Overview
I have posted costs online for many of our more recent trips. I feel that it is both a way to force myself to look at the total costs and it gives the reader an idea of what a trip like this might cost. I certainly hope that it does not turn anyone off from considering a similar trip as there are always ways to save money on a trip if you know possible costs ahead of time.
A couple of close friends have questioned the wisdom of posting numbers like these, but I am not sure why. Clearly, anyone could book a better trip that used, for example, better hotels and restaurants or had first class seats for domestic flights. I also wonder if they feel we are bragging although most of our friends are in a similar financial situation. Possibly they think that someone will think we are rich and attempt to rob us, but spoiler alert, we have two Rottweilers that are very protective. So, here are the costs, as accurately as I can state them.
Geodyssey was the largest single expenditure. Based in the UK, they booked all of our trip (including most meals) inside Peru and we paid them one amount. This was paid in three installments, stretching from August 2022 to March 2021. For the first payment, we used a credit card and we did not like that Geodyssey insisted we pay the processing fee that they incurred. My wife and I felt that this was a cost of their doing business but we compromised and split the 2.5% fee on about a $4000 payment. The last two payments were done via wire transfers, which cost us $50/transfer but Geodyssey incurred fees on their end and paid them with no complaint. All of these payment fees ($146.80) were included in the total Geodyssey cost.
The Geodyssey charge included the following:
- Four domestic flight within Peru on Latam (Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Lima, Lima to Iquitos, and Iquitos to Lima)
- Two nights at Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado in Sacred Valley, breakfast included.
- 1 day of tours in Sacred Valley with guide
- Train from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu Pueblo
- Tickets for two visits to Machu Picchu site (one visit with guide) and bus transfers
- 1 night in Casa del Sol in Machu Picchu Pueblo , breakfast and dinner included.
- Train and minivan from Machu Picchu Pueblo to Cusco
- 3 nights at Aranwa Cusco Boutique in Cusco, breakfast included.
- 1 day of tours in and around Cusco
- 3 nights on Aqua Nera river cruise on Amazon (all meals and drinks included).
- Driving tour of Lima (before our midnight flight home)
What was NOT included in Geodyssey fee was:
- International flights to/from Peru
- Five lunches and six dinners inn Peru
- Tips for service rendered within Peru (based upon the quality of service)
- Souvenirs
The biggest savings we realized was on the business class international flights on Delta/Latam. Through the generosity of our daughter and son-in-law, we had no cost for business class tickets on Delta flights to/from Lima.
Costs by Category
| Category | Amount |
| Business Class Flights | $0 |
| Geodyssey (for most Peru portions) | $13,985.50 |
| Tin Leg Travel Insurance | $1,217.00 |
| Food not included in Geodyssey cost | $372.68 |
| Tips (might have missed a few) | $550 |
| One extra massage on Aqua Nera (2 were included) | $110 |
| Souvenirs (alpaca was irresistible) | $753.00 |
| Parking JFK (11 days) | $255.22 |
| Cell Phone Service (Verizon travel plan) | $200.00 |
| Grand Total | $17,443.40 |
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