One of the most affordable places to travel is Guatemala but probably not for long. I remember writing this same blog about Costa Rica 20+ years ago and now today Costa Rica has become one of hte most expensive places to travel but for good reason its a must see country along with Guatemala.
We are going to focus more on traveling in Guatemala and less on the cost of living in Guatemala. If you are a backpacker you probably can do Guatemala on $20’s a day but personally I am past those days and my comfort level while not five star certainly isn’t different flavored tunafish everyday. Nothing against backpackers we all started there.
Lodging
The backpacker can pay anywhere from $5 – $15’s a stay depending on where they park their van, pitch their tent, or hostel they pick. A two start hotel will cost you maybe $20 – $30’s a night for double occupancy.
If you want to up your comfort level a bit and stay in 3 start lodging you can get rooms from $40 – $60’s for two people and find local places to eat and spend probably little more than half of what you would spend if you are traveling from the US. The food you get is delicious and the homemade corn tortillas are worth a million dollars in my opinion.
If you are in the mood for some fanciness and dont be fooled Guatemala is not short on some spectacular homes, hotels, and service then you can expect to pay around $150 – $250/night which is still a great deal for the uniqueness of the place you are staying. This is just a range and prices can change depending on the time of season and as tourism becomes more popular in Guatemala and their is more demand on a limited area of hotels in some regions of the country mostly for the 3 to 5 star travelers.
Transportation
Transportation can be is affordable in certain parts of Guatemala in Tuk-Tuk’s. Places like Antigua where you might spend more for being a touristy area you can save on transportation by walking or taking a Tuk-Tuk and getting a free back massage by feeling every bump in the road. Its like this because its a UNESCO site and they cant change it nor should they. If you are eating in Antigua or Lake Atitlan you can expect to pay less than you would in most countries touristy areas but not pay the price of how the everyday Guatemala lives.
If you decide to fly in-country chances are your flight will be from Guatemala city to Flores. Guatemala does not have a well developed domestic flight system unless you are cruising around in a helicopter and no matter what country you are in you can probably guess that’s not the economical way to travel. A flight to Flores from Guatemala city can run on average $80’s and save you a 12 bus ride.
Bus Ride’s are in our opinion the cheapest and best tour in Guatemala. We dont suggest traveling the entire country in what is known as “Chicken buses” but we do like to recommend it for those that are looking for an authentic experience. This will cost you just a few quetzals which depending on your distance probably wont even be $1 USD.
Private shuttles are our choice of traveling and while you pay a little more you dont have to drive so you can engage with the scenery or maybe if you have a guide and second you just walk out of the airport and step into your mini-van and you are on your way. To give you an idea a private shuttle per person from the airport in Guatemala city to Antigua will run around $15’s or if you are a family you just contract a travel agency and they will have a driver and guide waiting to pick you up.
Food
The food in Guatemala is delicious and affordable. This is probably where you save the most money after lodging. When we are in Guatemala we usually bring family and friends and dinners and lunches usually come out to be like we mentioned a little over half of what we would spend in Costa Rica. The tips are included but there is usually an option to leave a little extra.
Tours and Activities
There is so much to do in Guatemala and the one thing that Guatemala does not go cheap on is their entrance to National Parks. Tikal is $20’s to get into which in reality isnt that much at all but comparing to the region its a little bit above average which is a good thing. Private tours like rafting or hiring a guide tend to be more affordable than most countries in the region and its always a good idea to shop around.
