Key Takeaways
- Last year, I gave away a trip around the world. After going through thousands of entries, in the end, Heather was the winner.
- She has had some amazing adventures already, and now and it’s time to catch up with her and find out about her trip, how the budgeting is going (is sh
- Nomadic Matt: Hi again! First, let’s catch up! What have you been up to since your last update? Heather: Since our last update, I spent two months in
Last year, we gave away a trip around the world. After reviewing thousands of entries, Heather was selected as the winner.
She’s since embarked on extraordinary adventures — and now it’s time to check in on her journey across South America. How’s the budget holding up? Is she really managing $50 a day? And what key lessons has she learned along the way?
Route for Less: Hi again! First, let’s catch up — what have you been up to since your last update?
Heather: Since our last update, I spent two months in Peru and am now traveling through Chile.
I truly loved Peru. When I first began planning this trip, I wasn’t sure I’d even visit — especially because I doubted whether I could experience Machu Picchu affordably, and it felt incomplete to skip it entirely.
After a few weeks on the ground, I met fellow travelers who shared practical, low-cost ways to visit Machu Picchu. That inspired me to extend my stay to two full months! (You’ll find plenty of photos from Peru on my Instagram and more reflections on my blog.)
Speaking of budgets — how’s your daily spending tracking? Can you break down your typical expenses and where your money goes?
In Peru, staying within budget was surprisingly manageable. During my first month, I spent roughly $600 USD. Northern Peru proved extremely affordable: I couchsurfed several times and joined a camping trip, making cost control effortless.
In contrast, my second month totaled about $1,200 USD. Southern Peru — particularly Cusco and Arequipa — was notably pricier, and I’ll admit I indulged more than planned. With so many appealing restaurants, it was hard to resist!
In the north, for example, I stayed with a host in Cajamarca and ate meals at their home. A day trip outside the city included: 10 soles (~$3) for a bus to Namora, another 10 soles for a taxi to the lake, 10 soles for a boat ride, 10 soles for lunch, and 6 soles for the return bus — totaling ~$14 USD. And that was *because* we did an activity! On quieter days — like attending Carnaval — my total spending sometimes dropped to just $5 USD.
The following week, I booked a four-day trek through La Cordillera Blanca for 320 soles ($99 USD), plus a 40-sole park entry fee. Since my average daily budget in Peru was ~100 soles ($31 USD), that entire tour cost less than four days’ worth of regular spending — and delivered an unforgettable hiking experience.
In southern Peru, however, a typical day might involve coffee with friends, lunch out, sightseeing, dinner, drinks, and relaxing in the plaza — all adding up quickly.
On our final day together in Cusco, we treated ourselves to lunch at a high-end restaurant featuring a renowned chef — spending 100 soles each (~$30 USD). It included a cocktail, glass of wine, appetizer, and a shared roasted lamb leg with sides. Delicious? Absolutely. Worth it? In that moment — yes. But it’s a reminder that splurges add up fast.
How do you stay on budget?
The most effective strategy I’ve found is skipping packaged tours. Here in Chile, for instance, I see brochures advertising day trips to Valparaíso for ~55,000 CLP ($90 USD) — not including museum fees or meals. Instead, I took a local bus independently and spent only ~20,000 CLP for the whole day.
What’s been one of your biggest budgeting missteps?
Food remains my greatest challenge. Last month, I claimed I wasn’t overspending on meals — true in Ecuador and early Peru. But once I reached southern Peru — with its abundance of cafés and thriving tourism scene — my habits shifted dramatically. My first four days in Cusco were spent almost exclusively at an American-style café: multiple coffees, two or three desserts daily, all while working on writing and admin tasks.
Looking back? Definitely over the top. I justified it as ‘self-care,’ but I didn’t need that level of indulgence. Learning to balance productive workspaces — like cafés — with cost-conscious alternatives (e.g., hostel common areas) has been an ongoing adjustment. I’m still refining that balance.
What have you learned about yourself so far?
It feels like I discover something new every day. If pressed to name one takeaway, it’s that I’m far more socially open than I ever imagined. Meeting someone new on the road and instantly connecting is both surprising and deeply rewarding. Partly, it’s the urgency of limited time — knowing you may never see each other again — and partly, it’s the shared energy of exploring something extraordinary together. Back home, I’d rarely initiate such rapid closeness — yet here, I’ve built meaningful friendships with people from all over the world.
What’s one stereotype about South America that’s shifted since you arrived?
The most persistent assumption — especially for solo women — is that South America is inherently dangerous. I did feel cautious early on in Ecuador, largely influenced by stories and general warnings. But as I traveled deeper — meeting locals, relying on community recommendations, using trusted transport, and trusting my instincts — that fear gradually dissolved. Safety, I’ve learned, depends far more on preparation, awareness, and context than geography alone.
