How much does backpacking in Peru cost? | All about costs and budget

De South American countries are known for their low prices. Some countries on this continent are even seen as some of them the cheapest countries in the world to travel. However, there are a number of areas or countries that are a bit more expensive to visit. That's how it is Chile very high in this list, but Peru is also quite expensive. We expected ourselves to be backpacking in Peru would be cheaper in terms of cost, so I think it's an added value to give you guys a look at the numbers. This way you can completely determine your budget for backpacking in Peru. This is what backpacking in Peru costs!

Tour in Peru (backpacking)

Peru; the land of the Incas, mysterious discoveries, colonial cities and the traditionally dressed population. Peru is the country of the impressive Andes mountains, deserts and high-altitude lakes. Are you looking for inspiration or information about Peru or are you already backpacking in the country? Then read the articles below packed with information, travel stories and practical tips…

Our daily budget

We have set a daily budget for Peru in advance of €100 per day. This is to give a guideline to our expenses. Of course this is not necessary at all, but because we visited Peru in a long world trip, do you still want a certain guideline for your expenses. This way you know in advance whether you have saved enough for the trip. Spoiler, I can already tell you that we have achieved this budget for backpacking in Peru. It is good to know that this is without airline tickets.

Cost of airline tickets

Of course you have to come to Peru to be able to spend soles here. Of course you can visit the country by bus or plane from many different countries, but in this example we assume a return ticket from Amsterdam to the capital Lima (Location here).

Unfortunately, the prices for a return ticket have risen enormously since the pandemic, so you have to count on about € 1.000 to € 1.500 per person. Of course there will also be outliers downwards, but then you have to search very long and well these days Skyscanner (read our tips in the blog mentioned below). You can also look at others airports in Germany or Belgium. Depending on the date and day, this can also differ somewhat in price.

Also read: Skyscanner | How to save (a lot of) money on flights | 2023 UPDATE

Cost of accommodations

Personally I liked the accommodations great deal in price. Good to know is that I traveled with my boyfriend and therefore always booked a private room and not a bed in a dormitory. Incidentally, that is also a tip, booking a private room with two people was often the same price as two beds in a dormitory. So if you travel alone, but do hang out with others, you can consider that in between for a little more privacy or (sometimes) a quieter night. Watching your budget when backpacking in Peru for accommodations is therefore very doable.

We usually stayed in a hostel and sometimes in an AirBnb. We let this depend on the comfort we were looking for and sometimes we let the price alone decide. After a multi-day tour, for example, we wanted a little more comfort and privacy and then took a more luxurious room. On average we spent €21 per night on our accommodations. This is the average of all booked accommodations without a tour.

Cost of food & drink

The food and drink in Peru was actually quite cheap. It was definitely more expensive than that Colombia, where we were before, for example, but the prices in Peru are good. To pay extra attention to the budget here and there, we chose to cook ourselves often. You can keep your budget really low with that. We could regularly cook for four people for only €4.. A tip I would like to give you for this is, mainly buy your vegetables, fruit and, for example, pasta from the local vendors on the street. If you get a little more, you can even negotiate and get a really good price for it.

Cost of transportation

I also personally found the transport in Peru to be better than expected. They were mainly high-quality buses and I made a lot of kilometers in them. I have listed the prices I paid for certain rides in the summer of 2022 below, so that you have an idea of ​​what it costs while backpacking in Peru:

There are many different bus companies and it can certainly be much cheaper than the bus rides I have written out above. It is good to know that the quality of the buses can also vary enormously. We preferred to opt for a slightly more comfortable bus than for those few euros difference. With a small budget, the night bus is therefore ideal for backpacking through Peru, because it saves you the costs of an overnight stay.

Cost of activities and tours

Finally, we have arrived at the costs for the activities, because there you have my setback! So despite the fact that it is actually a cheap country to travel in, the activities are expensive and that is detrimental to your budget. Of course you come backpacking in Peru to see and do a lot here, so you certainly spend it, but make no mistake about this. Specifically, the organized tours really at the price, so if there are activities that you can undertake yourself, that can already save a lot of money.

Below I have listed a number of activities with the price we paid in summer 2022. Good to know that the prices are per person. The links in the list below point to the corresponding blogs I've written.

• Organized tour to Laguna Paron in Huaraz €12,50
• Organized tour to Laguna 69 in Huaraz €12,50
• Self to Laguna Churup in Huaraz €5,-
• Organized tour to Huayhuash isn't following anyone. Autodesk_new (eight days) in Huaraz €360,-
• Self to Paracas National Reserve with rented scooter at Paracas €30,-
• Organized boat tour to Ballestas Islands at Paracas €10,-
• Organized activity buggy driving and sandboarding in Huacachina € 15, -
• Self to Santa Catalina monastery in Arequipa €10,-
• Enter yourself Colca Canyon (three days) from Arequipa €20,-
• Self to Rainbow Mountain near Cusco €25,-
• Self to Chinchero, Salineras de Maras and Moray near Cusco €30,-
• Organized tour to Machu Picchu via Salkantay trek (five days) at Cusco €350,-

Total budget

On average, backpacking in Peru cost us 92 euros per day. So this means €46 per person per day. We have stayed below our daily budget of 100 euros. Keep in mind that the expenses are calculated on a couple. Some things can be cheaper on your own, such as a bed in a dormitory, but some things, such as cooking yourself, are often a bit more expensive for one person than for two people on average.

Tour in Peru (backpacking)

Peru; the land of the Incas, mysterious discoveries, colonial cities and the traditionally dressed population. Peru is the country of the impressive Andes mountains, deserts and high-altitude lakes. Are you looking for inspiration or information about Peru or are you already backpacking in the country? Then read the articles below packed with information, travel stories and practical tips…