Backpacking In South America For 14 Days: Cost Breakdown

Contributed by Dan Travels

“Isn’t it expensive to go to South America?” — You’re probably asking this question to yourself now. To simply answer it: Yes, it is. I found it very expensive, but it doesn’t mean you can’t save some more dollars prior to or during your trip. If you plan it in advance, you definitely will save a lot! In this blog, I’ll show you the breakdown of my expenses before and during my trip to South America, particularly in the four countries I’ve visited — Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. You may use this as your guide to gauge your finances or in order for you to complete your travel budget. Because why not? Let’s make it happen!

A person like me who got fascinated with geography and languages at such a young age always dreamed to set foot in every continent on earth. But I’ll be honest — South America is my favourite continent amongst the seven. I’ve always wanted to go to South America ever since I was a kid. I understand it is halfway around the world from where I live, but I guess it’s one of the ‘go-for-it’ factors why I always eyed for it.

If you don’t know my story yet, feel free to read this article where I talked about myself becoming a digital nomad.

So how did I plan it? How did I manage to visit four countries in only 14 days? Yep, only 14 days! Take note that it was my two-week Christmas holiday break. I can consider it the grandest solo backpacking adventure in my entire life (to date)!

For Philippine passport holders, visiting Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador does not require a visa. Yep, these countries are visa-free for us!

Also read: How to Travel the World, According to This Full-Time World Traveller

Before the trip: Timeline with cost breakdown

1. Flights

31 Mar 2018

US$927.80: Booked a round-trip flight ticket from Manila, the Philippines to Sao Paulo, Brazil via Ethiopian Airlines. This was booked during a seat sale by Ethiopian Airlines! This includes the travel tax of US$31 (₱1,620). Tip: Book via the Ethiopian Airlines mobile app to get a 10% discount (I have an extra 10% discount from using it).

19 Apr 2018

US$301.40: Booked flight ticket from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to Lima, Peru with Avianca Airlines via the Trip.com.

31 May 2018

US$94.25: Booked a flight ticket from Lima, Peru to Bogota, Colombia via Viva Airlines.

6 Aug 2018

US$58.84: Booked a flight ticket from Lima, Peru to Cusco, Peru with Peruvian Airlines via Kayak.com.

US$70.33: Booked a flight ticket from Cusco, Peru to Lima, Peru with LC Peru Airlines via Orbitz.com.

25 Oct 2018

US$313.50: Booked a flight ticket from Quito, Ecuador to Sao Paulo, Brazil with GOL Airlines via the Trip.com booking app.

12 Nov 2018

US$314.90: Booked a flight ticket from Bogota, Colombia to Quito, Ecuador with TAME Airlines via the Kayak.com booking app.

15 Nov 2018

US$92.18: Booked a flight ticket from Sao Paolo, Brazil to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil with LATAM Airlines via the Trip.com booking app.

Subtotal: US$2,173.60

2. Final routes in South America

22 Dec 2018 to 5 Jan 2019 (actual travel period)

Manila to Sao Paulo (Layover in Hong Kong and Addis Ababa)
Sao Paolo to Rio De Janeiro
Rio De Janeiro to Lima
Lima to Cusco
Cusco to Lima
Lima to Bogota
Bogota to Quito
Quito to Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo to Manila (Layover in Addis Ababa and Hong Kong)

3. Accommodations

19 Apr 2018

US$18.90: Booked a two-night stay in Cusco, Peru via Booking.com.

Tip: If you intend to go to Machu Picchu and hike at Waynu Picchu, you need to book your ticket in advance. The hike at Waynu Picchu is limited to 200 hikers per day so I recommend you book your ticket at least three to six months prior to your hike). One problem I encountered was my credit/debit card not being accepted by its booking website. So I booked my hostel in Cusco way ahead and then requested the hostel owner to assist me in paying the Machu Picchu ticket. The hostel owner was kind enough to help me.

20 Nov 2018

US$24.33: Booked a two-night stay in Sao Paulo, Brazil via Airbnb.com.

21 Nov 2018

US$36.40: Booked a two-night stay in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil via Airbnb.com.

US$28.36: Booked a night-stay in Lima, Peru via Airbnb.com

US$12: Booked a one-night stay in Cusco, Peru via Booking.com

US$12.60: Booked a two-night stay in Machu Picchu Pueblo (a.k.a. Aguas Calientes), Peru via Booking.com.

12 Dec 2018

US$18.92: Booked a one-night stay in Bogota, Colombia via Booking.com.

Subtotal: US$151.51

4. Train tickets

2 Nov 2018

US$79: Booked a train ticket from Cusco, Peru to Machu Picchu Pueblo (a.k.a Aguas Calientes), Peru via Incarail.com.

4 Dec 2018

US$76: Booked a train ticket from Machu Picchu Pueblo (a.k.a Aguas Calientes), Peru to Cusco, Peru via Incarail.com.

Subtotal: US$155

5. Other fees

23 Apr 2018

US$60: Bought the Machu Picchu + Waynu Picchu ticket care of my hostel owner in Cusco, Peru.

10 Dec 2018

US$31.50: Booked a ticket online for the Rainbow Mountain tour in Peru via Rainbowmountaintravels.com.

Subtotal: US$91.50

Booking essentials

1. Hotel and hostel
   Booking.com
   – La Casa De Ingrid in Cusco
   – Pirwa & Waca Machu Picchu, now Illapa Inn Machupicchu
   – Hotel San Francisco de Asís in Bogota
   – Blue Door Housing in Quito
   AirBnB.com (click HERE to book)
2. Flight
   Kayak.com
3. Machu Picchu train tickets
4. Machu Picchu ticket
5. Rainbow Mountain tour ticket

Tip: I highly recommend getting travel insurance. I bought one from the World Nomads where most travelers get theirs, too.

During the 14-day trip: Cost breakdown

Brazil

Language: Portuguese
Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)
Exchange rate: US$1 = R$3.9030 (Dec 2018)
Preferred mode of transportation: Uber taxi
International airports: GRU, GIG

Day 1

R$156: Guarulhos (GRU) Airport to Paulista Avenue, Sao Paulo via regular taxi.
R$64: Paulista Avenue to GRU Airport via Uber taxi.

Tip: You should set up your credit or debit card as your primary payment method when using the Uber app, so you won’t have to worry about paying in cash. Your Uber app will also adapt to the local currency of your location.

My flight from Manila to Addis Ababa got delayed. As a result, I arrived in Sao Paulo with a one-day delay. I even cancelled my two-night room accommodation in the city. Also, I wasn’t feeling well the day I arrived. Thus, I didn’t do anything much except roaming around Paulista Avenue.

Day 2

R$16: Fried chicken and french fries at KFC (GRU Airport).
R$7: Cup of choco at Baked Potato (GRU Airport).
R$50: Sim card (GRU Airport).
R$10: Top-up for Internet use (GRU Airport).
R$52: Rio De Janeiro (GIG) Airport to Copacabana (Airbnb apartment) via Uber taxi.
R$42: Apartment to Cristo Redentor Entrance Building via Uber taxi.
R$43: Entrance fee at Cristo Redentor Monument.
R$10: Van from Cristo Redentor to bus stop.
R$13: Bus from bus stop to Copacabana (Airbnb apartment).
R$19: Food (chicken, rice, fries).

Day 3

R$32.40: Food (chicken, rice, salad, fries).
R$25: Share of gas (Car with a friend to Pedra do Telegrafo).

A Brazilian friend took me to Pedra do Telegrafo this day. It was an awesome hike!

Day 4

R$40: Copacabana (Airbnb apartment) to GIG Airport via Uber taxi

Subtotal: R$539.40 = US$138.20

Peru

Language: Spanish
Currency: Peruvian Soles (PEN)
Exchange rate: US$1 = S/3.3580 (Dec 2018)
Preferred mode of transportation: Uber taxi
International airports: LIM, CUZ

Day 4

S/195: Sim Card with Internet (Lima Airport)
S/37.50: Jorge Chavez (LIM) Airport to Airbnb Apartment in Lima via Uber taxi
S/2: Bread
S/1.50: Bottled juice
S/12.5 Apartment to Lima Square via Uber taxi
S/16: Lunch (Chaufa con Pollo)
S/16: Dinner (Chaufa con Pollo)
S/2: Bottled water
S/9.50: Somewhere in Lima to Apartment via Uber taxi

You probably noticed that I had been eating Chaufa con Pollo in my stay in South America. It means fried rice with chicken. Well, as an Asian, I love rice! Since I am not so familiar with their food or how it tastes like, I prefer going for anything with rice!

Day 5

S/3.50: Some coffee near my apartment
S/3: Laundry detergent and fabric conditioner
S/1.50: Bottled water
S/9.20: Apartment to Lima Square via Uber taxi
S/16: Lunch (Chaufa con Pollo)
S/16: Dinner(Chaufa con Pollo)
S/11.50: Lima Square to Apartment via Uber taxi

Yep, I did laundry that day. My Airbnb host was very kind to assist me in my laundry needs.

Day 6

S/33: Apartment to Jorge Chavez (LIM) Airport via Uber taxi
S/10.50: McBreakfast at LIM Airport
S/25: Cusco (CUZ) Airport to La Casa De Ingrid Hostel via regular taxi
S/5.05: Hostel to Plaza Mayor via Uber taxi
S/20: Sightseeing bus tour around Cusco City
S/0.20: Toilet fee
S/1: Bread
S/7: Food (Chicken, rice, potato)

Day 7

S/74.92: Hostel to Plaza de Armas (then walk to Incarail office) via Uber taxi
S/7.25: Food (Chaufa con Pollo) with bottled water at Machu Picchu Pueblo

I was in transit to Machu Picchu Pueblo (a.k.a. Aguas Calientes) this day. Good thing the train ticket includes food for lunch and snacks for us passengers.

Day 8

S/3: Bottled water
S/40: Bus ticket for Pueblo to Machu Picchu ruins
S/50: Tour guide fee
S/2: Toilet fee
S/40: Bus ticket for Machu Picchu ruins to Pueblo
S/6: Bottled water
S/25: Some hamburger
S/48: Food (Chaufa con Pollo)

Tip: Food is very expensive in Machu Picchu Pueblo. I recommend you bring or pack some if you’re on a tight budget.

Day 9

S/22: Food (Chaufa con Pollo)
S/21: Food (Chaufa con Pollo)
S/4.14: Cusco drop-off to La Casa De Ingrid Hostel via Uber taxi

Later that day, I was in transit from Machu Picchu Pueblo back to my hostel in Cusco City.

Day 10

S/1: Toilet fee at Rainbow Mountain
S/3: Coffee at Rainbow Mountain
S/6: Photo op with natives at the Rainbow Mountain summit
S/1: Toilet fee at Rainbow Mountain

Breakfast and Lunch are included in the Rainbow Mountain tour.

Day 11

S/13.4: Bottled water and Doritos
S/116.59: Cusco (CUZ) Airport via Uber taxi
S/1,839.50: Flight from Cusco to Lima (due to cancelled flight)
S/116.5 – Coke and Doritos snacks

My Cusco to Lima flight via LC Peru Airlines was cancelled. Basically, all LC Peru Airlines flights were cancelled on that day. I just knew when I arrived at the airport (well I had a feeling it could be cancelled since I was having a problem doing web check-in!). So, I booked a new Cusco-Lima flight via LATAM Airlines (it’s expensive!) in order to catch my Lima-Bogota flight via VivaAir. You have no idea how frustrated I was.

Tip: For VivaAir flights, make sure that you print your boarding pass between 72 to two hours before your scheduled departure. Otherwise, there will be an extra cost when checking in at the airport. Know more about that here.

Subtotal: S/1,632.5 = US$486.15

Colombia

Language: Spanish
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
Exchange rate: US$1 = COL$3,248 (Jan 2019)
Preferred mode of transportation: Uber taxi
International airport: BOG

Day 11

COL$25,498 – El Dorado (BOG) Airport to Hotel San Francisco de Asis via Uber taxi

Day 12

COL$50,000: Extra fee for room extension until 8pm
COL$6,000: Ticket fee at Bolivar Museum
COL$6,000: Bottled water
COL$6,000: Food (Tamal, shared with a friend)
COL$11,100: Somewhere near Monserrate to Plaza Bolivar via regular taxi
COL$2,600: Bottled water
COL$26,400: Hotel to BOG Airport via Uber taxi

Subtotal: COL$133,598 = US$41.13

Ecuador

Language: Spanish
Currency: US Dollars (USD)
Preferred mode of transportation: Uber taxi
International airport: UIO

Day 13

US$27: Mariscal Sucre (UIO) Airport to Mitad Del Mundo via Uber taxi
US$3.50: Food (Arroz con Pollo)
US$0.75: Apple soda
US$5: Entrance fee at Mitad Del Mundo Monument
US$0.75: Soda
US$13.51: Taxi to hostel
US$12.80: Booking fee for my hostel in Quito
US$2.25: Food (Arroz con Pollo) with soup
US$1: Doritos snack and water
US$26.60: Hostel to UIO Airport via Uber taxi
US$2.50: Bottled juice at UIO Airport
US$4: Food (Empanada con Pollo) at UIO Airport

I ended up booking a room in Quito as carrying bags all day would be very tiring. I was already very tired by this time and didn’t have enough sleep.

Subtotal: US$99.66

Brazil

Language: Portuguese
Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)
Exchange rate: US$1 = R$3.9030 (Dec 2018)
Preferred mode of transportation: Uber taxi
International airports: GRU, GIG

Day 14

R$25.14: Some chocolates
R$24.25: Guarulhos (GRU) Airport to Hostel Vitoria via Uber taxi
R$37: Hostel Vitoria booking fee in Guarulhos (near GRU Airport)
R$2: Bottled water
R$1.6: Bread
R$2.5: Bottled Juice
R$0: Hostel to GRU Airport (free care of my hostel roommate!) via regular taxi
R$17: Starbuck Caramel Frappuccino (for WiFi use only)
R$18: Starbuck Caramel Frappuccino (for WiFi use only)

I booked a hostel near GRU Airport just to get some good rest prior to leaving Brazil.

Subtotal: R$126.49 = US$32.41

And finally, here is my overall expenses!

Total: US$3,369.16

Also read: 10 Countries Filipinos Probably Didn’t Know They Can Travel To Without Visa

There you have it! Although I went beyond my travel budget, for me it was totally worth it. The experience was priceless! The next time I visit South America, I will definitely take it slow (I know, I feel like I was rushing the whole 14-day trip).

I hope you’ll find the guide and tips I’ve laid out here informative. If you have any questions on your mind right now, feel free to leave send me a message. Don’t be shy. I’d be more than happy to answer all your queries to the best of my knowledge.

Good luck and happy travels!