It’s that point of the month once more! The time of month once I spherical up my month-to-month journey bills and share with you simply how a lot it REALLY prices to journey in varied locations all over the world.
This month I’m in Peru… and it’s positively been one eventful month.
In the course of the first 31 days of the yr I…
Alongside the best way I’ve been conserving observe of each cent I spent… so in the event you’re curious to study simply how a lot it prices to journey via Peru for one month’s time, this write up ought to be of some curiosity to you.
Meals & Drinks: 493.75 Soles ($178.26 USD)
My largest expense this month was meals – not lodging. About one-third of my foods and drinks bills this month went towards shopping for bottled water… one other third went towards consuming out (I in all probability ate out at eating places about 15 totally different instances)… and the remaining third went towards meals and drinks that I bought on the grocery store or smaller shops for consumption as both my breakfast, lunch or dinner.
One a aspect observe, I’m having a very tough time with the meals right here in Peru. As a vegetarian, there isn’t a complete lot to eat in Peru and the meals that I’ve eaten at eating places have been removed from stellar for essentially the most half.
There was one new meals that I found this month that I actually, actually like. It’s referred to as an Api Moreno (the drink pictured above); it’s produced from corn, rice and I’m undecided what else; and it sells for about 1 Sole in a number of small eating places in Puno, Peru (and hopefully different cities in Peru as effectively). It’s a heat drink with a candy style and a thick filling texture. For a further Sole you will get an empanada to associate with your drink (additionally proven above). In case you’re ever in Peru, you need to actually give this drink a attempt.
Lodging: 250 Soles ($90.26 USD)
My lodging bills have been notably low this month due to the free condo I used to be capable of safe in Arequipa – Peru’s second largest metropolis. That deal, and the truth that I spent two nights sleeping in my tent, helped to maintain my lodging prices down. I solely needed to pay for 10 nights in a hostel this month (25 Soles every evening)… and that’s why this month’s lodging bills are lower than $100 US {Dollars}.
Items: 245 Soles ($88.45 USD)
One in every of this month’s largest bills have been the presents and souvenirs that I purchased for myself and my household again residence. I purchased a big Peruvian rug (proven above), some small purses for my sister and mother, a big white llama hair hat, and another small Peruvian trinkets. Individually, this stuff have been fairly cheap, however I wished to purchase lots of stuff as a result of I knew that I’d be transport all of it again residence… and the extra stuff I might match within the field – the higher!
Postage: 119.40 Soles ($43.11 USD)
Talking of transport, the associated fee to mail residence my Peruvian souvenirs set me again almost $50 bucks. Worst of all, the method of mailing my issues residence was fairly an expertise… and although it’s been greater than three weeks since I despatched my presents again to america, they’ve but to reach there. My fingers are crossed that my package deal truly makes it.
Bus Rides: 52 Soles ($18.77 USD)
Touring by bus is straightforward in Peru. There are a ton of various bus corporations and so they go to quite a few totally different places. This month I took three totally different buses (2 to get to Colca Canyon and again… and 1 to get from Arequipa to Puno, Peru). The bus rides have been lengthy, however the surroundings alongside the best way was spectacular and the worth was actually not a bank-buster.
Taxi Rides: 41.5 Soles ($14.98 USD)
I hate touring in taxis, however right here in Peru the taxi cab is likely one of the primary methods of getting from level A to level B. My longest taxi journey this month was the journey from downtown Arequipa to a small farming village close to the bottom of the El Misti Volcano. That one journey set me again an unbelievable 30 Soles (greater than $10 USD), however the different few taxi rides I took this month have been a lot cheaper.
Santa Catalina Convent Entrance Payment: 35 Soles ($12.64 USD)
Along with the free issues I did this month (like climbing Arequipa’s close by volcano), I additionally went to some locations the place I needed to pay a small entrance payment. The costliest of those locations was Arequipa’s Santa Catalina Convent. Whereas the worth was excessive, the place was spectacular and completely definitely worth the cash.
Colca Canyon Entrance Payment: 35 Soles ($12.64 USD)
Whereas touring to Colca Canyon was primarily free, my journey companions and I have been hit up or a 35 Sole payment as soon as we arrived on the Condor look-out level, which is situated someplace close to the center of Colca Canyon. We tried to dodge the payment for some time, however finally the ticket takers there tracked us down and we have been compelled to cough up the dough so we might see Peru’s largest flying chook.
Clothes: 24.50 Soles ($8.85 USD)
I additionally spoiled myself a bit this month and spent a pair bucks shopping for a couple of llama and alpaca hair clothes articles. I purchased part of rainbow coloured socks (proven above), a set of fingerless gloves, and a reversible beanie.
Combi Rides: 12 Soles ($4.33 USD)
In case you don’t know, a “combi” is a small passenger van that’s used to move individuals in Peru each brief and lengthy distances. They’re often very low-cost and really, very crowded.
This month I turned an professional on touring in a combi. I took a number of combi rides to get to the Gateway of the Gods, and I took a number of extra on the best way again. At one level, our small van (which is supposed to carry not more than 11 individuals) had 21 totally different individuals and all of their belongings contained in the van. It was sizzling, smelly, and one hell of an expertise. I’m positive I’ll have much more combi rides to come back in future months.
Bathroom Paper: 6.5 Soles ($2.35 USD)
In Peru it is very important all the time have a bit bit of bathroom paper on you. Most restrooms don’t provide bathroom paper of any variety, so if it’s essential use the lavatory, it’s essential have your personal paper. And this month I spent a pair bucks shopping for a big provide of bathroom paper. What a enjoyable expense, proper?
Gateway To The Gods Entrance Payment: 5 Soles ($1.81 USD)
One in every of my main highlights this month was touring to the Gateway to the Gods (aka “la Puerta de Hayu Marka”). The Gateway to the Gods is a big door-like construction that has been carved into some huge rocks in Southern Peru. I had discovered about this place a number of months earlier than arriving in Peru and it was one of many few locations in Peru I completely knew I wished to go to. The journey there was an thrilling one, the placement was unbelievable, however I used to be compelled to pay a small 5 Sole entrance payment upon arrival.
Bicycle Taxi Experience: 5 Soles ($1.81 USD)
Tricycle taxi cabs are extraordinarily well-liked in Puno, Peru. Tricycles are used to move individuals from one aspect of the town to a different, to haul items throughout city, and as a spot on which to cook dinner and put together native avenue meals.
I wished to see what it was prefer to journey one in every of these spectacular tricycle taxis, so I paid a taxi proprietor 5 Soles to let me journey the trike myself whereas he sat within the passenger seat. It was a enjoyable expertise and definitely definitely worth the small value paid.
Digicam Strap: 2 Soles ($0.72 USD)
One other small expense this month was the digicam strap I purchased for my costly Canon T2i Digital SLR digicam. I met a pair from Belgium whereas I used to be touring in Colca Canyon this month and so they instructed me about how their costly SLR digicam had been ripped out of their palms by somebody driving previous on a bike and the way they’d been unable to get their digicam again. Their story made me notice that the identical factor might very simply joyful to me if I didn’t take some security precautions, so I spent 2 Soles to buy a small digicam strap that I can connect to my wrist at any time when the digicam is in use. That method, if somebody tries to tear the digicam from my palms, the strap will make sure that the digicam goes nowhere – and that it stays in my possession.
Web: 0.50 Soles ($0.18 USD)
Lastly, I paid a small payment this month for Web. After spending three days mountain climbing up the 19,101 foot volcano simply exterior of Arequipa, Peru, I wished to electronic mail my dad and mom and allow them to know that I had made it down the mountain safely. So after descending down the spectacular volcano I crawled inside an Arequipa Web store and fired off a fast electronic mail to my dad and mom, up to date my Fb account, and paid lower than 1 / 4 greenback for my time on the pc.
TOTAL EXPENSES: 1,331.65 Soles ($480.77 USD)
In the long run, the primary month of the yr price me solely $480.77 US {Dollars}. I traveled to a number of Peruvian cities, noticed some unbelievable websites, met some extraordinary individuals, and had some adventures I’ll certainly bear in mind for a really very long time. And the truth that I did all of it for lower than $500 USD makes all of it that rather more spectacular.
I’ll do one other wrap up like this subsequent month (I’ll nonetheless be in Peru), however within the meantime, let me know when you have any questions. Be happy to ask me about the price of journey right here in Peru, what it’s like to remain in a Peruvian hostel, the way to catch a journey on a combi, or anything you want to know. Depart a remark beneath, ask a query, or simply say hiya.
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