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