Travel Guide for Visiting Peru on a Budget

Home to Machu Picchu, beautiful coast, arid desert and yes, even rainforests, Peru ends up on travellers’ itineraries for various reasons. Many people assume that it is one of the world’s cheaper countries to travel to, but is that the case? Lima, Peru’s capital, has been consistently listed as one of the most expensive places to live on the continent. This post will explain how budget-friendly Peru is, and we will offer up some money-saving tips in the process.

Getting there

Peru is serviced by several airlines, but the biggest factor in your ticket price will be where you are departing from. In many cases, taking a flight from another South American country can be much more expensive than a flight from, say, the southern United States. However, an intra-South America flight may cover a shorter distance.

Arranging a departure from Houston, TX or Miami, FL may increase your options for an affordable flight. If you are a US citizen, see if you can get a cheap domestic flight to one of those cities and then a cheap flight from there to Lima, Peru. For more on this, see our guide to creating a multi-flight itinerary.

If you are not a US citizen, go ahead and look at our guide to finding cheap international flights. However, it’s worth taking note that certain airlines service Peru more often than others, and they may be able to provide cheaper tickets. For example, TACA and LAN have a high number of flights to Peru.

Accommodation

I found accommodation in Peru to be very affordable for the most part. I mostly stayed in hostels or tiny guest houses, and I also did a bit of Couchsurfing. 

I typically paid around $10 a night or less, and this often included basic accommodation (sometimes a private room, usually less for a dorm bed) and a shared bathroom. If you go up to $15, you can find private rooms with a private bathroom as well.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate prices in Peru when it comes to accommodation. While this may be more difficult in tourist areas like Cusco, which is the jump-off point for trips to Machu Picchu, you may find that in smaller, less touristed cities and towns, you have a lot more room to talk down the price, especially if it is clear that there are available rooms. 

Transportation

Transportation within Peru is generally very affordable. Within cities, there are options for taxis and privately run minibuses, which are the cheapest option. However, remember that you need to negotiate the price of your cab. For some advice on this, learn how to bargain.

For intercity travel, buses are the most affordable, and often they are relatively comfortable and efficient. In addition, you can take overnight buses between many towns. These buses are typically well maintained and offer air-conditioning as well as (generally Spanish) films.

Finally, you can also find affordable flights between the cities of Lima and Cusco. Because the overland route takes several days, many travellers prefer this option. In addition, the high number of flights helps lower the prices, and this may be the most affordable and convenient way to get to Cusco from Peru’s capital on the coast.

Dining

If you know where to eat in Peru, this will be one of the cheaper items in your budget. If you make the mistake of eating at tourist or expat-focused restaurants, however, you will be paying through the nose.

The best approach to saving money on food in Peru and eating delicious meals at the same time is to eat locally. Most local restaurants have set menus for lunch, which often have a small starter, a main course and a drink. This menu can often be had for $1-3, which is an incredible value! Ask locals how eateries are best or follow the crowd (of locals, not tourists). The busiest spots are usually the most affordable and the most delicious.

If you are on the lookout for a snack or a lighter meal, try one of the many street vendors found throughout Peruvian cities and towns. Everything from barbecued meat to fresh fruit is on offer, and again, the more popular the stand, the better the food is.

While dinner is generally more expensive than lunch, you can still find reasonable deals if you stick to local establishments. You can also try cooking for yourself now and then. For more tips regarding eating on the cheap, see our article on saving money on food while travelling.

Activities and Entertainment

From the famed Machu Picchu to the Amazon rainforest to the incredible Colca Canyon, Peru is loaded with attractions. Often these attractions require a tour or, at the very minimum, the hiring of a guide. This can add up quickly, but if you are careful, you can find some great deals.

If you are visiting a place like Machu Picchu, it’s essential to pick the right time of the year to do so. This is why it’s always necessary to have as much flexibility as possible as a traveller, especially if saving money is your goal. Try visiting in May, which is after the rains, but before large crowds start showing up. You will likely have great weather, and you may find that you can get decent discounts.

Also, consider taking an alternative trek to get to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is always the most in-demand, but other treks, like Salkantay, are beautiful, and you won’t have to fight over the real estate with other people on the trail. As a bonus, these treks are typically priced cheaper.

Finally, whether it’s Machu Picchu or any other attraction requiring a guide or tour company, take your time when selecting an operator. Compare prices as well as company reputations and give yourself some time to decide. Hasty decisions usually result in poor choices in the financial as well as experiential sense.

Peru has plenty to offer when it comes to other more conventional forms of entertainment, almost always affordable. High profile bars and clubs in areas like Lima will undoubtedly be expensive, but you can always find cheaper, more local bars. In addition, there are great beaches to visit up and down the coast, and small towns like Huacachina, a desert oasis near Ica, offer excellent budget accommodation and activities like sandboarding.

Peru is a remarkable country to visit, and thankfully, it can be travelled in a very affordable manner.