 km of trekking, 10 nights of bivouac, a good dose of sore muscles, and above all, beautiful landscapes filling our minds! Outdoor enthusiasts, we can only advise you to tread the trails of Peru!

So, now you know all about our budget to prepare your trip to Peru! The adventure continues with the discovery of Bolivia! Will you continue with us?

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