5 Ways to Stay on Budget in South America
1. Compare tours after you arrive as an alternative of booking months prematurely
2. Bring money, especially US dollars for Bolivia
3. Use a bank card with no FX fee if cards are accepted
4. Take night buses to avoid wasting on transportation and accommodation
5. Read tour reviews before selecting the most affordable option
Preparing for a visit to South America
When traveling through North America, it’s generally a great idea to book as much as possible prematurely – for instance, concert tickets or a table at a preferred restaurant. But in parts of South America, the informal culture means it’s often best to be there and talk things through before parting along with your money.
There is one exception to this rule: travel arrangements and sometimes accommodation. Airfares can develop into dearer as you catch up with to the flight date, so it’s a great idea to secure them prematurely.
You’ll also need to bring loads of money. In South America, and particularly in Bolivia, it’s a great idea to bring US dollars as Bolivia’s “official” exchange rate will get you around 30% cheaper than for those who trade in money.
How much does a visit to South America cost?
Budget traveler: CAD 40-70/day
Comfortable Traveler: 80-150 CAD/day
High-end travelers: CAD 200+/day
Peru: Lima and Cusco
The Peruvian capital Lima is a great place to begin for a visit to South America as flights could be extremely reasonably priced. I traveled from Toronto Pearson with a stopover within the Dominican Republic for about $250 CAD.
The city is split into different districts, each with its own flavor. The central areas around Cercado de Lima are bustling with activity. Other districts near the coast are extremely protected, photogenic and funky – particularly Miraflores and Barranco. If, like me, you’ve got lived near a lake for thus long that you have almost forgotten what the shore looks like, swimming or browsing on the shore and letting the waves rock you is an excellent change.
In Lima you’ve access to world-class food at a fraction of the price in Canada. A private favorite was Casa Tambo, where you’ll be able to get a high quality collection of Peruvian dishes at reasonable prices. If you stay in a hostel, it is also very reasonably priced – I stayed in a non-public room for just $22 per night.
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Then there’s Cusco (also spelled Cuzco), which is a gateway to tourist hotspots like Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Peruvian parts of the Amazon rainforest like Manu. The city sits at an elevation of three,399 meters (11,152 feet) above sea level and it might probably be difficult to navigate if you first arrive – especially for those who’re traveling by plane. During my first days in Cusco, I felt like a weight was pressing on my head, and it took days for it to progressively subside. Staying within the more touristy Cusco cost me about twice as much, $42 an evening, even though it is mostly considered cheaper than Lima.
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While bank cards are accepted in lots of hotels and restaurants in major tourist areas, money continues to be essential for smaller restaurants, markets and native transport. If you do not use money, it’s a great idea to make use of a bank card with no foreign transaction fees to avoid the standard 2.5% exchange rate fee that many Canadian cards charge. It can also be not unusual for outlets and restaurants in Peru to charge a markup of around 5-6%. So if doubtful, bring more money with you.
Why it isn’t a great idea to book all the things prematurely
I learned a tough lesson in Cusco: Don’t book an excessive amount of prematurely in Peru.
Before I left Toronto, I paid a $250 deposit for a visit to the rainforest. It was a part of a three-day trip that cost over $1,000. When I arrived I spotted how much you’ll be able to actually get to your money in Peru. I went to a small tourism agency that was offering a really similar trip for a complete of $250 – and realized I had been scammed.
Unfortunately, I didn’t visit the rainforest in any respect because the experience left a sour aftertaste.
I selected to not book Machu Picchu prematurely, which was a great decision as I ended up booking a visit for 1 / 4 of the worth advertised online – just $110 money. This included a bumpy four-hour bus ride there and back, several meals, a hotel stay, a ticket to the Machu Picchu site, and a wizened tour guide who knew the positioning just like the back of his hand. Some you win, some you lose.
Machu Picchu
A visit to Machu Picchu is value all of the hype. The first a part of my tour consisted of a walk along a railway line with monolithic mountains on the horizon. Every from time to time a train rolled by and also you needed to go to the side of the trail.
After an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, a captivating town on the foot of the mountain, you’ll be able to walk as much as Machu Picchu via a staircase carved into the mountain. The Lost City gives you a real picture of human ingenuity – the buildings are earthquake-proof and have aqueducts and structures that tell the time of day.
