Cheap travel countries in Latin America

Most destinations in Latin America are budget-friendly. Here are a few that are even more so than the rest, while also being amazing vacation spots.

Ecuador

Estimated budget: $25-40/day

The small country in the northeastern part of South America is home to many hidden gems, in addition to the Galápagos Islands. Before its colonization by Spain, Ecuador was part of the Inca Empire. This resulted in a culturally diverse country where a large portion of the population is composed of mestizos, and where Spanish, the national language, is spoken alongside a plurality of Amerindian languages.

With the Andes and its volcanoes, a portion of the Amazon rainforest, and its access to the ocean, Ecuador is a nature-lover paradise, one of the few megadiverse countries in the world, as well as one of the cheapest places to visit in the Americas. The Galápagos are the most expensive destination you will find in Ecuador but even there, you will have trouble spending a fortune easily if you go local.

Bolivia

Estimated budget: $20-45/day

Bolivia is another wonder for the beauty of its diverse landscapes. While it doesn't have access to the sea, it is home to the highest lake in the world and the largest one in South America, Lake Titicaca. It's also a favored destination by travel instagrammers due to the beauty of the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni that seem to be from another planet.

The most expensive part of your trip is likely to be your plane ticket, because Bolivia isn't easily accessible. But once you're there, you quickly realize how cheap a vacation spot it is. A full meal can be as cheap a $2. Accommodation and transportation won't cost you much more than that either, which makes it rather easily to live on $20 a day in Bolivia.

Nicaragua

Estimated budget: $25-45/day

Located in Central America, Nicaragua is another paradise where adventure travelers will be thrilled to go surfing, diving, or volcano hiking. It has been dubbed the second Costa Rica for its landscapes, its biodiversity, and increasing popularity among travelers in search of an affordable place to spend their vacations, but also because prices are increasing.

While it ranks among the poorest countries in the Americas, Nicaragua has seen its tourism industry booming in recent years, leading many a traveler to believe that the country won't remain as cheap as it is for long.

Like many countries in Latin America, it is home to a diverse culture, be it in cuisine, music, or literature.  

Guatemala

Estimated budget: $25-50/day

Guatemala is another fantastic budget alternative to Costa Rica in Central America. Prices are about twice as cheap there, with no impact on quality. There again, the landscapes are otherworldly, with jungles hiding Mayan temples, lakes surrounded by volcanoes, and perhaps most astonishingly, river caves.

Villages are perfect to take a break from the heart of nature and discover the locals' slow-paced lifestyle. The colonial cities will also delight with their atypical architecture. Even there, you can get by with $25 a day.

Colombia

Estimated budget: $35-50/day

You may have a bad opinion of Colombia if you've been watching Narcos. While gangs are still present, life in Colombia is far from as dangerous as depicted in the Netflix show. It's now a much safer destination.

And a cheap one too! Exchange rates are favorable to the USD and EUR, letting you enjoy the charm of its cities like Medellin at an affordable cost.

Colombia is another one of these countries where nature leaves you breathless. The country's location lets travelers enjoy both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. It also has access to the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. Think of Colombia as a concentrate of what Latin America has to offer.

Argentina

Estimated budget: $35-50/day

Buenos Aires is the city in Latin America that seems the closest to a European city... without the price tag. The country's economy is a mess that impacted negatively the lives of many inhabitants, but the country remains an affordable vacation spot for Westerners.

Argentina is quite big: you'll probably need to take domestic flights if you're planning on visiting both the north and the south of the country. And there is much that you don't want to miss, between the glaciers of Patagonia in the south and the Iguazu Falls that mark the border with Brazil in the north, some of the most impressive waterfalls in the world.

Note that from Ushuaia, you can go on a cruise to Antarctica. But while this is one of the cheapest places to leave from, we're not talking budget travel anymore here.

Thomas Busson

Thomas is a Passenger Rights and Flight Compensation expert. Frequent traveler, he loves sharing tips and news to help people make the most of travel.

The original article link: https://www.claimcompass.eu/blog/budget-travel-cheap-vacation-spots/#cheapcountriesinlatinamerica