How to plan a Trip to Peru on a budget
Are you planning on traveling to Peru on a budget?
This South American nation is an all-time favorite for travelers heading around the continent. Here we can see epic ancient ruins, go hiking in the Andes as well as spot many exotic animals within the jungle.
How to plan a Trip to Peru on a budget
In this guide we will take a look at how you can travel around Peru on a budget.
This includes how to find cheap hostels, as well as affordable meals and transport methods. We’ll also mention other important things to know before traveling here.
Is Peru worth visiting?
Peru is one of the most diverse countries you can visit in this continent. Here we can find all kinds of landscapes ranging from deserts and jungle, to high-altitude mountains and the wild coast. Your main task will be trying to fit all of this in!
We’ll also find a proud culture here. This can best be explored in markets (such as those around Cusco) and also in the food (some of the best dishes here we recommend trying includes Papa a la Huancaína, Lomo Saltado and of course Ceviche).
How many days in Peru do you need?
Overall we have found that 3-4 weeks is the perfect amount of time to travel around Peru. With this time we can get to know the cities of Lima, Arequipa and Cusco, as well as other worthwhile towns like Huacachina, Nazca and Huaraz.
It’s also enough time to head on a few multi-day trips (which you’ll definitely want to do here which include mountain hikes, as well as visiting the Amazon Jungle on a multi-day tour from Iquitos).
Of course if you plan on just visiting one or two regions, then you could do this in around a week. It all depends on your particular timeframe, although we would recommend adding more time rather than less here.
Things to know before traveling to Peru
I (George) have spent numerous years both traveling and living around Peru. I’ve seen it all, so below I’ll share my best tips for you to have the best experience possible.
George’s pro tips for visiting Peru on a budget:
- Keep an Open Mind – Yes of course Cusco and Huacachina will be on your itinerary, but also try to discover more places when here. Some are still not well-known, but offer some pretty epic experiences (in my case this was Chachapoyas).
- Pack a Range of Clothes – Regardless of when you’ll visit in the year, you’re going to find all kinds of climates in Peru. You’ll need warm clothing (and a coat) for the Andes, long trousers and a poncho for the Amazon, as well as light clothing for the Pacific beaches.
- Combine Buses and Domestic Flights – Whilst buses remain the cheapest way to get around, you’ll also find local flight operators (like Sky) to be super cheap too. This is definitely a more convenient way of cutting down on some of the longer bus rides – which can be as long as 24 hours in some cases!
As a first timer in Peru, I (Dan) had to learn how to navigate from scratch. When landing in Lima from Medellin, the first thing that I had to get my head around was the currency.
Language and Currency
Let’s now look at some of the other important elements of backpacking Peru on a budget that most travelers will need to consider during their trip.
Language
The dominant language spoken throughout Peru is Spanish, and especially so along the coast.
You don’t need to be completely fluent, however picking up even a few phrases before heading out here can really improve your overall experience. Not only can you navigate better, however locals will also be warmer towards you too.
Dan recommends this phrase book as a way to pick up some Spanish before you go.
Knowing Spanish is enough to travel all corners of Peru, including the really remote areas and towns. However it’s important to know there are as many as 80 indigenous languages spoken throughout the country.
In the Andes mountains, Quechua and Aymara are also spoken which remained despite the Spanish invasion. We’ll also find that in the Amazon Jungle there are dozens of local tribe languages used! However the majority will still know Spanish even if it’s not their preferred language on a day-day basis.
Currency
In Peru they use the Sol, which at this time of writing (2024) means that $1 USD = 3.5 Soles It’s a good idea to withdraw Soles before you arrive, as the airport ATMs are not that great.
If arriving from either Bolivia or Ecuador, then you can also exchange currencies at a decent rate. Of course in big cities like Lima and Cusco you can get by using Dollars for big purchases.
However for most other things (like transport and buying from local stores) you’ll need local Soles. You can check currency sites such as XE who provide up-to-date and accurate exchange rates.
Getting Around Peru
There’s 3 main ways of getting into Peru. The first is flying into Lima, followed by using buses to cross from Ecuador or Bolivia. Thirdly we also have the boat from Brazil, although this is the least common option (given it’s in the middle of the Amazon Jungle).
Once in Peru, you’ll find that buses are the cheapest and most efficient way of getting around. Prices are quite affordable, and you’ll find plenty of bus providers who serve different routes. You can also find ones that are more luxurious than others, which offer 160° reclining seats.
You can also use domestic flights, which can be found at a good price in Peru. The most popular ones are from Lima to Iquitos as well as Lima to Cusco, given travel times on land would take over 20 hours. You’ll also find some to be similar to the bus costs, which is a better choice given you’ll save on travel times.
Costs and Budgeting
One of the most important factors to plan before heading off is your budget. Generally in Peru things are pretty cheap, although it’s important to set a budget given there’s lots of tours and transport that you’ll most likely use.
Let’s take a look at how much things tend to be, as well as how to plan a both reasonable and realistic budget. The costs we listed here are correct as of 2024.
Peru Travel Costs
Let’s take a look at the typical costs that you’ll be spending on a day to day basis in Peru.
Remember these can and will vary depending on where you are!
For example in the upscale areas of Lima (such as Miraflores or San Isidro) you’ll often pay much more compared with a remote town in the Andean Mountains (such as Pisac).
- Average Dorm Bed = $5-11
- Private Single Room in a Hostel = $12-24
- A Street Food Dish = $3-4
- A Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant = $5-9
- Beer at a Local Bar or Dive = $2-4
- Beer at a Touristy Bar = $3-5
Peru Travel Budget
Setting your daily budget is really important before your trip. This will help you to travel longer, and also avoid any nasty surprises when checking your bank account.
In Peru, the average backpacker will be spending roughly £20-25 a day. This includes staying in a nice hostel, eating local meals (look out for the Menú del día which can be found in most places) as well as getting around the cities using public transportation.
It’s important to remember that you will have extra costs that you will need to plan in advance for. This includes your flights to and from Peru, tours as well as long-distance buses between destinations.
Peru Trip Planning
Planning well before your trip to Peru is vital. Below we’ll go through some of the main things you’ll want to prepare well for before heading to Peru.
What to Pack for Peru?
As already mentioned, there’s a good chance you’ll be visiting a range of different climates throughout your trip to Peru. This means you’ll want to pack a range of different clothes. You can refer to our Peru packing list if you want the full checklist.
The coastal areas can vary depending on when you visit (such as Lima, Trujillo etc). In the dry season it’s cooler, so a pair of jeans and a jumper will be needed in the evening.
During the wet season it can get pretty hot during the day, so be sure to bring light clothes with you. The Amazon Jungle is hot year-round, so be sure to wear loose and breathable clothing.
You’ll also need solid hiking boots (guys see here, and ladies see here) for when heading out tours, as well as long trousers for those deeper jungle hikes. Rain is heavy throughout the year here, so be sure to carry a durable poncho with you too.
Lastly we have the Andean mountains, which are popular for those heading to places like Cusco and Huaraz. Temperatures are pretty cold throughout the year, so be sure to bring a thick jumper and coast. You’ll also want gloves and a hat for when heading on the higher-altitude day trips and treks. Make sure to wear sunscreen too, given the sun here is intense and can burn quickly!
Injections
Below is a basic list of the most common injections that travelers heading to Peru can get. As always, please see your doctor as we are not medically trained or qualified to give advice.
They’ll tell you exactly what you need for each specific country.
- Hepatitis A
- Tetanus
- Rabies
- Typhoid
- Yellow Fever
Got travel insurance for Peru?
How to plan a trip to Peru on a budget
And that’s all for our guide on how to travel Peru on a budget.
One of the most popular countries to go backpacking around in South America, Peru also remains one of the cheapest. It’s more than possible to stick to a daily budget of $25, which includes staying in nice hostels, eating three filling meals as well as using local transport to get around.
If you’re currently planning your trip, be sure to read our Peru Backpacking Itinerary for more ideas on what to do when traveling around this epic Andean nation.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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