Some rough cost and times
After spending many hours trying to figure out how much travelling from place to place will cost and reading many dated guide books we have come up with the idea to share the costs we paid with our fellow travelling community.
Unfortunately we cant remember every cost as this idea came to us late in our trip but the following is what we paid in or around March- July 2013. In addition the times posted for the trips are also "what we experienced" and as such are only a guide as it is possible to go faster or slower than what we did. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and we will do our best to answer them. We hope you find this information useful - Good luck and have fun!.
Unfortunately we cant remember every cost as this idea came to us late in our trip but the following is what we paid in or around March- July 2013. In addition the times posted for the trips are also "what we experienced" and as such are only a guide as it is possible to go faster or slower than what we did. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask and we will do our best to answer them. We hope you find this information useful - Good luck and have fun!.
Mexico
NO ENTRANCE FEE!!!
$25 USD per person departure fee unless you leave by land within 7 days - but may even have to pay regardless so bank on it and if you dont have to pay good work! you did better than us.
40 pesos Chetumal to Corozal (including border crossing) by chicken bus. You can also get a bus directly from Chetumal to Belize City if you dont want to catch the boat from Corozal (see Belize section below)
$25 USD per person departure fee unless you leave by land within 7 days - but may even have to pay regardless so bank on it and if you dont have to pay good work! you did better than us.
40 pesos Chetumal to Corozal (including border crossing) by chicken bus. You can also get a bus directly from Chetumal to Belize City if you dont want to catch the boat from Corozal (see Belize section below)
Belize
NO ENTRANCE FEE!!! to enter Belize yay!!
$9 Belize dollars chicken bus Corozal to Belize city 3hrs (approx), because its a chicken bus can arrive earlier or later, depends on how many people get on and off. Leaves Corozal a few times a day spaced 2 hrs apart but we cant remember the exact times, if you arrive by bus from border you can check on arrival as bus station is clean and tidy and safe.
* there is also a boat that goes direct from Corozal to the Islands of San Pedro but runs only at 7am outside of peak tourist season, takes 2 hours and works out more expensive if your trying to get Caye Caulker than catching the bus to Belize City and then the boat from there.
$30 USD per person return Belize city to Caye Caulker - 1 hour approx by boat
$27.50 Belize dollars per person for dorm @ Dirty McNastys hostel on Caye Caulker including free make your own breakfast of eggs and toast and free bike use. cheap water refills!
$55 USD per person day trip to Shark and Ray Alley, the swash aka coral reef and Hol Chan Marine Reserve on Blackhawk tours includes lunch, snacks, snorkel gears and free rum punch on the way back to port. Leaves around 10 am and gets back around 5pm.
$5 Belize dollars all day hire for snorkel gears at the split
$37.50 Belize dollars per person tourist tax leave Belize, paid at the border.
NB: you can use a combination of Belizean dollars and US dollars throughout the country
$9 Belize dollars chicken bus Corozal to Belize city 3hrs (approx), because its a chicken bus can arrive earlier or later, depends on how many people get on and off. Leaves Corozal a few times a day spaced 2 hrs apart but we cant remember the exact times, if you arrive by bus from border you can check on arrival as bus station is clean and tidy and safe.
* there is also a boat that goes direct from Corozal to the Islands of San Pedro but runs only at 7am outside of peak tourist season, takes 2 hours and works out more expensive if your trying to get Caye Caulker than catching the bus to Belize City and then the boat from there.
$30 USD per person return Belize city to Caye Caulker - 1 hour approx by boat
$27.50 Belize dollars per person for dorm @ Dirty McNastys hostel on Caye Caulker including free make your own breakfast of eggs and toast and free bike use. cheap water refills!
$55 USD per person day trip to Shark and Ray Alley, the swash aka coral reef and Hol Chan Marine Reserve on Blackhawk tours includes lunch, snacks, snorkel gears and free rum punch on the way back to port. Leaves around 10 am and gets back around 5pm.
$5 Belize dollars all day hire for snorkel gears at the split
$37.50 Belize dollars per person tourist tax leave Belize, paid at the border.
NB: you can use a combination of Belizean dollars and US dollars throughout the country
Guatemala
$? USD per person to enter Guatemala, fee paid at border in cash. cant remember exactly what the entrance fee was but we think it was a couple of dollars per person. definitely wasn't any more than $5 each.
*Take direct mini van shuttle from Belize city (@ Caye Caulker ferry terminal) to Flores in Guatemala. Cost is roughly the same no matter which ferry you catch back from CC. Our Mini van stopped at a small supermarket about 30mins before we reached the border so we could buy lunch and use bathrooms-also helped us spend last of belize cash we had.
$120 Quetzals per person Flores to Lanquin via Coban for lunch - 8 hours by minivan
$60 Quetzals per person (if booked from zepher lodge) Lanquin to Antigua otherwise $60-$160 from other agencies, 8-10 hours by minivan depending on driver and if van breaks down
$36 Quetzals per person from Antigua to Panayache - 4-5 hours by chicken bus
*bus we took only leaves at 6am ish and tickets can be bought from inside "Columbia Bakery" across the road from McDonalds in Antigua
$40 USD per person from Panajachel (on shores of lake Atitlan) to El Tunco (El Salvador) via Antigua - 8 hours by mini van. leaves at 6am
No fee to leave the country or enter into El Salvador
*Take direct mini van shuttle from Belize city (@ Caye Caulker ferry terminal) to Flores in Guatemala. Cost is roughly the same no matter which ferry you catch back from CC. Our Mini van stopped at a small supermarket about 30mins before we reached the border so we could buy lunch and use bathrooms-also helped us spend last of belize cash we had.
$120 Quetzals per person Flores to Lanquin via Coban for lunch - 8 hours by minivan
$60 Quetzals per person (if booked from zepher lodge) Lanquin to Antigua otherwise $60-$160 from other agencies, 8-10 hours by minivan depending on driver and if van breaks down
$36 Quetzals per person from Antigua to Panayache - 4-5 hours by chicken bus
*bus we took only leaves at 6am ish and tickets can be bought from inside "Columbia Bakery" across the road from McDonalds in Antigua
$40 USD per person from Panajachel (on shores of lake Atitlan) to El Tunco (El Salvador) via Antigua - 8 hours by mini van. leaves at 6am
No fee to leave the country or enter into El Salvador
El Salvador
No entrance or exit fee for El Salvador!!
@ EL Tunco (cool surfy beach town)
$18 USD per night for private room at Ma Koi hostel - hostel has kitchen facilities and free water in upstairs kitchen + fans, wifi, bathroom with shower and mosi net in each room
$10 USD per person 1 hour surf lesson in English
$10 USD per surfbord for all day bord hire
$3-10 USD for food depending what you eat- really good stir fry $6-8 USD plus nice lemonade for $2USD
$1.35 USD large waffle cone ice cream chocolate dipped - yum!
$1 USD hamburgers with avocado -not great but its cheap or different types of "pupusa" traditional corn based food see the best bites!
$1.25 USD per person El Tunco to San Salvador - 1 hour approx by direct shuttle * however wont take people with big bags or packs!
25 US cents per person El Tunco to La libradad - 20mins approx by chicken bus which leaves every half hour
59 US cents per person La liberdad to San Salvador -1-1.5 hours by chicken bus, if lucky can get connecting bus from el tunco from same stop at la liberdad for San Salvador.
$5 USD (total not per person) taxi from bus station you arrive in from La Libertad to Terminal de Oriente bus station within San Salvador to get bus for the northern border (El Poy)
$1.75 USD per person San Salvador to El Poy - 3 hours approx by chicken bus. take bus 119 heading to El Poy
OR
$46 USD per person San Salvador (El Salvador) to San Pedro Sula (Honduras) - by direct minivan but we don't know how long it takes. possibly 8 hours. can definitely be done cheaper by chicken bus but will take longer
@ EL Tunco (cool surfy beach town)
$18 USD per night for private room at Ma Koi hostel - hostel has kitchen facilities and free water in upstairs kitchen + fans, wifi, bathroom with shower and mosi net in each room
$10 USD per person 1 hour surf lesson in English
$10 USD per surfbord for all day bord hire
$3-10 USD for food depending what you eat- really good stir fry $6-8 USD plus nice lemonade for $2USD
$1.35 USD large waffle cone ice cream chocolate dipped - yum!
$1 USD hamburgers with avocado -not great but its cheap or different types of "pupusa" traditional corn based food see the best bites!
$1.25 USD per person El Tunco to San Salvador - 1 hour approx by direct shuttle * however wont take people with big bags or packs!
25 US cents per person El Tunco to La libradad - 20mins approx by chicken bus which leaves every half hour
59 US cents per person La liberdad to San Salvador -1-1.5 hours by chicken bus, if lucky can get connecting bus from el tunco from same stop at la liberdad for San Salvador.
$5 USD (total not per person) taxi from bus station you arrive in from La Libertad to Terminal de Oriente bus station within San Salvador to get bus for the northern border (El Poy)
$1.75 USD per person San Salvador to El Poy - 3 hours approx by chicken bus. take bus 119 heading to El Poy
OR
$46 USD per person San Salvador (El Salvador) to San Pedro Sula (Honduras) - by direct minivan but we don't know how long it takes. possibly 8 hours. can definitely be done cheaper by chicken bus but will take longer
Honduras
$3 USD per person entrance fee paid at the border takes about 30mins to pass through immigration at El Poy, depending on queues
10 limpera per person from border to Ocotepeque - 10mins approx by collectivo minivan
170 limpera per person Ocotepeque to San Pedro Sula - 7.5-8 hours by modern chicken bus run by "congolon"
$5 USD or 100 limp (total!) taxi from central bus station to hostel $5 -$15 USD per person taxi for hostel to bus station at 3 - 4am
115 limpera per person from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba. bus drops you off in town. Take 50 limpera pp taxi to wharf where boats to Utila and Roatan leave from
$25 USD per person for the boat nicknamed the "vomit comet" from La Ceiba to Utila - 1-1.25 hours approx by boat leaves 9.30ish in the morning and 4pm in arvo. the crossing is pretty rough but you can get free sea sickness tablets from the office. take half an hour before the trip.
On Utila
25 limpera for traditional snack "baleadas"
30 limpera for pasta
30-50 limpera for fresh fruit smoothie
$25 USD for PADI open water refresher, $268 USD for PADI open water, including free accommodation and 2 fun dives post course (at Captain Morgan's)
$110 USD for 2x2 tank dives
25 limpera for local beer
115 limpera per person from La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula. bus drops you off at bus station. - 3-3.5 hours approx via modern chicken bus (Diana express)
25 limpera for bk chicken burger @ Burger King in La cieba if you take the afternoon boat from Utila and your hungry the bus goes at 4.30 so you will have 30 mins to walk to pizza hutt, wendy, bk or kfc all are about 15min walk from the Diana express bus stop.
$5 USD or 100 limp (total!) taxi from central bus station in SPS to hostel. San Pedro has a bit of a bad rep so definitely catch a cab! Don't stay at Tamarindo Hostel they weren't awesome, despite the hostelworld award and they charge 200 limpera per ticket for bus from SPS to La ceiba. stay at La Hamaca instead (275 limpera for a dorm room)
$35 USD per person (+ $5 USD booking fee if you book through hostel after hours) Tica bus from San Pedro Sula to Leon (Honduras) via Tegucigalpa. 12 hours approx by first class bus (TICA bus)
10 limpera per person from border to Ocotepeque - 10mins approx by collectivo minivan
170 limpera per person Ocotepeque to San Pedro Sula - 7.5-8 hours by modern chicken bus run by "congolon"
$5 USD or 100 limp (total!) taxi from central bus station to hostel $5 -$15 USD per person taxi for hostel to bus station at 3 - 4am
115 limpera per person from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba. bus drops you off in town. Take 50 limpera pp taxi to wharf where boats to Utila and Roatan leave from
$25 USD per person for the boat nicknamed the "vomit comet" from La Ceiba to Utila - 1-1.25 hours approx by boat leaves 9.30ish in the morning and 4pm in arvo. the crossing is pretty rough but you can get free sea sickness tablets from the office. take half an hour before the trip.
On Utila
25 limpera for traditional snack "baleadas"
30 limpera for pasta
30-50 limpera for fresh fruit smoothie
$25 USD for PADI open water refresher, $268 USD for PADI open water, including free accommodation and 2 fun dives post course (at Captain Morgan's)
$110 USD for 2x2 tank dives
25 limpera for local beer
115 limpera per person from La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula. bus drops you off at bus station. - 3-3.5 hours approx via modern chicken bus (Diana express)
25 limpera for bk chicken burger @ Burger King in La cieba if you take the afternoon boat from Utila and your hungry the bus goes at 4.30 so you will have 30 mins to walk to pizza hutt, wendy, bk or kfc all are about 15min walk from the Diana express bus stop.
$5 USD or 100 limp (total!) taxi from central bus station in SPS to hostel. San Pedro has a bit of a bad rep so definitely catch a cab! Don't stay at Tamarindo Hostel they weren't awesome, despite the hostelworld award and they charge 200 limpera per ticket for bus from SPS to La ceiba. stay at La Hamaca instead (275 limpera for a dorm room)
$35 USD per person (+ $5 USD booking fee if you book through hostel after hours) Tica bus from San Pedro Sula to Leon (Honduras) via Tegucigalpa. 12 hours approx by first class bus (TICA bus)
Nicaragua
$12 USD per person entrance fee, pay at the border - boo! to that :(
$30 USD per person Volcano boarding in Leon - well worth the money and if your the fastest you can get a free nights accomadation at one of the partner hostels at the beach or a t-shirt.
35 cordobas per person Granada to Revis - 2hours approx by chicken bus.
30 cordobas per person Rivas to Penas Blancas -1.5 hours apporx by chicken bus. Its says on the bus that its only 28 cordobas but we didn't get change for our 60 we paid for both of us.
OR
take local taxi be shorter but can cost as much as $20 USD - although by the time we got on the bus it was down to $5 USD.
NOTE! don't pay for immigration slips at Rivas or at Penas Blancas- people will swarm you and try to get you to give a donation for a slip but you dont needto buy them because at the border they are free - on the other hand if you feel like giving away money to local people go right ahead!
3 cordobas per person to use the toilet at the border
$1 USD per person border town tax to leave Nicaragua - pay this at the office desk before you enter the passport control area in Nicaragua
$2 USD per person departure tax for leaving Nicaragua pay at the passport control office
$30 USD per person Volcano boarding in Leon - well worth the money and if your the fastest you can get a free nights accomadation at one of the partner hostels at the beach or a t-shirt.
35 cordobas per person Granada to Revis - 2hours approx by chicken bus.
30 cordobas per person Rivas to Penas Blancas -1.5 hours apporx by chicken bus. Its says on the bus that its only 28 cordobas but we didn't get change for our 60 we paid for both of us.
OR
take local taxi be shorter but can cost as much as $20 USD - although by the time we got on the bus it was down to $5 USD.
NOTE! don't pay for immigration slips at Rivas or at Penas Blancas- people will swarm you and try to get you to give a donation for a slip but you dont needto buy them because at the border they are free - on the other hand if you feel like giving away money to local people go right ahead!
3 cordobas per person to use the toilet at the border
$1 USD per person border town tax to leave Nicaragua - pay this at the office desk before you enter the passport control area in Nicaragua
$2 USD per person departure tax for leaving Nicaragua pay at the passport control office
Costa Rica
No entrance fee to enter Costa Rica!!
$4 USD per person from border to Liberia - 1.5 hours approx by local bus. from Liberia can take bus to San Jose but we stayed night to break up our trip to Puerto Viejo - not much to do here though.
3888 Costa Rican Colon per person Liberia to San Hose - 3.5 hours approx including 30min refreshment stop by local bus.
3880 Costa Rican Colon (C.R.C.) taxi from bus station to bus station going to Porto Limon - takes about 10-15 min approx by Taxi with meter. We originally wanted to go direct to Peurto Viejo from San Jose but we went to the wrong bus station even though we asked the taxi driver to take us to the correct one. not a big problem though because as it worked out the bus to Limon and then another bus to Peurto Viejo was approx the same time.
3115 C.R.C. per person San Hose to Limon - takes 3 hours approx including 20mins stop for refreshments by local bus
1775 C.R.C per person Limon to Peurto Viejo - takes 2 hours approx stopping at a few places on the way by local bus.
*However bus station in Limon is not correct in last Lonely Planet. It is now only one block from the station where the San Hose bus station stops just around the other side from the baseball stadium.(5 min walk max)
$5 USD per bike hire at Peurto Viejo
$15 USD per person entrance into jaguar centre wildlife reserve
$20 USD per person taxi from Peurto Viejo (Costa Rica) to Bocas del Toro (Panama) -includes collectivo taxi van to border from border to port and water taxi to the main island (Isla Colon)
30 - 40mins from PV to border - 1 hr to sort stuff out at border and walk across bridge to panama (time difference) 1hr to port town
30mins to wait for boat - 30-40mins by boat to island
$4 USD per person from border to Liberia - 1.5 hours approx by local bus. from Liberia can take bus to San Jose but we stayed night to break up our trip to Puerto Viejo - not much to do here though.
3888 Costa Rican Colon per person Liberia to San Hose - 3.5 hours approx including 30min refreshment stop by local bus.
3880 Costa Rican Colon (C.R.C.) taxi from bus station to bus station going to Porto Limon - takes about 10-15 min approx by Taxi with meter. We originally wanted to go direct to Peurto Viejo from San Jose but we went to the wrong bus station even though we asked the taxi driver to take us to the correct one. not a big problem though because as it worked out the bus to Limon and then another bus to Peurto Viejo was approx the same time.
3115 C.R.C. per person San Hose to Limon - takes 3 hours approx including 20mins stop for refreshments by local bus
1775 C.R.C per person Limon to Peurto Viejo - takes 2 hours approx stopping at a few places on the way by local bus.
*However bus station in Limon is not correct in last Lonely Planet. It is now only one block from the station where the San Hose bus station stops just around the other side from the baseball stadium.(5 min walk max)
$5 USD per bike hire at Peurto Viejo
$15 USD per person entrance into jaguar centre wildlife reserve
$20 USD per person taxi from Peurto Viejo (Costa Rica) to Bocas del Toro (Panama) -includes collectivo taxi van to border from border to port and water taxi to the main island (Isla Colon)
30 - 40mins from PV to border - 1 hr to sort stuff out at border and walk across bridge to panama (time difference) 1hr to port town
30mins to wait for boat - 30-40mins by boat to island
Panama
No entrance fee to enter Panama
$5 USD per person Almirante to Isla Colon in Bocas del toro - 30mins approx by water taxi
$2 USD per person taxi on the island from Bocas town to Pukalani hostel - or free if you catch one of the three free shuttles the hostel does each day
$10 USD per surf bord hire for a day
$5 USD per day per bike for day hire
$5-$10 USD per person breakfast on the Island
$5 USD for load of laundry
$38 USD per person Isla Colon to Panama City - 10hours approx by water taxi (island to mainland), taxi then first class bus from Almirante to Panama City ($5 for water taxi, $27.80 for bus from Almirante to Panama City $5 for taxi from water taxi to bus station in Almirante) bus leaves 2 times a day 6am and 7pm. bus company name is Tranceibosa. can save a little money if book yourself but we booked on Isla Colon.
$4-8 USD Total for taxi from bus station to old town in Panama - 15mins approx
$8 USD from old Panama town to the locks at the Panama Canal - by taxi
25 US cents + $2 USD for transport card (like oyster card) cents per person bus from old town to central bus station - 15 mins approx by local bus
25 US cents + $2 USD for central bus station tax card to use station per person central bus station to Panama locks - 20mins approx by chicken bus
*same cost for the way back although we took taxi from central bus station back to old town for $4 USD total because it was raining
$8 USD ($5 if you have student ID) per person entrance into Miraflores locks museum/information centre where you can watch panamax boats traverse the locks, also see the museum and watch small video on making of canal
$22 USD for 2 people to share taxi from old town to airport- takes approx 45mins usually but our driver went super fast and we got there in 25mins.
Also free shuttle bus from one of the shopping centres in the banking district of town but bus only starts at 10 or 11am and finishes early afternoon (i am taking this info from a brochure I got in town), bus is designed to help passengers with long layover to spend money in town at duty free outlets.
*tax to leave Panama by air should be included in taxes with airfare but if you fly COPA airlines you need to show evidence of onward travel from Colombia otherwise they will make you buy a ticket before they let you on the plane!! can get a refund minus there admin stuff and it takes 2 months to process!!
We paid $343 USD per person for flights from Panama City to Cartagena - takes approx 1 hr by plane - so expensive!
or
take a boat from Panama to Cartagena via San Blas Islands which are usually $500 - 550 USD per person (for 5 days). However when we arrived in panama city the hostel (Lunas casa- $13 USD per person per night 12 bed dorm includes pancake breakfast) we were at had 2 advertised for cheaper, one at $250!! per person and the other $295!!! Good luck if you can get one of these trips its only 2 days not the 5 but is still cheaper than flying
$5 USD per person Almirante to Isla Colon in Bocas del toro - 30mins approx by water taxi
$2 USD per person taxi on the island from Bocas town to Pukalani hostel - or free if you catch one of the three free shuttles the hostel does each day
$10 USD per surf bord hire for a day
$5 USD per day per bike for day hire
$5-$10 USD per person breakfast on the Island
$5 USD for load of laundry
$38 USD per person Isla Colon to Panama City - 10hours approx by water taxi (island to mainland), taxi then first class bus from Almirante to Panama City ($5 for water taxi, $27.80 for bus from Almirante to Panama City $5 for taxi from water taxi to bus station in Almirante) bus leaves 2 times a day 6am and 7pm. bus company name is Tranceibosa. can save a little money if book yourself but we booked on Isla Colon.
$4-8 USD Total for taxi from bus station to old town in Panama - 15mins approx
$8 USD from old Panama town to the locks at the Panama Canal - by taxi
25 US cents + $2 USD for transport card (like oyster card) cents per person bus from old town to central bus station - 15 mins approx by local bus
25 US cents + $2 USD for central bus station tax card to use station per person central bus station to Panama locks - 20mins approx by chicken bus
*same cost for the way back although we took taxi from central bus station back to old town for $4 USD total because it was raining
$8 USD ($5 if you have student ID) per person entrance into Miraflores locks museum/information centre where you can watch panamax boats traverse the locks, also see the museum and watch small video on making of canal
$22 USD for 2 people to share taxi from old town to airport- takes approx 45mins usually but our driver went super fast and we got there in 25mins.
Also free shuttle bus from one of the shopping centres in the banking district of town but bus only starts at 10 or 11am and finishes early afternoon (i am taking this info from a brochure I got in town), bus is designed to help passengers with long layover to spend money in town at duty free outlets.
*tax to leave Panama by air should be included in taxes with airfare but if you fly COPA airlines you need to show evidence of onward travel from Colombia otherwise they will make you buy a ticket before they let you on the plane!! can get a refund minus there admin stuff and it takes 2 months to process!!
We paid $343 USD per person for flights from Panama City to Cartagena - takes approx 1 hr by plane - so expensive!
or
take a boat from Panama to Cartagena via San Blas Islands which are usually $500 - 550 USD per person (for 5 days). However when we arrived in panama city the hostel (Lunas casa- $13 USD per person per night 12 bed dorm includes pancake breakfast) we were at had 2 advertised for cheaper, one at $250!! per person and the other $295!!! Good luck if you can get one of these trips its only 2 days not the 5 but is still cheaper than flying
Colombia
1600 Colombian peso per person bus from airport to old town Cartagena or the more modern and expensive Castlillo Grande - takes about 30mins (bus every 10mins)
2500 Peso for small cold water from street vendors (only 1400 if you buy from corner stores or supermarkets)
55000 Peso per person fro 1/2 day trip to El Totumo Volcano including lunch with a soft drink or water at the beach on the way back *we recommend you order the fish was miles better than the chicken dishes!!
*3000 Peso for 15min mud massage, *3000 Peso for cold water scrub wash in the lake after mud bath, *3000 Peso to give your own camera to local to take photos of you while in volcano mud, *1000 Peso tip for kid to look after and wash your jandals/thongs/sandals/flip flops. all of these are additional extras that you don't have to pay for but its cheap as chips and helps the locals out, not to mention its worth it for the approx $2 USD each.
1500 Peso for bottle of beer from local corner store
1400 Peso for bottled water from supermarket
20000 Peso for "classico" foot long subway combo
30000 Peso per person for booze bus trip round city starts around 8pm and goes till the late hours
14000 Peso taxi (total) from Castillo Grande to Airport -takes approx 20-30mins by taxi
60000 Peso taxi (total) from airport to Medellin city - takes approx 30mins by taxi
1800 Peso per person to use metro system any distance on the line for however long you want as long as you don't get out of the station/off the bus. can take bus, train or gondola anywhere on the line
*have to pay an extra 1800 Peso per person each way if you want to catch gondola all the way to the park at the very top of the mountain in medillin.
1000 Peso for fried empanada (per portion) yummy street food!
5000 Peso taxi (total) from El Poblado area in Medillin to Bus station heading to Cali
35,000 Peso per person from Medillin to Cali - takes approx 10 hours by bus
5,000 Peso total for taxi from station to Casa Blanca hostel - make sure you ask the driver to use the meter!
35,000 Peso per person from Cali to Pasto - takes approx 10 hours by bus
3,000 - 3,500 Peso total for Terminal to Koala Inn hostel - takes 5 min by taxi
7,000 Peso per person from Pasto to Ipiales - takes 2 hours approx by bus ~ (transipales)
2,000 peso per bag for left behind luggages storage at Ipiales bus station
2,000 Peso person from Ipiales to sanctuario los lajas -takes 15mins approx by collectivo taxi and vice versa
or
8,000 Peso from Sanctuario to the border- takes 30 mins approx by collectivo taxi if you have whole taxi booked out
1,500 - 2,000 Peso from Ipiales terminal to the border by collectivo taxi
NO exit fee!! however don't exchange your left over peso money here because the border guys here have crooked calculators - only use your own calculator !!
2500 Peso for small cold water from street vendors (only 1400 if you buy from corner stores or supermarkets)
55000 Peso per person fro 1/2 day trip to El Totumo Volcano including lunch with a soft drink or water at the beach on the way back *we recommend you order the fish was miles better than the chicken dishes!!
*3000 Peso for 15min mud massage, *3000 Peso for cold water scrub wash in the lake after mud bath, *3000 Peso to give your own camera to local to take photos of you while in volcano mud, *1000 Peso tip for kid to look after and wash your jandals/thongs/sandals/flip flops. all of these are additional extras that you don't have to pay for but its cheap as chips and helps the locals out, not to mention its worth it for the approx $2 USD each.
1500 Peso for bottle of beer from local corner store
1400 Peso for bottled water from supermarket
20000 Peso for "classico" foot long subway combo
30000 Peso per person for booze bus trip round city starts around 8pm and goes till the late hours
14000 Peso taxi (total) from Castillo Grande to Airport -takes approx 20-30mins by taxi
60000 Peso taxi (total) from airport to Medellin city - takes approx 30mins by taxi
1800 Peso per person to use metro system any distance on the line for however long you want as long as you don't get out of the station/off the bus. can take bus, train or gondola anywhere on the line
*have to pay an extra 1800 Peso per person each way if you want to catch gondola all the way to the park at the very top of the mountain in medillin.
1000 Peso for fried empanada (per portion) yummy street food!
5000 Peso taxi (total) from El Poblado area in Medillin to Bus station heading to Cali
35,000 Peso per person from Medillin to Cali - takes approx 10 hours by bus
5,000 Peso total for taxi from station to Casa Blanca hostel - make sure you ask the driver to use the meter!
35,000 Peso per person from Cali to Pasto - takes approx 10 hours by bus
3,000 - 3,500 Peso total for Terminal to Koala Inn hostel - takes 5 min by taxi
7,000 Peso per person from Pasto to Ipiales - takes 2 hours approx by bus ~ (transipales)
2,000 peso per bag for left behind luggages storage at Ipiales bus station
2,000 Peso person from Ipiales to sanctuario los lajas -takes 15mins approx by collectivo taxi and vice versa
or
8,000 Peso from Sanctuario to the border- takes 30 mins approx by collectivo taxi if you have whole taxi booked out
1,500 - 2,000 Peso from Ipiales terminal to the border by collectivo taxi
NO exit fee!! however don't exchange your left over peso money here because the border guys here have crooked calculators - only use your own calculator !!
Ecuador
No entrance fee to enter Ecuador, yay!
$3.50 USD per taxi from the border to the bus terminal in Tulcan
$4.75 USD per person Tulcan to Quito - takes 5 hours approx by bus
$8 USD total for taxi ($8 USD per hour our driver told us) from bus station in Quito to old town Quito - takes 30 mins approx but maybe an hour if bad traffic- by taxi
$4 USD total from old town Quito to the cable car - takes approx 10-20 mins by taxi
$8.50 USD for cable car return - takes 20 mins approx each way
$2 USD total for taxi from cable car to trolley bus station - takes 5 mins approx by taxi
$.35 US cents per person from X to Ofelia station (the last station on the blue line) takes 40 min to 1hr by local metro trolley bus
$.15 US cents per person from Ofelia station to Mitad del mundo - takes 30 mins approx by local bus
$3 USD per person entrance into Mitad del mundo park
$.40 US cents per person Mitad del mundo to close to Centro Historico Quito - takes 1 approx by local bus
$8-10 USD total Quito old town to Quito southern bus terminal - takes 30mins approx by taxi
$3.75 USD per person Quito to Banos -takes 3.5 hours approx by bus
$1 USD total from bus station Banos to any hostel in the city - takes 2mins max by taxi
$15 USD total Banos town to the swing on the top of the hill overlooking Banos - takes 20 mins approx by taxi
$2-3 USD per person entrance into Banos hotpools ($2 during day and $3 at night)
$11 USD per person Banos to Santa Elena - takes 10 to 11 hours approx by bus
$1.75 USD per person Santa Elena to Montanita - takes 1 hour approx by bus
$30 USD per person whale watching -includes transport to and from Puerto Lopez
$50 USD per person to visit Isla de La Plata - in my opinion you don't need to do this tour, you wont see 90% of what is at the Galapagos islands like they say you will maybe 3-4 types of bird on this island with a major rat problem - you can see blue footed boobies and red frigate birds from doing the whale watching tour, save your money and do the whale watching instead.
$3 USD per hour to hire surfboards/body board $5 USD for 2 hours
$6 USD per person Montanita to Guayaquil - takes 3 hours by bus
$8.25 USD per person Guayaquil to Cuenca - takes 4 hours by bus
$15 USD per person Cuenca to Mancora (Peru) - takes 10 hours approx by bus ( 5 hours from Cuenca to border approx + 1 hour or more at border + 3-4 hours to Mancora depending on how many check point stops you have to go through)
No exit fee to leave Ecuador!!
$3.50 USD per taxi from the border to the bus terminal in Tulcan
$4.75 USD per person Tulcan to Quito - takes 5 hours approx by bus
$8 USD total for taxi ($8 USD per hour our driver told us) from bus station in Quito to old town Quito - takes 30 mins approx but maybe an hour if bad traffic- by taxi
$4 USD total from old town Quito to the cable car - takes approx 10-20 mins by taxi
$8.50 USD for cable car return - takes 20 mins approx each way
$2 USD total for taxi from cable car to trolley bus station - takes 5 mins approx by taxi
$.35 US cents per person from X to Ofelia station (the last station on the blue line) takes 40 min to 1hr by local metro trolley bus
$.15 US cents per person from Ofelia station to Mitad del mundo - takes 30 mins approx by local bus
$3 USD per person entrance into Mitad del mundo park
$.40 US cents per person Mitad del mundo to close to Centro Historico Quito - takes 1 approx by local bus
$8-10 USD total Quito old town to Quito southern bus terminal - takes 30mins approx by taxi
$3.75 USD per person Quito to Banos -takes 3.5 hours approx by bus
$1 USD total from bus station Banos to any hostel in the city - takes 2mins max by taxi
$15 USD total Banos town to the swing on the top of the hill overlooking Banos - takes 20 mins approx by taxi
$2-3 USD per person entrance into Banos hotpools ($2 during day and $3 at night)
$11 USD per person Banos to Santa Elena - takes 10 to 11 hours approx by bus
$1.75 USD per person Santa Elena to Montanita - takes 1 hour approx by bus
$30 USD per person whale watching -includes transport to and from Puerto Lopez
$50 USD per person to visit Isla de La Plata - in my opinion you don't need to do this tour, you wont see 90% of what is at the Galapagos islands like they say you will maybe 3-4 types of bird on this island with a major rat problem - you can see blue footed boobies and red frigate birds from doing the whale watching tour, save your money and do the whale watching instead.
$3 USD per hour to hire surfboards/body board $5 USD for 2 hours
$6 USD per person Montanita to Guayaquil - takes 3 hours by bus
$8.25 USD per person Guayaquil to Cuenca - takes 4 hours by bus
$15 USD per person Cuenca to Mancora (Peru) - takes 10 hours approx by bus ( 5 hours from Cuenca to border approx + 1 hour or more at border + 3-4 hours to Mancora depending on how many check point stops you have to go through)
No exit fee to leave Ecuador!!
Peru
No entrance fee to enter Peru
$ 15 USD per person Cuenca (Ecuador) to Mancora (Peru) [including bus transfer at Arenillas Canton in Ecuador which may take an hour depending on what time your bus arrives from Cuenca]- takes approx 10 hours by bus (*note: it took us 10 hours was advertised as 7 hours when we were at the bus station but we had some issues with some passengers not having right documents so getting through the border took us 1.5 hours and then later we were stopped for an extra hour at a random check point where the police took the passengers who did not have correct documents off along with there luggage)
10 Sol for hire of snorkel and mask/surfboard/body board at the beach for 1.5 hours - however it possible to hire for the day at certain hostels for the same price!
1-5 Sol for ride in tuk-tuk depending on where you want to go max should be 5 Sol but if your in town 1.50-2 Sol should be plenty (for the whole thing not per person!
45 Sol per person Mancora to Chiclayo - takes approx 6 hours by 1st class bus (Otursa) this price was a special online though so check before you go to the office.
1.50 Sol per person Chiclayo to Lambayeque - takes 15 mins approx by collectivo taxi
10 Sol per person entrance fee into both Mueso Tumbas Reales de Sipan and Museo Arqueological Nacional Bruning. This is the best place to see information on pre Incan civilisations (Moche, Sican and Chimu) and history including gold and mummies from the Royal Tombs of Sipan
30 Sol total for english speaking guide* not sure how much Spanish guide was inside the Mueso Tumbas Reales de Sipan, we just tagged on behind another group and got the info for free but we would recommend taking the guide if your Spanish is not that great because the museum in 99.9% in Spanish.
49 Sol per person Chiclayo to Lima - takes 12-13 hours approx depending on traffic by 1st class semi cama bus (Otursa) this price was on super special so check home web page - normally 85 to 100 soles
15 Sol total from bus station to Miraflores district in Lima - by taxi
50 Sol per person Lima to Ica takes 4/12 hours approx by 1st class bus
7 Sol Ica bus station to Huacachina by taxi - price is written on the wall at the bus station.
10 Sol for hire of a single sandboard for the whole day -best if your on a tight budget and feel like being fit!
30 Sol per person for tour including 1 hour buggy ride through the dunes and an hour sandbording- best thing is that you don't have to walk uphill at all.
25 Sol per person Wine and Pisco tour - takes 2 hours and is really good! pisco and wine bottles range from 10-25 Sol depending on bottle size
$100 USD per person tour to Nazca lines - includes taxi from Huacachina to Ica, bus from Ika to Nazca, taxi from bus station in Nazca to hostel to drop off your bags for the day, Taxi to the airport , 30 min flight over the lines in a small plane, taxi back to the hostel to shower and relax before you catch your next bus. * cost dose not include 25 Sol tax fee at the airport so make sure you neg this when buying your tour!!!
or
7 Sol taxi from Huacachina to Ika bus station
14 Sol Ica to Nazca takes 2.5 hours approx by local bus (Peru Bus) - leaves every 20mins
* We dont know how much the taxi from the centre of town to the airport is but would say no more than 10 Sol total
Neg price for a flight $80-85 USD ish is a god price to start at at the airport
79 sol (super super saver) 139 (super saver) Nazca to Cusco by first class Cruz del Sur bus. Takes approx 14 hours +if you go on a weekend on friday night maybe late by upto 2hours due to traffic coming from Lima. Normal tickets approx 185 Sol
70 Sol per person Cusco to Hidroelectrica by minivan. Takes approx 8 hours (they tell you 6-7), then 2-3 hour walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes. Take a torch incase your minivan is late as may get dark before you arrive.
64.80 Sol per person student price (50% discount with ISIC card) entrance Machu Picchu
50 Sol per person Cusco to Copacabana (Bolivia) by first class bus on Huayaco. tour companies in town charge 80-110 so buy from the station direct. 3 sol from plaza de armas to terminal terrestre by taxi
$ 15 USD per person Cuenca (Ecuador) to Mancora (Peru) [including bus transfer at Arenillas Canton in Ecuador which may take an hour depending on what time your bus arrives from Cuenca]- takes approx 10 hours by bus (*note: it took us 10 hours was advertised as 7 hours when we were at the bus station but we had some issues with some passengers not having right documents so getting through the border took us 1.5 hours and then later we were stopped for an extra hour at a random check point where the police took the passengers who did not have correct documents off along with there luggage)
10 Sol for hire of snorkel and mask/surfboard/body board at the beach for 1.5 hours - however it possible to hire for the day at certain hostels for the same price!
1-5 Sol for ride in tuk-tuk depending on where you want to go max should be 5 Sol but if your in town 1.50-2 Sol should be plenty (for the whole thing not per person!
45 Sol per person Mancora to Chiclayo - takes approx 6 hours by 1st class bus (Otursa) this price was a special online though so check before you go to the office.
1.50 Sol per person Chiclayo to Lambayeque - takes 15 mins approx by collectivo taxi
10 Sol per person entrance fee into both Mueso Tumbas Reales de Sipan and Museo Arqueological Nacional Bruning. This is the best place to see information on pre Incan civilisations (Moche, Sican and Chimu) and history including gold and mummies from the Royal Tombs of Sipan
30 Sol total for english speaking guide* not sure how much Spanish guide was inside the Mueso Tumbas Reales de Sipan, we just tagged on behind another group and got the info for free but we would recommend taking the guide if your Spanish is not that great because the museum in 99.9% in Spanish.
49 Sol per person Chiclayo to Lima - takes 12-13 hours approx depending on traffic by 1st class semi cama bus (Otursa) this price was on super special so check home web page - normally 85 to 100 soles
15 Sol total from bus station to Miraflores district in Lima - by taxi
50 Sol per person Lima to Ica takes 4/12 hours approx by 1st class bus
7 Sol Ica bus station to Huacachina by taxi - price is written on the wall at the bus station.
10 Sol for hire of a single sandboard for the whole day -best if your on a tight budget and feel like being fit!
30 Sol per person for tour including 1 hour buggy ride through the dunes and an hour sandbording- best thing is that you don't have to walk uphill at all.
25 Sol per person Wine and Pisco tour - takes 2 hours and is really good! pisco and wine bottles range from 10-25 Sol depending on bottle size
$100 USD per person tour to Nazca lines - includes taxi from Huacachina to Ica, bus from Ika to Nazca, taxi from bus station in Nazca to hostel to drop off your bags for the day, Taxi to the airport , 30 min flight over the lines in a small plane, taxi back to the hostel to shower and relax before you catch your next bus. * cost dose not include 25 Sol tax fee at the airport so make sure you neg this when buying your tour!!!
or
7 Sol taxi from Huacachina to Ika bus station
14 Sol Ica to Nazca takes 2.5 hours approx by local bus (Peru Bus) - leaves every 20mins
* We dont know how much the taxi from the centre of town to the airport is but would say no more than 10 Sol total
Neg price for a flight $80-85 USD ish is a god price to start at at the airport
79 sol (super super saver) 139 (super saver) Nazca to Cusco by first class Cruz del Sur bus. Takes approx 14 hours +if you go on a weekend on friday night maybe late by upto 2hours due to traffic coming from Lima. Normal tickets approx 185 Sol
70 Sol per person Cusco to Hidroelectrica by minivan. Takes approx 8 hours (they tell you 6-7), then 2-3 hour walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes. Take a torch incase your minivan is late as may get dark before you arrive.
64.80 Sol per person student price (50% discount with ISIC card) entrance Machu Picchu
50 Sol per person Cusco to Copacabana (Bolivia) by first class bus on Huayaco. tour companies in town charge 80-110 so buy from the station direct. 3 sol from plaza de armas to terminal terrestre by taxi