Hi Mustachians. Husband & I have been planning for over a year now a trip to Peru in May 2014. We didn't go on a "real" honeymoon after our wedding this May to save vacation time up for a 2 week international trip. We decided on Peru & purchased the flights using 40,000 miles on United, thanks to the signup bonuses on the Chase Sapphire. I thought we were off to a good start to a really frugal and amazing trip. I've been planning $3,000 out of pocket and thought there was no way we would hit that number
We decided while in Peru we want to do the Inca Trail & then go to the Amazon. This is where the budget went off the rails. Two years ago, based on some googling, the Inca Trail cost about $400. Next year, it will be $565/person. This is 4 days, 3 nights, all meals included, but a few extra charges for sleeping bags & porters to carry some personal items. But, it's a once in a lifetime trip, and there have been rumors that Macchu Picchu might not be open to the public forever. Plus, if the trip has gone up that much in 2 years, how much will it cost in 20 or 30, when we might have time & money to go back.
OK, then comes the Amazon. Insanely amazing opportunity, but definitely not something you can do without a guide. 6 days, 5 nights, with Amazon Expeditions, which every book/website recommends as the best of the best (but not luxurious, just good guides and best locations for wildlife) is $985/person. Again, all included, we will have a personal guide and can choose anything we want to do every day at no extra charge, including zip lining, piranha fishing, canoing and scoping wildlife, etc. We will have time to go deep into the jungle & spend 2 nights at their Research Lodge, where scientists come from all over the world to study Amazon flora & fauna.
On top of the steep daily charge, the flight out to Iquitos is about $350/person round trip. LAN & StarPeru are the only airlines that fly there, so I can't find a way to use our reward miles for that one. All told, my estimate is now $4,200 for the trip, not including incidentals like souvenirs, snacks, and laundry! For 2 weeks in a third world country! We are staying 3 nights in a $50 hotel (2 before Inca Trail, 1 after), which we could cut down to $10 or so if we chose a hostel, but really otherwise, I don't see anything nuts in our plans.
So, are we crazy? Should we cut the Amazon & do something cheaper? Or would you go all in for a trip like this? Any ideas for similar experiences for less money? Flights to Peru & to Cusco are booked, but nothing else. If it helps, our "big" vacation in 2015 will be to Jasper/Banff, so that should be less expensive since we will camp, but after that I've promised husband we will go to Germany before we have kids, which definitely won't be cheap. We can afford it, save 40%, no debt, etc., but it is a LOT of money!