Travel cheap in Latin America
One of the biggest considerations when it comes to budget travel
is where to vacation. Some vacation destinations are much less
costly than others, so travelers on a budget need to choose
their vacation spots carefully. One of the most exciting, and
least expensive, travel destinations for the budget traveler is
the countries of Central and South America.
Going where your dollars go farther is one of the cardinal rules
of budget travel, and U.S. dollars are highly sought after, and
incredibly valuable, in a number of Latin American countries.
For instance, for the same budget, you could spend a week at one
of those priciest Caribbean resorts, or several months in many
fascinating parts of Central and South America.
Budget travel in Latin America has many advantages far beyond
the monetary savings. For instance, some of the most amazing and
unforgettable sights just happen to be located in some of the
world's least expensive countries. These easy to afford, hard to
forget sights include the Incan wonders of Machu Picchu in Peru
and the wonderful Mayan ruins scattered throughout some of the
least costly parts of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. A budget
Latin American vacation can include such exciting adventures as
exploring an unspoiled rainforest, white water rafting down some
of the world's most beautiful rivers, climbing active and
extinct volcanoes, and diving off some of the world's most
spectacular coral reefs.
The key to enjoying all this adventure while staying within your
budget is to shun the standard tourist sights, and to take your
time when traveling around. By doing this, not only will you
save money, but you will make contact with real people, and make
some wonderful memories. While in Cancun you may meet only other
tourists, in the wilds of Peru you will meet all kinds of
people, from peasant coffee farmers to experienced mountain
guides and white water raft guides.
Visiting an affordable country means you will enjoy wonderful
meals, stay in unique and interesting places, and meet wonderful
people you will never forget, all for far less than you would
spend at home.
When visiting Latin America, it is important to take your time,
not simply because there is so much to see, but also because the
pace of life there is slower and more relaxed. And after all,
relaxation is what a vacation should be all about. And the best
thing is, your vacation budget can last for many months in this
most affordable of destinations.
Taking it slow will allow you to spend time with and get
acquainted with some of the most fascinating people you will
ever meet. Getting the perspective of the local population and
learning from their varied experience, is one of the best parts
of travel, no matter what your budget. Travel provides a
perspective and a view of your place in the world that nothing
else can, and that is what makes it so uniquely valuable and
exciting.
Traveling throughout Central and South America is also a great
way to boost the local economies, and help the lives of the
wonderful people who live there. Spending time in a small
village, living with a local family in a small guest house, may
well pay that family's bills for weeks, help send their children
to school, and help them enjoy a brighter future. Instead of
spending your money in a large tourist resort, try stepping off
the beaten path for a couple of weeks or months.
Not only will you save significant sums of money, but you will
help people who need the money. The beauty of budget travel in
Latin America is that your money goes directly to the people who
need it, instead of being filtered through resort owners, tour
operators and hotel managers.