Budget Travel Destination

Thailand On A Budget 

South Africa On A Budget 

Turkey On A Budget 

Spain On A Budget 

Iceland On A Budget 

Mexico Travel Budget

The first thing I want to say is that Mexico is not as dangerous as people make it out to be. I can say with confidence that Mexico is just as safe as parts of the United States.

Because the American media only reports on sensational news from Mexico, individuals who have never been there assume the whole country is a wild and dangerous place. This gives people a skewed view, resulting in a sort of mass hysteria.

Mexico is very big, and just because there’s violence in parts of the North does not mean the whole country is a failed state. Major cities in the US have ridiculous crime rates too, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe for foreigners to visit our country.

While knowledge of Spanish is a huge benefit, it’s not needed to travel in Mexico. I was a bit worried about my lack of Spanish. Sure it was frustrating to communicate at times, but it wasn’t impossible. I carried a small Spanish phrasebook that covered the basics which worked fine.

In touristy towns the local population sees you as a dollar sign, another reason I’m glad I didn’t spend too much time in these places.

For the most part though, the people I met in Mexico were all incredibly friendly, hard working, patient, and generous individuals. Many would insist on buying drinks or cooking food for me, without wanting anything in return other than conversation and friendship. Complete strangers would help me with directions or interpret bus announcements.

At first I was wary of this type of thing, my own deep fears revealing themselves. But the more it happened the more I realized it was just natural kindness. Good luck trying to find that kind of attitude in South Florida!

In my 5 weeks of travel through the Yucatan, I only met a handful of travelers from the United States. Most travelers I met were from Europe or Mexico City. The summer season is slow here because of the heat, and boy did I feel it. I got used to not having AC after a while though, and changing my shirt twice a day. Cold showers were actually nice in the afternoons.

Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal « BUY PRINT »

Mexico Travel Costs:

Here is a breakdown of how much money I spent during my 5 weeks in Mexico:

• Food & Drink: $367 US (groceries, restaurants, water, alcohol)
• Accommodation: $327 US (hostels, hotels, camping fees)
• Transportation: $149 US (buses, taxis, boats)
• Activities: $86 US (entrance fees, rentals, classes, tours, etc.)
• Other: $66 US (laundry, internet, phone, toiletries, souvenirs, etc.)

DAYS = 36

TOTAL SPENT = $995 US

DAILY AVERAGE = $27.64 US

While this may seem like a very low number, Mexico is cheap to travel through if you avoid the major tourist cities. Staying in dorms at backpacking hostels and traveling by second class bus and collectivos saved me a lot of money.

So did cooking a majority of my own meals. I did make sure to eat out at least once a day at either restaurants or street vendors. I never felt like I was missing out on something important because I was spending less money, in fact I actually felt like I was receiving a more worthwhile experience by eating and getting around like a local would.

Dzitnup Cenote in the Yucatan « BUY PRINT »

Highlights

• Scuba diving cenotes & underground rivers
• Hiking the ancient Mayan ruins of Calakmul
• Eating tons of delicious Mexican food

Challenges

Summer heat in the Yucatan is brutal

Surprises

Mexico is plenty safe & friendly

Yucatan Mexico Slideshow

Stories & Adventures From Mexico

Planning to travel to the Yucatan soon? Browse all my blog posts from Mexico to get ideas & recommendations for your own adventures.

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I think I’m becoming a lot more relaxed and patient with problems that pop up from time to time, as they did in Mexico. Bus breakdowns in the middle of nowhere, towns without working ATMs, getting caught in downpours, no hot water, walking everywhere, foreign language issues, power outages, lack of air conditioning in 102 degree heat and other experiences I had in Mexico make minor inconveniences I’ve experienced in the US seem ridiculous. ★

Guatemala Travel Budget

The first thing I want to say is that Guatemala is a very eclectic country. One moment you can be high up in cold mountains, and in the other you can be on a hot Caribbean beach. It is a beautiful country, and a dirty country. You can find pristine jungle forests as well as rivers filled with trash. Guatemala’s people speak over 23 different languages too!

I was planning on only spending a month here, but Guatemala’s magic sucked me in and I stayed for two. I’m not the only one to experience this magnetic attraction either, I heard from many travelers who had done similar things. Some people never even left…

People in Guatemala are a friendly bunch, but you have to make an effort to woo them. Initially you might receive an unfriendly stare, but as soon as you beam a warm smile and say “buenas!” their eyes will light up and you’re bound to make a new friend.

Safety in Guatemala was never much of an issue for me. The only time I felt on edge a bit was in the capital of Guatemala City. But even then, I spent 5 days in the city driving around with friends and even walking the streets after dark. Knowledge is power. Knowing where it is safe, and where it isn’t, is all you need to have a great time.

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Guatemala Travel Costs:

Guatemala travel budgets can vary greatly. Here is a breakdown of how much money I spent over 2 months of travel there.

• Food & Drink: $575 US (groceries, restaurants, water, alcohol)
• Accommodation: $406 US (hostels, hotels, camping fees)
• Transportation: $126 US (buses, taxis, boats)
• Activities: $379 US (entrance fees, rentals, classes, tours, etc.)
• Miscellaneous: $120 US (laundry, sundries, souvenirs, visas, etc.)

TOTAL DAYS = 62

TOTAL SPENT = $1606 US

DAILY AVERAGE = $26 US

Budget Notes: These figures include 3 weeks of Spanish language school. Staying in dorms at backpacking hostels and traveling by chicken bus and collectivos saved me a lot of money. So did cooking a majority of my own meals.

Traveling solo is teaching me to solve all kinds of problems on the fly, with little to no help from others. For example: How to retrieve my backpack from the top of a chicken bus while it’s still moving, so I can jump off before the driver speeds off again.

My patience is growing. A 10 hour bus ride is no big deal anymore. Either is a bone-rattling & wet water taxi trip, or getting crammed in the back of a small van with 25 other people. Sure these things are inconvenient, but not on the level they would have been if I was still living by US standards.

Guatemala will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will definitely be back to visit in the future!

Honduras Travel Budget: My Experience

Overview

Honduras has a reputation for being dangerous, and it can sometimes live up to that reputation. But that doesn’t necessarily make it dangerous for travelers. While I was there, shocking things did happen. The local news was full of uncensored video of chicken-bus drivers who had been shot for not paying protection money to local gangs, or drug related shootings at public soccer matches.

But just like in other countries (including the USA), these acts are related to gangs & drugs. Someone traveling through the country really has nothing to be afraid of (unless you happen to be involved in the drug smuggling business). I met many friendly people in Honduras, and would happily recommend it to travelers who are looking to get off the beaten tourist path.

I would have liked to spend even more time in the country, but needed to get to a volunteer project in Nicaragua that I was already late for.

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Honduras Travel Costs:

Honduras travel budgets can vary greatly. Here is a breakdown of how much money I spent over 3 weeks of travel there.

• Food & Drink: $240 US (groceries, restaurants, water, alcohol)
• Accommodation: $400 US (hostels, hotels, camping fees)
• Transportation: $200 US (buses, taxis, boats)
• Activities: $300 US (entrance fees, rentals, classes, tours, etc.)
• Miscellaneous: $50 US (laundry, sundries, souvenirs, visas, etc.)

TOTAL DAYS = 22

TOTAL SPENT = $1190 US

DAILY AVERAGE = $54.09 US

Budget Notes: My daily average was a bit higher in Honduras than in previous Central American countries, but this was mainly because of a PADI scuba diving course I took. Subtracting the course, my daily average is:$33.48 US

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Highlights

- Slowing down in the sleepy town of Comayagua
– Learning to scuba dive on the island of Utila
– Hiking to a plane crash in the jungle

Lowlights

- Getting hassled on the street in Tegucigalpa

Surprises

- I didn’t get robbed or shot

Stories & Adventures from Honduras

Planning to travel to Honduras soon? Browse all my blog posts from Honduras to get ideas & recommendations for your own adventures.

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Final Thoughts

Yet again I’m learning that places are not as dangerous as people make them out to be. The rumor that a particular country or city is overly dangerous gets passed on from traveler to traveler, without many facts or first hand experience to back it up.

For example, there was a mugging that happened in the Honduran city of La Ceiba while I was there. This sensational piece of news quickly spread throughout the backpacking community. It made the city seem unsafe. But of course, if you think about it logically, there are muggings every day in New York City. But that doesn’t stop school busses loaded with American children from visiting NYC on field trips!

Unreasonable fear is a common problem for people traveling in countries that are not their own.

Additional Examples?

My last trip to Honduras was in 2014. Prices have probably changed a bit since then. We don’t all travel the same way either. So to help you get a better picture, here are a few Honduras travel budgets from others

Nicaragua Travel Budget: My Experience

Overview

I think I’m in love. The Central American country of Nicaragua was a big surprise. I quickly got sucked into it’s laid-back pace of life, incredibly friendly people, and low cost of living.

I wasn’t planning on spending much time here. That scenario soon changed once I got to know the place!

Do you want to travel back in time? It’s possible in Nicaragua.

Venture into any of the many small towns to experience rural farming communities where water is collected with buckets, horses are the only way to get around, and even basic electricity can be hard to find.

Living in Nicaragua for a while was a refreshing pause in my journey, and I became captivated by it’s magic.

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Nicaragua Travel Costs:

Nicaragua travel budgets can vary greatly. Here is a breakdown of how much money I spent over 4 months of travel there.

• Food & Drink: $1,600 US (groceries, restaurants, water, alcohol)
• Accommodation: $690 US (hostels, hotels, camping fees)
• Transportation: $152 US (buses, taxis, boats)
• Activities: $180 US (entrance fees, rentals, classes, tours, etc.)
• Miscellaneous: $430 US (laundry, sundries, souvenirs, visas, etc.)

TOTAL DAYS = 121

TOTAL SPENT = $3,052US

DAILY AVERAGE = $25.22 US

Budget Notes: I stayed almost 2 months at a hostel in Granada called La Casita that charged only $5.5 a night because it was low-season.

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Highlights

- Watching my first cock fight
– Volcano boarding down Cerro Negro
– Building ovens out of poop
– Hitchhiking to visit Alberto
– Chicken buses

Lowlights

- The heat of Leon
– Sleeping on the deck of a cargo boat
– Crashing a motorcycle
– Witnessing how people live at La Chureca
– Chicken buses

Surprises

- How cheap the country is
– How friendly the people are
– Chicken buses!

My Nicaragua Slideshow

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Stories & Adventures From Nicaragua

Planning to travel to Nicaragua soon? Browse all my blog posts from Nicaragua to get ideas & recommendations for your own adventures

Final Thoughts

Nicaragua has a little bit of everything. Beautiful beaches, great surfing, active volcanoes, nature preserves, freshwater lakes, jungle rivers, quaint colonial cities, and a good chunk of the country is not easy to access and off the beaten track (just the way I like it).

Traveling in Nicaragua won’t break the bank either. I know I’ll be back again some day soon.

Additional Examples?

My last trip to Nicaragua was in 2014. Prices have probably changed a bit since then. We don’t all travel the same way either. So to help you get a better picture, here are a few Nicaragua travel budgets from others:

Costa Rica Travel Budget: How Much Did It Cost?

BUDGET TRAVEL

Is it possible to travel in Costa Rica on a budget? Learn how much it cost me to backpack in Costa Rica — along with my favorite travel tips & highlights.

My Experience

Everywhere I traveled in Central America, I kept hearing the same thing.“Skip Costa Rica” they said. “It’s expensive and touristy”. But one lesson I’ve learned during my travels is that you shouldn’t always believe everything you hear from others.

Costa Rica surprised me in a good way. Sure, there were many expensive tourist-friendly types of activities that other backpacker’s warned me about. For example: I’ve never seen so many advertisements for zip-lining!

But I soon found out there are a variety of ways to experience the best of the country even on a backpacker’s budget. You just need to dig below the surface a bit.

Costa Rica has plenty of less-traveled rural towns and National Parks that offer travelers numerous adrenaline-fueled & nature-loving activities – and they won’t break the bank either.

Monteverde in Costa Rica « BUY PRINT »

Costa Rica Travel Costs:

Costa Rica travel budgets can vary greatly. Here is a breakdown of how much money I spent over 1 month of travel there.

• Food & Drink: $500 US (groceries, restaurants, water, alcohol)
• Accommodation: $345 US (hostels, hotels, camping fees)
• Transportation: $180 US (buses, taxis, boats)
• Activities: $150 US (entrance fees, rentals, classes, tours, etc.)
• Miscellaneous: $50 US (laundry, sundries, souvenirs, visas, etc.)

TOTAL DAYS = 34

TOTAL SPENT = $1,225 US

DAILY AVERAGE = $36.02 US

Budget Notes: For some reason I actually never get sick of eating rice & beans! This helped me save on food. You can buy a hearty plate of beef, pinto, & fried plantains for about $3 at small local establishments.

Amazing Costa Rica Wildlife « BUY PRINT »

Highlights

• Trekking through Corcovado National Park
• Hitchhiking down a volcano with cheese
• Whitewater rafting a wild jungle river
• Hammock camping near Rio Celeste Waterfall

Challenges

• Manuel Antonio National Park is kind of a joke
• Multiple attempted taxi scams in San Jose

Surprises

• The country is more mountainous than I expected
• Rainy season wasn’t really that bad

Costa Rica Photo Slideshow

Stories & Adventures From Costa Rica

Planning to travel to Costa Rica soon? Browse all my blog posts from Costa Rica to get ideas & recommendations for your own adventures.

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Final Thoughts

Costa Rica has a well deserved reputation for its eco-tourism, but its most popular National Parks are not the best in my opinion. You can certainly experience the country on a backpacker’s budget if you take the time to investigate low-cost sleeping options like camping, hostels, and small guest houses.

Visiting Costa Rica in the rainy season (May to November) is a wonderful way to experience it’s best nature reserves without tons of tourists around – if you don’t mind some occasional wet hiking conditions.

Spend a few weeks exploring the diverse biology, mountains, beaches, and rain-forests of Costa Rica and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Additional Examples?

My last trip to Costa Rica was in 2014. Prices have probably changed a bit since then. We don’t all travel the same way either. So to help you get a better picture, here are a few Costa Rica travel budgets from others: