Honduras, from 520 dollars round trip

Useful information

• Price of a pint of beer: 0,61 $.
• Price of a meal in a cheap restaurant: 4,48 $.
• Price of a taxi ride: 2,48 $ + 2,37 $/km
• Price of a double room (3* hotel): 62$/night (433$/week)
• Daily budget for an average trip: 22$/day
• Best time to go: Winter

If you dream of Central America, you can go to Belize, Costa Rica or even Guatemala. But if you want to make a cheap trip, there is nothing like Honduras. Although the country is relatively untouristy, you can discover white sandy beaches lined with palm trees that have nothing to envy to those of the Maldives, diving spots worthy of the Red Sea, as well as many cheap restaurants allowing you to spend a fabulous holiday for less than 25$ per day. For a fraction of the price of a trip to the Caribbean, you can enjoy the many pristine beaches along the north coast of Honduras. When a cheap holiday destination rhymes with beautiful scenery, it would be wrong to deprive yourself.

One of the liveliest cities on this idyllic coast is Puerto Cortes, a bustling port known for its banana trade and with buildings of colonial architecture. In Omoa, a small seaside resort that looks like it’s straight out of a postcard, you can admire a fortress built by the Spanish colonists.

If you like cities with a post-colonial atmosphere, visit Comayagua. The old town centre is home to picturesque Spanish houses and an ornate cathedral. Located two hours drive northwest of the capital Tegucigalpa, this city was once the political and religious center of the country. Nowadays, this small town is mainly known for its colonial buildings and charming little squares where you can enjoy delicious coffee. Visit the café “La Casa de Sandwich”. For less than two dollars, you can buy a traditional Honduran baguette or a steak sandwich and then picnic in the “Parque Central” park. Honduras is the perfect place to have a cheap stay and drink a few cocktails in the sun!

 

Argentina, from 348 dollars round trip

Useful information

Price of a pint of beer: 1,16 $.

• Price of a meal in a cheap restaurant: $6.00
• Price of a taxi ride: 0,77 $ + 0,55 $/km
• Price of a double room (3* hotel): 59$/night (413$/week)
• Daily budget for an average trip: 40$/day
• Best seasons to go: Spring & Autumn

Another cheap country: Argentina. From the savannas of the central plains of the Pampa region to the steep Andean mountains on the western border with Chile, there is no shortage of things to do and see in Argentina, the eighth largest country in the world. If you prefer the city lights, head to Buenos Aires. With a population of over 14 million, this is one of the busiest cities on the planet and is renowned for its vibrant nightlife.

Discover the flamboyant and colourful lifestyle of the Argentinean capital while staying off the beaten track. For less than 30-35$ per day you can experience another side of Buenos Aires and visit the bold and lively murals that adorn many of the buildings in Buenos Aires.

As soon as the sun goes down, explore the streets of the San Telmo district and enjoy the bohemian atmosphere and the many restaurants and bars in the area. Spending the evening in San Telmo will turn out to be much nicer (and cheaper) than spending the evening in the tourist traps of the Recoleta district.

If you want to get away from the city, there’s nothing like travelling to Patagonia in the south of the country in the direction of “Tierra del Fuego”. This region is home to some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet, as well as Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world from where you can embark on a cruise to Antarctica for a cheap vacation.

To reach Tierra del Fuego, you can take the bus – the journey from Buenos Aires takes 24 to 36 hours – or the plane, which is more expensive but much faster too. Further north, don’t miss a trip to the Valdes Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this nature reserve, you can admire many (and cute) penguins, dolphins and whales! The entrance fee to this nature park is around twelve dollars, which is still reasonable if you are looking for a cheap holiday destination.

Bolivia, from 526 dollars A/R

Useful information

• Price of a pint of beer: 0,58 $.
• Price of a meal in a cheap restaurant: $2.69
• Price of a taxi ride: 1,30 $ + 1,30 $/km
• Price of a double room (3* hotel): 35$/night (242$/week)
• Daily budget for an average trip: 27$/day
• Best seasons to go: Spring & Autumn

Another cheap country to travel: Bolivia. Known as the “Tibet of the Americas”, Bolivia is a relatively difficult country to access: it is one of only two countries in South America that has no access to the sea (the other country being Paraguay).

In La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, a walk along Calle Jaén will take you back to the era of Spanish colonization. Indeed, this street is home to some of the best preserved colonial buildings in the city, with whitewashed facades and small screened balconies. You will also find a large number of museums, including the old house of Pedro Domingo Murillo, the leader of the 1809 revolution in La Paz. The entrance ticket costs only 30 cents!

You can also visit the Costumbrista Museum, which houses a ceramic depicting the hanging of the revolutionary Murillo. If that wasn’t enough for you (museums aren’t the only things in life!), food and drinks are extremely cheap in Bolivia. With one dollar you can buy a bottle of Paceña – a local beer – or a bowl of chairo (potato soup)! When you were told that Bolivia was a cheap country!

Bring plenty of warm clothes so you don’t catch cold. Although the Bolivian climate is mostly hot and humid, the climate in the Altiplano and La Paz is very cool due to the altitude of the city. Situated at 3600 meters above sea level, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, and temperatures can quickly turn negative as soon as the sun goes down.

Once your visit is over, go to Oruro. Located in the heart of the Altiplano and only three hours by bus from La Paz, Oruro is very famous for its Carnival. Classified as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, this Carnival is held every year in February or March in honour of the Virgin of Candelaria. You will be able to attend 48 traditional dance shows and a traditional parade that will introduce you to Bolivian indigenous and religious culture.