Big Mac Combo - Colombia

Big Mac Combo cost 9,600 Pesos = 4.90USD

Cost... for the first 7 weeks...

Oh goodie, how much have I been spending so far? I had to dig deep into my journal to check the last time I did a calculation, and that was till Week 7.

So here goes:

Week 1 = 225.05 USD = 32.15 USD / day
Week 2 = 204.89 USD = 29.27 USD / day
Week 3 = 208.46 USD = 29.78 USD / day
Week 4 = 87.57 USD = 12.51 USD / day
Week 5 = 163.73 USD = 23.39 USD / day
Week 6 = 83.93 USD = 11.99 USD / day
Week 7 = 186.83 USD = 26.69 USD / day

So, the grand total after 7 weeks came to 1160.46 USD, or 23.68 USD per day! :)

I was stoke to find that out to be honest, coz trying to follow a budget has been ****** hard!

Still, those 7 weeks didn´t include the last 3 weeks, as since arriving in Peru I have been spending shit loads, not deliberately either. It´s just that tourist attraction in Peru are a rip off for foreigners, as you shall see once I tally up the remaining time. :(

Rip off or fair call?

Just found out that to take a train from Cuzco to Aguas Caliente, the town by Machu Piccu cost approx 80usd return. Where as a local would catch that same train and pay 10usd return. Rip off or a fair call?

I think for tourist to pay more then the locals is fair, but to pay 8x more is a bit too much. Especially for someone like me, trying to stick to a budget, 80usd would be at least 3 day´s worth.

So, I am researching into a cheaper way in to see the biggest draw card of Peru.

Weekly cost

Figure instead of doing a daily cost it is easier to view my travel budget on a weekly basis! It will be easier for me to input anyway! So here goes:


Week ending Sunday 22nd July = 1667.80 Bolivianos = 208.48 USD / 7
= $29.78 USD / day :(


Week ending Sunday 29th July = 700.50 Bolivianos = 87.57 USD / 7
= 12.51 USD / day :)

Spending 19th July

32 Bolivianos - Accommodation
4 Bolivianos - Internet
12 Bolivianos - Dinner
25 Bolivianos - Lunch
32 Bolivianos - Spanish Lesson
==========
105 Bolivianos

Spending 18th July

32 Bolivianos - Accommodation
18.8 Bolivianos - Moisturiser
14 Bolivianos - Snack
16 Bolivianos - Museo de arte Indigena
10 Bolivianos - Drinks
5.5 Bolivianos - Grocery
14 Bolivianos - Lunch
3 Bolivianos - Internet
=============
113.3 Bolivianos

Spending 17th July

2 Bolivianos - Internet
24 Bolivianos - Dinner
10 Bolivianos - Drinks
32 Bolivianos - Accommodation
14 Bolivianos - Lunch
13 Bolivianos - Laundry
==========
95 Bolivianos

Cost 16th July

15 Bolivianos - TNT-fuse-BIG BOOM
80 Bolivianos - Mine tour
40 Bolivianos - Accomodation
14 Bolivianos - Lunch
10 Bolivianos - Entrance to view point
17 Bolivianos - Dinner
2 Bolivianos - Internet
4.5 Bolivianos - 2 ltr Water
===========
182.5 Bolivianos

Cost 15th July

40 Bolivianos - Bus from Uyuni to Potosi
20 Bolivianos - Tip
20 Bolivianos - Dinner
4 Bolivianos - Internet
40 Bolivianos - Accomodation
4 Bolivianos - Taxi
5 Bolivianos - Toilet
=========
133 Bolivianos

Cost 13th-14th July

No cost, didn´t spend moolah as I was on a tour. Chooooice!

Cost 12th July

49,000 Pesos - Salar de Uyuni tour
... to be completed.

Cost 11th July

6,400 Pesos - Dinner (!!!)
5,000 Pesos - Accomodation
1,000 Pesos - Llama Kabab
500 Pesos - Cheese snack
1,500 Pesos - Moon Valley Entrance fee
1,500 Pesos - Tatio Geyser Entrance fee
500 Pesos - Tips
2,500 Pesos - Lunch
=========
18,900 Pesos

Cost 9th July

398 Pesos - Internet
1,288 Pesos - Lunch
100 Pesos - Snacks
========
1,778 Pesos

Cost 8th July

Ok I am not hitting the 20usd budget, but no surprise there... Except am running low on cash... And can´t wait till Bolivia which should be much cheaper!

9,000 Pesos Accommodation
2,100 Pesos Doggies dinner
1,300 Pesos Breakfast
19,400 Pesos Bus ticket from La Serena to Calama
400 Pesos Internet
=========
32,200 Pesos

Day 5 Cost

6,000 Pesos Accommodation
2,800 Pesos Lunch
600 Pesos Funicular rides
1,687 Pesos Supermarket
554 Pesos Dinner
700 Pesos Metro
1,350 Pesos Phone call
400 Pesos Internet
=========
14091 Pesos

Day 4 Cost

700 pesos Internet
6,000 pesos Accommodation
1,450 pesos Dinner
400 pesos 1.6 litre water
1,300 pesos Lunch
300 pesos Museum visit
6,000 pesos Bus ticket to La Serena
=========
16050 pesos

Woohoo! Found cheap food today buy buying my lunch at the supermarket. The spaghetti bolognese was tastier then dinner from previous nights!

Another thing to note, Chilean meat aren't all that tasty. I also found the texture to be rather tough and chewy.

Day 3 cost

850 Pesos Cuppachino de Chile
8,000 Pesos Accomodation
630 Pesos Cheese Empanadas
3,700 Pesos Bus to Vina Del Mar
2,000 Pesos Palace Cousiño
530 Pesos Metro
3,500 Pesos Lousy dinner
=========
1,9210 Pesos

Day 2 Cost

420 pesos 1.5 litre water
180 pesos bananas
8000 pesos Accomodation
2090 pesos KFC lunch
1000 pesos Visit to Pablo Neruda´s house
400 pesos Municipalidad de Santiago
300 pesos Bellas Artes
3200 pesos Domino dinner
=====
15590 pesos

Made it!!!!

Woohoo!

I made it!!! After a 16.5 hours marathon journey, and a very sad farewell to my darling putriku, Ting man and my folks at Auckalnd airport on Tuesday at 4.30pm. I made it to my hotel in Santiago on Tuesday at 7pm. Am staying at the Hotel Londeres in Town on Paris Ave. This place was recommended by Amy, my big sis, whom travel through here only weeks ago. The place is allright, nothing fancy. Check into a simple room with share showers. It´s clean, has a tv and a nice double bed.

I then head out to look for food and water. I was so thirsty!!!! But the first bottle I bought was bloody gassy water! They love gassy water here so I have to be careful next time. I ate spagatti baked in a white sause for my first meal. It was yuck, but I was hungry. Maybe I need to point at other diners in the future to eat their yummy meals. heheheh Also over here you need to tip, but I haven´t got a clue on their currancy yet so am tipping way too much. I need to sort that out.

So all up it cost:

8000 Peso - Room + breakfast
9USD - Share airport taxi
3800 Pesos - Dinner
400 Pesos - Gassy water
=========
16,800 Pesos

Today I think I will walk the town and check out their museum. I hope to hook up with other backpackers too to get an idea as to recommendations and where to go next. I also plan to take it easy as I am feeling completely wasted, the time zone thing is wrecking havoc with my body.

We are like a day behind here, and at 12am NZT on Thursday it is only 8am Santiago time on Wednesday.