When people hear that we went to Peru, I often get the question, “Why Peru?”. As with most of my trips, it started with a Going.com email in March with a sale to Peru for less than $250 per person. I feel very comfortable planning trips to Europe and the US, but haven’t done much travel in South America or other continents. Since visiting Machu Picchu has been a Bucket List destination for both my husband and me, the cheap flight compelled me to prioritize visiting Peru.
So, Why Peru?
The people are incredibly friendly, the food is AMAZING, and it is stunningly beautiful. Peru offers everything from high desert, to Pacific coast beaches, to the rain and cloud forests to explore. It’s also in the same time zone as Atlanta which means an international flight without jet lag. And, it is the most affordable destination we have ever been to. Including the flights, our 10 day trip including nice accommodations, 3 course meals, coffees, Ubers, a luxury train trip, three inter-country flights, and two days at Machu Picchu with a personal guide on day one was less than $2400 for both of us. We only explored one section of this vast country and hope to be back to explore more. Even if you paid a more typical flight cost of $800 to $1000 per person to fly directly to Peru, your total trip cost would still be less than $4000 for both which is less than most people spend for a week at the beach.
Here are some things to consider before booking your trip:
- It’s helpful to know a little Spanish or at least have google translate ready on your phone. You cannot expect people to speak English.
- There is a different expectation for public bathrooms than in the US (link blog on life necessities).
- Safety – I felt very safe traveling with my husband and used common sense safety precautions. For example, keeping my credit cards tucked away and not wandering around at night on my own. There are a few areas of Peru to avoid, according to the State Department. However, there are still so many safe places to explore.
- Don’t rent a car! Road rules seem optional. Even taking an Uber was an adventure.
Part of why I love to travel is to experience these differences. It helps me to appreciate the luxuries that we take for granted. How we live our lives, our culture, our traditions, our comforts, are not the norm. Travel illustrates this like nothing else. In a place like Peru where most people don’t have any central heat or air-conditioning and the sewer system can’t support toilet paper, this is abundantly clear. Read more about water, toilets and air-conditioning in Be Prepared – Water and Toilets in Peru.
Yet, everyone we met was friendly and helpful. Living on less than a quarter of American’s poverty rate didn’t seem to affect their happiness. We saw families spending time together at parks. Food is abundant and cheap by our standards, but affordable by theirs. Peruvians have a better understanding of the need to take care of the environment with meticulous recycling and a low level of energy use. How wasteful are we? How discontent can I be when my teenagers have used all the hot water before I can take my shower? Seeing the world first hand gives me perspective on my tiny corner of the world.