"plan on 50.00 per day "

i lived there for alot less. more like $20 a day in some places. i met a french girl in peru who was living off of something like 20 SOLES a day.

but i like to live with families and get off the tourist track.

tips for saving money in Peru:

--learn spanish. studies show that spanish speaking tourists get better prices on taxicab rides in ecuador. betcha the same is in peru.

--stay in "hospedajes" rather than bakpakhers' hostels. these locally owned hotels often have dormrooms for as little as 10 soles a night are much more willing to barter with you about prices than the hostels that are used to gringos taking the price that's nitually offered to them. or better yet, stay with a family and offer to teach them nightly english lessons in exchange for lodging and/or food.

--learn to barter and be willing ti live with out some luxuries like internet and totally quiet rooms

--travel in "carros" rather than tourist busses. they're like little converted VW busses. they are rough, but i know someone who went all the way from tarapoto to cusco on something like 30 soles. thats $10.

--prepare your own food .and don't move around very much. that way youre not buying restaraunt food and youre not paying for transportation. the locals will view you as more than just a "tourist" and might give you deals on things.

--don't live by the guidebook. put it down sometimes and no need to even take it with you in my opinion. if you visit a backpackers' hostel occasionally, there is usually plenty of reference avaliable. i read several guidebooks before going to peru and found that some of their recommedations were OK and useful, but building trust with the locals and having THEM direct me to hostels, restaraunts and sightseeing was much more authenitc and saved me alot more money.


anyway, that's how i like to travel.