Budget Travel in Peru

Until 10 or 15 years ago, Peru was an absolute insider tip and travelling on a low budget even to the most famous tourist destinations the country has to offer, was easy and doable without a problem. With the increasing popularity of Peru over the past years however came a better infrastructure, more professionalism, wider choices and more people wanting to have a piece of the lucrative tourism cake.

• Peru’s typical travel destinations come at a price
• Low-budget-friendlier alternatives to Peru’s main attractions
• Best travel time for visiting Peru on a budget
• Best ways of getting around when traveling on a budget in Peru
• Best accommodation options for budget travelers in Peru
• Best options for food and drinks when traveling on a budget
• Daily costs for budget Peru travels
• Safety & money matters for budget travelers in Peru
• Other useful tips for low-budget travelers

Peru’s typical travel destinations come at a price

Prices especially along the classic travel route, the so-called Gringo Trail in the southern and south-eastern part of Peru increased significantly over the past years. Most visitors travel at one point or the other along this route to see the country’s most popular attractions, such as:

• Lima: Peru’s capital, gastronomic capital of the world with many excellent restaurants and bars and a melting pot of cultures and traditions
• Paracas: Islas Ballestas and the Paracas National Reserve
• Ica: sandboarding at the amazing dunes
• Nazca: the mysterious Nazca Lines best seen from the air
• Arequipa: beautiful colonial city and starting point for hiking and climbing in the Colca Canyon
• Puno: located at the Titicaca Lake with the Floating Islands of the indigenous Uros
• Cusco: lovely colonial city in the Andes mountains and gateway to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, but also to Manu National Park or Puerto Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon region.

And even though these are the most popular, developed and accessible travel destinations in Peru, elevated prices make the good old backpacking and traveling on a shoestring more difficult. So, if traveling here do your research, compare prices and don’t walk into the typical rip-off traps.

Low-budget-friendlier alternatives to Peru’s principal attractions

While the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu is on the bucket list of nearly every Peru visitor, there are more cost-effective, but surely no less impressive alternatives. Instead of trekking the Inca Trail, that is often booked for months in advance and getting more expensive every season, you might hike the Salkantay Trek or the Lares Trek, both still off the beaten tourist tracks leading to Machu Picchu and both offering impressive, authentic experiences and adventures, spectacular landscapes and breathtaking views. Nevertheless, the costs for Machu Picchu remain.

If you are happy with skipping the famous Inka citadel’s altogether, Machu Picchu’s “sister city” Choquequirao that is similar in structure and architecture, but undeveloped and without hordes of tourists, is a great option to still wander on the Inka’s paths. There are no busses or trains up there, so to get there a truly amazing and spectacular 2 to 5 days hiking adventure awaits visitors.

On the other hand, Peru is a diverse country with much more attractions than the ones on the beaten track. So why not (partly) skip the touristy south, plan a different Peru trip and head to the country’s northern / north-eastern, probably less polished jewels? Just to give you some ideas:

• Huaraz and the surrounding Cordillera Blanca, for example, cater for hikers and climbers of all levels and on top offer amazing landscapes, nature and breathtaking views
• Trujillo has a lovely colonial city center, is famous for the Marinera dance, delicious food and is located just a few kilometers from Chan Chan, the largest pre-Colombian metropolis on the American continent and the largest city in the world built of mud bricks
• The area around Mancora, Punta Sal and Organos is a surfers and fishing paradise
• Visiting Kuelap, the famous fortified city high in the Andes mountains built over 2500 years ago by the Chachapoyas civilization (from January 2017 easily reachable by a new cable car), and the Sarcophagi de Karajia, where they buried their dead nobles, is an unforgettable adventure
• And don’t miss Gocta, one of the world’s highest waterfalls
• Or the less known Pyramids of Tucume, built nearly 3000 years ago by the Lambayeque culture.
• Or even Cajamarca and the nearby San Nicolas Lagoon where you can paddle on reed boats, or the Ventanillas de Otuzco, crypts carved into volcanic rocks by the ancient inhabitants.

Please be aware that travelling off the beaten track on a shoestring in Peru and visiting some of above mentioned sights mean getting back to the roots of backpacking, including getting around with local busses or walking longer distances, sleeping in simple local accommodations and eating locally. This not only goes easy on your budget, but makes your trip a true adventure allowing you to get to know Peru, its beautiful people, landscapes, history and culture.

Best travel time for visiting Peru on a budget

It goes without saying that traveling during high season is a bad decision when you have to look after your budget. Due to the country’s three geographic regions – Pacific coast, Andean mountains and Amazonian jungle – and related diverse weather conditions defining a high season for Peru and a perfect travel time is quite a challenge.

While in Cusco and the Sacred Valley for example you have excellent travel conditions and high season in the northern hemisphere summer months June to September, this is low season in Lima and the coastal area and the worst months to visit as there is winter with grey skies, high humidity and cool fog.

So in general, low-budget travelers should avoid visiting Peru from mid-December to the end of January; in December the country’s two months summer vacation starts and locals travel for the holidays or family Christmas and New Year's gettogethers. Prices for flights, busses and accommodation double or triple. Best avoid the Easter week as well as this is considered as last summer week in the coastal regions, where everyone tries to catch the last sun rays.

Don’t visit Peru from June to September when the conditions at Peru’s major tourist destinations are perfect. Additionally, in June Inti Raymi, a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire, is celebrated in Cuzco and the town is packed. In July winter vacation start and Peru celebrates its national holiday. Then the whole country is on the road visiting family or going on vacation. So not the right time for low-budget travelers as prices for transportation and accommodation skyrocket.

From a low-budget traveler's perspective, the best time to visit Peru is from after Easter to mid of May and from October to November. During these times hotels and hostels have lots of free beds and often offer discounts, busses and planes usually aren’t full and ticket prices are lower.

Best ways of getting around when traveling on a budget in Peru

Peru unfortunately doesn’t have a developed railway system for the passenger transport. So, except the train to Machu Picchu, the spectacular, but expensive train journey from Puno to Cusco and the picturesque train ride from Lima to the highest railway station in the Americas and further on to Huancayo, the only options of getting around Peru are by long distance or local busses and by plane.

In Peru distances between sights are far making flying an easy, fast and safe option, but the expenses for tickets add up quickly straining your budget.

This actually only leaves the option of traveling like the locals do: long distance busses for destinations farther away and local buses for shorter trips. But be aware that the journey on a bus in Peru can be long and tiring.

Where possible use the top-range companies which you can easily afford despite being on a budget. The buses on the top-end are technically safe, the drivers are more likely to drive responsible and the seats are comfortable enough to get a few hours' sleep.

While overnight trips save you accommodation expenses and otherwise wasted daylight hours, safety can be an issue. It's not uncommon in Peru that on certain routes overnight buses are held up and robbed. So sometimes traveling by day might be the wiser decision.

To go easy on your budget plan your trip and tours on your own. In most cases there is no need for expensive tour companies or tour operators. A lot of historic sites and natural attractions in Peru can easily be visited without them. If you use local, cheap minibuses that connect even the smallest villages and hire a guide on the spot, you can save quite a bit of money and as an extra bonus really get to know Peru and its lovely people.

Taxis in the bigger cities are really cheap and affordable for low-budget travelers as well, but costs for the rides add up quickly. So, travelers thinking twice before spending their money can get around cities in so called micros or combis as the locals do. In Lima there is additionally the Metropolitano bus and the Tren Electrico, the city’s metro that is available on certain routes, but much more organized and efficient than the normal public transportation.

Best accommodation options for budget travelers in Peru

Peru doesn't have a camping culture or a network of campgrounds around the country. Out of necessity you find a few camping sites along mountain trails such as the Inka trail or Santa Cruz trail. Apart from that a hostel or hotel here and there might offer camping as an option with or without the amenities you expect from a campsite. While at some of Peru's beaches or in rural areas there are lovely spots perfect for wild camping, safety can be an issue. Don't put yourself in danger and make an easy target for thieves.

Hostels and low-budget hotels however are plenty in Peru. Be aware that hostels mainly cater for international backpackers and therefore might not always be the cheapest option. Especially when traveling with a partner or friends, a double, triple or quadruple room in one of the numerous affordable hotels or guesthouses including more or less nice amenities and sometimes breakfast might work out the same as the necessary number of beds in a dorm. And when showing up at a hotel or hostel without a reservation ask for a discounted price for the night. You might get lucky and can save another few bugs.

Another way of keeping your accommodation costs down is using one of the few recommended homestay networks or hospitality exchange networks that have found their way to Peru as well.

And one last tip: once in a while you can find very attractive hotel offers with enormous discounts on the Peruvian Groupon website.

Best options for food and drinks when traveling on a budget

Staying nourished and hydrated during a travel on a shoestring is often quite a burden on the budget. You can save costs in many areas, but surely not where your health is concerned. So please, don’t drink tap water (buy bottled water or filter your water) and don’t eat at dirty and unhygienic places.

While you can waste easily a whole days budget just for a lunch at one fancy restaurant, there are as well countless places everywhere in Peru that offer delicious meals throughout the day for only a few Dollars.

If breakfast is included in the accommodation price, get out of bed in time and have it. Otherwise the next bakery or shop selling inexpensive buns or other breakfast goodies isn't far away.

At lunchtime, small sit down restaurants and “hole in the wall” places, but also food stalls at the local markets offer inexpensive, great and generous menus which often include an appetizer, a main course, a drink and sometimes even dessert. If you are unsure which one to pick, choose the crowded ones where the locals enjoy their meal. If you just need a snack, check out the local street vendors or the next sangucheria (sandwich shop).

The best and cheapest option in Peru to buy fresh fruits and veggies, but also meat and groceries isn't the supermarket, but the local market. For the ones that can't live without sweets, don't buy the expensive imported ones you get at home as well. Go for the local varieties.

A night out in Peru can as well blow your budget. Not only are alcoholic beverages quite expensive, but it's not uncommon that your new local friends or your latest pick-up "invite" you to a bar just to expect that you as the rich foreigner pay the bill at the end of the evening. So be careful.

Daily costs for budget Peru travels

Putting a price tag on the costs of traveling in Peru on a budget isn’t an easy task. Even among backpackers expenses vary heavily; while the one thinks twice before spending one dime, rather walks 5 km than taking a bus and rarely spends anything on tours, the other is more than happy to blow some cash on a taxi, book an excursion and have a night out.

So for the average low-cost traveler calculating with daily expenses of around US$ 35 to 40 might be a good starting point. This includes basic to moderate accommodation, good local food and drinks, some decently priced sights, tours or excursions.

As soon as you consider hanging around Peru’s top spots, visiting Machu Picchu, cruising on the Amazon or heading off to a jungle lodge, booking expensive tours, flying everywhere or dining in a fancy restaurant, your daily budget will rise significantly. So do your research, compare prices and plan your trip wisely to establish how much money you will need for your Peru trip.

Safety & money matters for budget travelers in Peru

All efforts watching expenditures and saving wherever possible are of course absolutely worthless, if low-budget travelers don’t look after their safety and security. Being robbed or ripped-off or even ending with some faked bills is something that sets back every traveler, but might be the end for the ones traveling on a budget. Therefore, we refer here to our extensive series “Travel Tips and Safety Advice for Peru” where every conceivable aspect regarding safety and security including useful travel tips and money issues are covered.

Some other useful tips for low-budget travelers

Check fees for withdrawing money at an ATM abroad with your local bank before coming to Peru. Otherwise you might have a rude awakening after your trip when receiving the next bank or credit card statement.

Peru hasn't got a tipping culture. Most Peruvians hardly tip. While in high-end establishments a tip is standard like in many countries worldwide, in local often family run restaurants serving lunchtime menus or at budget accommodations a tip isn't expected, but surely highly appreciated. Taxi drivers aren't tipped.

On the other hand bargaining is very common in Peru. So. if you take a taxi, shop for souvenirs, book a hotel in the last minute, don't accept the first price somebody is asking. Ask for discounts, special offers or just give your best and haggle.

And one last tip: Learn Spanish! Even being able to participate in a basic conversation or knowing and understanding some common phrases, not only will make your low-budget travel a lot easier and less expensive, but will open doors and hearts for you.