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Summer is just around the corner, and if you’ve been dreaming of piña coladas on the coast, sunbathing in tropical weather and colonial cities oozing charm, then Latin America is probably next. at the top of your wish list.
Still, Cancun and its award-winning resorts aren’t the cheapest international holiday destinations, and while it’s absolutely beautiful, all-time favorite Rio de Janeiro has lately been catering to big spenders (as the dizzyingly high hotel prices are an indication).
Fortunately for budget travelers, Cancun and Rio aren’t representative of Latin America as a whole: they visit these 4 other beach hotspotsare unlikely to spend more than $71 per day.
Lima, Peru
Peru is best known as the heart of the Incas, home to iconic ancient sites like historic Machu Picchu, but it’s also a seriously underrated coastal destination.
The capital, Lima, is located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and it is the perfect affordable beach holiday.
Lima is a sprawling city with lots to see and do, but make sure you visit the colonial center to admire the well-preserved Spanish architecture from the 16th century and taste the flavorful cuisine (an anticucho beef skewer) . from the market costs only $2).
However, the main attraction for beachgoers is the Miraflores coastal area, which is easy to recognize for its luxurious apartments and hotels located on top of cliffs by the seahigh above the golden sands: the Ana Frank Boutique Hotel costs $81 to book, while the local Iberostar costs $166 per night.
It is the most expensive location to live in Lima, but you can still find cheaper accommodation elsewhere only 50 dollarsand take the bus to the laid-back beach area if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big metropolis: generally a week’s trip for two costs $1,065.
Valparaiso, Chile
We’ll stick to the Pacific side for now, this time in neighboring Chile, possibly the country with the strangest geography in the world, and the narrowest in Latin America, and it is in this strip of territory bordered by the Andes and the vast ocean that you you will find a picturesque Valparaiso.
It is a kind of ‘mini-Europe’ and is characterized by its… rows upon rows of colorful seaside housesuphill cable cars, vibrant street art, leafy streets lined with stately mansions – a clear indication of earlier European migration – and an unspoilt stretch of coastline.
Beaches in Chile aren’t exactly tropical per se, but they are quite picturesqueand the up-and-coming resort of Viña del Mar, where the honey-colored sands stretch for several kilometers, is just a 12-minute drive from the city.
There’s no abundance of cheap street food here like there is in Peru, but there’s no shortage of great harborside restaurants, where cheap seafood meals will set you back an average of $11, and three-star hotels for around $39 a night: total costs for a week? $940 for two people.
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena is Colombia’s official gateway to the Caribbean Sea and a culturally charged colonial settlement famous for its Instagrammable old townwith a large number of brightly colored Baroque buildings and churches, and fortifications listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The historic center is completely walkable and very tourist-friendly, and there are plenty of affordable dining options to choose from, with prices ranging from just $5 to $12 for a more extensive lunch, while hotels are within walking distance of Bocagrande Beach. start from $44.
As warm and beautiful as they are, the waters around Cartagena aren’t exactly crystal clear, so if you dream of pristine islands with powdered sugar sands and turquoise seasyou should take a day trip to the Rosario Islands, a short half-hour ferry ride from the coast.
Colombia is incredibly cheap even by Latin American standards, thanks to a devalued currency and lower cost of living. Budget your tripyou should plan to spend $48 a day in Cartagena, or around $333 per person during a week’s stay excluding hotels.
Mar de Plata, Argentina
The cheapest beach destination in all of Latin America, Mar de Plata is Argentina’s hidden gem on the azure Atlantic Ocean, and a rapidly developing resort town where modest oceanfront hotels cost negligible. $17 per night can be booked, including breakfast.
Argentina’s historically low prices and attractive rates make this possible highly sought after by Latin Americans themselves, especially Brazilians and Uruguayans, who come here for the coastal atmosphere and $6 asado dinners in local restaurants.
As well as spending their afternoons at leisure at Arena Beach, tourists can also explore Mar de Plata’s rich architectural heritage, including a Tudor-style water tower, Belle Époque buildings contrasting with modernist developments, and rustic holiday homes with arched verandas.
If you are very budget conscious, you can easily spend a week in Mar del Plata less than $313Although we are more realistic, we recommend that you put this aside $950 for a more comfortable experience, such as some of the nicest hotels in the city costs from $91.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
