Guatemala for Under $500

Antigua, Guatemala (2020)

  There is this stigma around travel being expensive. I like to think that if you have at least $500 you can go travel somewhere and have a good time. In my previous blog, 5 Ways to get Money for Travel, I gave you some ways to make that $500. I would like to provide you with an example of a trip I took this year, in 2020, that cost me less than $500.

I recently went on a 5-day solo trip to Guatemala. The trip went as well as it could have. It wasn’t perfect, but overall I had a good time and would return.

Here is a breakdown of how much everything cost along with a little explanation.

Transportation: 

I found my flight to Guatemala while up late one night on Google Flights. I flew Spirit Airlines one way and United Airlines the other way. No complaints on the flights. Prior to my arrival, I did some research and pre-booked my shuttle from the airport to Antigua with a company called GuateGo. My shuttle from Antigua to Lake Atitlan was arranged by the hostel. I didn’t actually pay for the boat but that’s how much it is supposed to cost. I arranged my ride from San Pedro to the airport at a travel agency next door to my hostel.

Lodging:

I am a big advocate for hostels. I booked these two hostels using my Hostelworld app. Maya Papaya is highly rated and I definitely recommend staying at this hostel if you visit Antigua. Their staff is also helpful and amazing. They helped me get medication when I got sick on my trip. The property itself is so aesthetically pleasing, the beds are large and comfy, and there are plenty of bathrooms.

I ended up booking Hostel Fe because I lost out on my previous reservation when I got sick. I saw Hostel Fe was supposed to be a party hostel so I thought it might be fun. Turns out the place was pretty empty. I only had one roommate the whole time I was there. The room wasn’t as nice as the other hostel but for $9 a night for a 2-night stay, I wasn’t really trippin’.

Food:

  I like to give myself a budget of $30 a day for food. That gives me about $10 to spend on each meal. Both hostels I stayed at offered free breakfast, so I didn’t have to pay for that meal. I was also sick one day out of my trip, so I didn’t actually eat that day. Also, on the day of my arrival I took a food tour at night which I consider an activity and not part of my food budget.

Activities:

When I arrived in Antigua my first day, I ended up meeting these girls during happy hour who invited me to go out with them on their food tour. It was a private tour they booked on Viator. The second day, I went on a free tour of the market that was provided by the hostel. I was the only person on the tour. While in San Pedro, I went horseback riding for 3hrs through the town and through the woods. I booked this activity through the travel agency next door to the hostel where I also booked my shuttle to the airport.

Other things to consider:

I planned this trip about two weeks before I went. I did end up getting sick during my trip with a stomach virus so I missed out on 1 days worth of activities and money spending. Other things I did not include in this breakdown were the cost of travel insurance ($55), parking at the airport ($35), luggage fees ($30) , souvenirs ($60), photoshoot ($150), and medication ($10). I did not include these because you don’t have to purchase travel insurance (even though you should), you can just take a backpack instead of carry-on luggage, you can use the extra $20 in your budget to buy something nice for your mom, you don’t need a photoshoot, and you have an extra $20 in case you get sick and need medication. If you want to travel then you can travel. You may just have to give up some luxuries to have the travel experience you want. The good thing is that depending on what country you decide to visit, you can live lavishly on a budget. Imagine what fun I could have gotten into if my budget was $700 or $1000?

The possibilities are endless for us, my friend. Enjoy your travels, visit Guatemala, and reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Thanks for reading!