If you happen to’re a budget-conscious traveler trying to discover Central America, begin by trying out these money-saving ideas.
With seven international locations, two limitless coastlines and numerous sights, Central America must be a high choose for vacationers on a funds, whether or not you’re on a two-week trip, a grown-up hole yr or an open-ended sojourn and trying to stretch each greenback.
There are all the time extra methods to chop prices, from taking the bus to consuming with the locals. The cash you save on day-to-day bills you possibly can then use to splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime expertise – maybe snorkeling with stingrays in Belize, desert island–hopping round Panama’s San Blas archipelago or using the waves in Costa Rica. Or you would simply maintain extending your journey.
Select the most affordable Central American international locations to discover
Whereas every of Central America’s stunning international locations has distinctive sights, some are undeniably extra budget-friendly than others. You’ll discover the best-value locations are Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador; in every, by staying in a hostel, taking public transport and consuming avenue meals you may get by on round $30 a day. Count on to spend double that in Belize, Costa Rica and Panama.
Keep away from the excessive season and the best costs
Although subtropical Central America is a year-round vacation spot, it’s at its hottest (and costly) through the scorching, dry season from round December to April; anticipate peak costs over Christmas, New Yr’s and Easter. Journey through the hotter wet season – round Could to November – and also you’ll dodge the crowds, in addition to bag bargains on flights, lodging and arranged excursions.
September and October are the wettest months, when heavy rain could make journey on rural roads difficult. Nonetheless, for the reason that rains normally are available short-lived afternoon bursts you normally plan across the downpours.
Ditch home flights and be a part of the locals on the bus
Home flights round Central America can value greater than your worldwide airplane ticket. Fortunately, although, you may get virtually in every single place by bus. “Hen buses” (repurposed North American college buses) are probably the most cost-effective – if not probably the most snug – choice for shorter hauls. Lengthy-distance bus traces comparable to Ticabus are probably the most luxe, if nonetheless a steal in comparison with the airplane: the 18-hour bus journey from San José to Panama Metropolis prices round $45, a 75-minute direct flight round $230.
If you happen to’re in need of time and must take a border-hopping flight, Mexico’s Volaris presents low-cost fares to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador.
Carry the native foreign money
Money continues to be king in Central America. Bank cards are a necessity for reserving flights and lodging upfront and are accepted in additional upscale institutions, however utilizing plastic typically carries a surcharge of between 5 and 15%. The US greenback is welcome in every single place – it’s the official foreign money of El Salvador and Panama – however you may get stung on the alternate fee. Carry small payments and native foreign money to make use of at markets and rural areas, and for when the ATM doesn’t work.
Bunk up in a dorm room or stick with a household
In Central America, you’ll discover a mattress to go well with each (modest) funds, from a hostel bunk or a personal room (attempt to negotiate a greater fee for longer stays), to lodging with a household with three home-cooked meals a day thrown in.
If you happen to fancy a splurge, take into account a boutique resort with a mission. The Resort con Corazón (doubles from round $32) in Granada, Nicragua, places its earnings again into training; Good Hotel in Antigua (doubles from round $100) invests in poor communities.
Ditch beds altogether and sleep in a hammock
You’ll see hammocks slung throughout verandas in every single place, particularly on the coast. Loads of hostels supply hammocks as a less expensive various to a bunk or a mattress, and there are hammock shelters in some nationwide parks – together with Tikal in Guatemala – the place you possibly can sleep surrounded by the rustle and hum of the jungle. You possibly can even pack your personal light-weight and compact hammock and string it between two swaying palms of your alternative. Simply don’t neglect the bug repellent.
Eat on the streets
A few of Central America’s finest – and most cost-effective – eats are discovered on its streets. In Honduras, vegetarian-friendly baleadas (wheat-flour tortillas full of beans and cheese) make a hearty snack; add scrambled eggs for an all-day huge breakfast. El Salvador’s nationwide dish is the transportable pupusa (fried corn tortilla). Strive one full of cheese and loroco, a local edible flower.
In Nicaragua, look out for nacatamales (steamed parcels of corn dough full of meat and vegetable) and vigorón (chicharrones, boiled yucca and cabbage salad wrapped in a banana leaf), which can maintain you going all day. Comply with locals to their favourite stall: if there’s a queue, you recognize it’ll be clear in addition to tasty.
Don’t drink bottled water – filter it as an alternative
Apart from city Costa Rica, faucet water in Central America is usually not secure for ingesting. The usual answer is to purchase bottled water, however with plastic air pollution an enormous drawback throughout the area, it can save you the surroundings – in addition to some cash – by investing in a water-filter bottle earlier than you go. A superb choice is the LifeStraw Go, which you’ll refill from any water supply. As you drink, it should filter out any undesirable nasties, preserving you hydrated and wholesome.
Drink the native tipple
Thirsty vacationers ought to shun imported beer manufacturers and go for an area lager. Every nation produces its personal satisfactory brews, together with Belikin in Belize, Gallo in Guatemala and Toña in Nicaragua. Hop heads will enjoyment of Central America’s booming craft beer scene, with more and more artistic flavors on faucet at breweries in huge cities.
For one thing stronger, award-winning rums from Ron Zacapa in Guatemala and Flor de Caña in Nicaragua means you possibly can sip a happy-hour Nica Libre for a fraction of the worth again house. All over the place on this coffee-growing area, you possibly can anticipate top-notch caffeination the morning after, too.
Swap the grocery store for the native market
Each city has a market piled excessive with contemporary, seasonal produce – together with rainbow-hued mounds of such tropical fruits as granadilla, pitaya and guava – in addition to staples like rice and beans. Search for lodging with a kitchen so you possibly can rustle up your personal meals and picnics.
Since excursions value cash, be your personal information
There are occasions when you must take a tour or use an area information – volcano boarding down the black ash slopes of Nicaragua’s Cerro Negro, say, or traversing the paths of Costa Rica’s untamed Corcovado Nationwide Park. However with a little bit of homework – and (ahem) a stable guidebook – there are many sights that you may discover independently, together with the ornate carvings of the Copán ruins in Honduras.
Study the language in much less touristy cities
There’s no scarcity of colleges to study or enhance your Spanish, however it can save you cash by going a bit off the gringo path. In Guatemala, a Spanish course within the highland metropolis of Quetzaltenango (Xela for brief) will probably be cheaper than in Antigua. With 20 hours of one-on-one tuition for round $180 per week, together with a homestay, you’ll be speaking like a Guatemalteco very quickly, in addition to getting a style of native life.
Island life is dearer, so head for mainland seashores
There are many island idylls in Central America, with icing sugar–smooth white sand lapped by crystalline waters, from the car-free islands of Caye Caulker in Belize and Nicaragua’s Little Corn to the palm-fringed sand circles that make up Panama’s San Blas archipelago. However island life comes with the next price ticket even earlier than the puddle-jumper flight to get there. so with miles of seashores alongside the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, bus it to a close-by shore as an alternative. As alternate options, take into account Placencia in Belize, Playa Maderas in Nicaragua and distant Santa Catalina in Panama.
Take a scuba-diving course in Honduras
The smallest of Honduras’ Bay Islands, heavenly Utila is among the most cost-effective – and finest – locations on the planet to study to scuba, for newbies and divemasters alike. The common value of a PADI Open Water course is round $300, although in the event you store across the native dive facilities you would possibly discover cut price lodging offers thrown in. Word that in the event you go between March and Could, you’ll get the possibility to scuba with majestic whale sharks, the mild giants of the ocean.
Day by day prices in Central America
Hostel dorm $7–20
Fundamental room for 2 $15-50
Bus ticket $0.25-10
Dinner for 2 in an area restaurant $6-20
Beer $0.85-3.50
Espresso $0.75-5
