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