1

Yes, you should definitely go without the organized trips, if cost is an issue. Peru is a place where budget travel is cheap and easy. And many tourist towns have hostels that allow camping. Even without camping you'll find that you can almost always find local hostals or hotels cheaper than you ones you'd see advertised online.

Even if you don't speak much Spanish, independent travel is not truly difficult. If your Spanish is moderately good, it's going to be super easy for you. If you start your trip w/ Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu, don't be discouraged if things seem a bit expensive. Most 1st time travellers start that way, and those are by far the most expensive places. With the exception of lodges in the Amazon basin, everthing else in Peru is a whole lot cheaper than Lima or Macchu Picchu.

2

If you want to experience the Amazon in depth you'll definitely have to hire a guide.
Peru is much cheaper than most western countries if you stick to restaurants, hostales and bars catering to Peruvians.

3

Hi there !

if you're planning to do a touring by iquitos the gateway to the amazon basin. There is number of tour operators in Iquitos competing for your buck, With enough money and time, you can get away to isolated places wherever you want to visit in the Amazon basin. Or if you just want to see the Amazon jungle with the most diverse range of animals possible, more cheaply..... I am an Amazon jungle Guide ,I do tours ranging from 1 ,2,3 days up depending on your time availability including activities like Fishing , Wanderings , Hunting ,Canoeing , Bird watching , Pink dolphin observation , Ayawaska ceremony , Medicinal plants , Pacays samiria reserve , Tribal groups

for more info , take a look at some of the entries as you can see here :

www.tahuayolodge.com
or E-mailing me to : sacredleaves@tahuayolodge.com

if you're interested in the details, costs, route etc, Happy to answer any questions too.

I would be very glad to be your friend and Guide on the Amazon !