I spent six weeks traveling through Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica on a total budget of 2,400 dollars, which worked out to about 57 dollars per day. That included everything: accommodation, food, transportation, activities, visas, and border crossings. Central America is one of the most affordable regions in the world for budget travelers, and the infrastructure for independent travel, while less developed than Southeast Asia, is more than adequate if you know where to look and how to get around. This guide covers the four countries I visited, with specific prices, routes, and the practical information you need to plan your own trip.
Guatemala: The Budget Traveler's Starting Point
Guatemala is the most affordable country in Central America and the most common starting point for a regional trip. In Antigua, the colonial city about 45 minutes from Guatemala City, a private room in a guesthouse costs 80 to 150 quetzales per night, about 10 to 19 dollars, through Booking.com or Agoda. The city is filled with Spanish schools, and many of them offer homestay programs where you live with a local family for 100 to 150 quetzales per week, including three meals per day. The homestay option is an excellent deal: you get accommodation, food, and Spanish lessons for less than the cost of a hotel room alone.
Food in Guatemala is inexpensive and flavorful. A plate of pepian, a traditional Guatemalan stew made with chicken, pumpkin seeds, and spices, costs 25 to 35 quetzales, about three to four and a half dollars, at a local restaurant. A portion of rellenitos, fried plantain stuffed with black beans and cheese, costs 10 to 15 quetzales from a street vendor. The market in Antigua, which operates every day, is a great place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at low prices: a pound of bananas costs 3 quetzales, a pound of tomatoes costs 4 quetzales, and an avocado costs 2 quetzales. For coffee, the cafes in Antigua serve excellent Guatemalan coffee for 10 to 15 quetzales per cup.
The main attraction in Guatemala is Lake Atitlan, a crater lake surrounded by volcanoes about three hours from Antigua by chicken bus. The chicken bus, a converted school bus painted in bright colors, costs 25 to 35 quetzales, about three to four and a half dollars, for the Trip. In Panajachel, the main town on the lake, a private room costs 60 to 120 quetzales per night. The villages around the lake, like San Juan la Laguna and San Marcos, offer a more tranquil experience with rooms for 40 to 80 quetzales. The boat ride between villages costs 10 to 25 quetzales depending on the distance.
Nicaragua: The Cheapest Country in the Region
Nicaragua is the cheapest country in Central America for daily expenses, and the difference from its neighbors is significant. In Granada, one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas, a private room in a hostel or guesthouse costs 200 to 350 cordobas per night, about six to ten dollars. A plate of vigoron, grilled beef with rice, plantains, and salad, costs 100 to 150 cordobas, about three to four dollars, at a local restaurant. A glass of local beer, Toña, costs 25 cordobas at a bar, less than one dollar. The daily budget in Nicaragua can be as low as 25 to 35 dollars per person, including accommodation, food, and local transportation.
Granada is the most popular destination for budget travelers in Nicaragua, and for good reason. The city is beautiful, with colorful colonial architecture, a lakeside promenade, and a Colorful street food scene. The market near the central park sells fresh fruit, vegetables, and juices at rock-bottom prices. A large cup of fresh-squeezed orange juice costs 15 cordobas, about 40 cents. A nacatamal, a traditional Nicaraguan corn cake stuffed with cheese and cream, costs 20 cordobas from a street vendor and is one of the most filling breakfasts available anywhere in Central America for the price.
Transportation in Nicaragua is cheap but slow. The chicken buses, called microbuses, connect all major cities and cost 20 to 50 cordobas per hour of travel. A chicken bus from Granada to Leon takes about two hours and costs 50 cordobas, about one dollar and fifty cents. A VIP bus, which is more comfortable and has air conditioning, costs 100 to 150 cordobas for the same route. The shuttle services that cater to tourists, like the Nicabus, connect Granada to San Juan del Sur and other popular destinations and cost 200 to 300 cordobas. For the shuttle, book through your hotel or hostel, because the departure times change frequently.
Costa Rica: Higher Costs, Better Infrastructure
Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America, with daily costs running 40 to 70 dollars per person for a budget traveler. In San Jose, the capital, a private room in a guesthouse costs 15,000 to 25,000 colones, about 27 to 45 dollars. In popular tourist destinations like Monteverde and La Fortuna, private rooms cost 20,000 to 40,000 colones, about 36 to 72 dollars. Dorm beds in hostels are available for 8,000 to 15,000 colones, about 14 to 27 dollars, which is the most affordable option in a country where private rooms are expensive.
Food in Costa Rica is more expensive than in the rest of Central America, but the quality is noticeably higher. A casado, the traditional Costa Rican plate of rice, beans, plantains, salad, and a protein, costs 3,500 to 5,000 colones, about six to nine dollars, at a local restaurant, or sodita. A bowl of gallo pinto, rice and beans, with eggs costs 2,000 to 3,000 colones at a soda. The farmer's markets in San Jose and other cities offer fresh produce at lower prices than supermarkets: a pineapple costs 500 to 800 colones, a mango costs 300 to 500 colones, and a bunch of cilantro costs 200 colones.
The main attractions in Costa Rica are its national parks, which charge entrance fees that add up quickly. Manuel Antonio National Park costs 1,080 colones, about two dollars, for foreign visitors. Arenal Volcano National Park costs about 1,500 colones, roughly three dollars. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve costs about 2,200 colones, about four dollars. These fees are reasonable individually, but visiting three or four parks over a two-week trip adds 10 to 15 dollars to your budget. Guided activities, like zip-lining, white-water rafting, and wildlife tours, cost 40 to 100 dollars per person and are the single biggest budget item for many travelers in Costa Rica.
Honduras: Underrated and Affordable
Honduras is the most underrated country in Central America for budget travelers, partly because safety concerns have kept tourist numbers low and partly because the country has not marketed itself as effectively as its neighbors. The reality is that the mainland destinations of Copan Ruinas, the Bay Islands, and La Ceiba are safe for tourists who exercise normal precautions, and the prices are among the lowest in the region. In Copan Ruinas, a private room in a guesthouse costs 200 to 400 Honduran lempiras per night, about eight to 16 dollars. A plate of baleadas, thick flour tortillas filled with beans, cheese, and cream, costs 20 to 30 lempiras, about one dollar, from a street vendor.
Copan Ruinas is the main reason most tourists visit Honduras, and the Mayan ruins are among the most impressive in Central America. The entrance fee to the archaeological site costs 415 lempiras, about 17 dollars, for foreign visitors, which includes the main site, the museum, and the Sepulturas tunnel. A guide costs an additional 400 to 600 lempiras for a half-day tour. The ruins are smaller than Tikal in Guatemala but are notable for their elaborate stelae, carved stone monuments that depict Mayan rulers with extraordinary detail. The Hieroglyphic Stairway, a staircase with the longest known Mayan inscription, is one of the most impressive archaeological features in the Americas.
The Bay Islands of Honduras, Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja, offer some of the cheapest diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean. A PADI Open Water diving certification course on Utila costs 350 to 450 US dollars, compared to 500 to 700 dollars in more popular diving destinations like the Cayman Islands or Belize. Fun dives for certified divers cost 30 to 40 dollars. Accommodation on Utila is very affordable, with dorm beds at places like the Utila Dive Center costing 10 to 15 dollars per night. The island is small enough to explore on foot or by scooter, and the pace of life is gloriously slow.
Crossing Borders and Managing Money
Border crossings in Central America are straightforward but can be time-consuming. The most common route runs from Guatemala to Honduras to Nicaragua to Costa Rica, and each border crossing takes 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the number of people in line. You will need your passport with at least six months of validity remaining, and you will be charged a small exit fee at each border, typically 3 to 10 dollars. Some borders charge an entry fee as well: Nicaragua charges 13 dollars for a tourist card, valid for 30 to 90 days. Carry small-denomination US dollars in cash for border fees, because the border officials may not have change.
US dollars are accepted in every Central American country, and they are often preferred to the local currency by hotels, tour operators, and transportation companies. In Guatemala, prices are quoted in quetzales but dollars are widely accepted. In Nicaragua, prices are in cordobas, but dollars are accepted at most businesses. In Costa Rica, prices are in colones, and while dollars are accepted at some businesses, you will get a better exchange rate by paying in colones. In Honduras, the lempira is the official currency, but dollars are accepted in tourist areas. Carry a mix of small-denomination US dollars and local currency, and exchange money at banks rather than at border crossings, where the rates are unfavorable.
ATMs are available in all major cities and tourist towns, but they are less reliable in rural areas. In Guatemala, Banco Industrial and Banrural ATMs are the most reliable. In Nicaragua, banpro ATMs are widespread. In Costa Rica, Banco Nacional and ATH machines are the most common. Withdrawal fees are typically 3 to 5 dollars per transaction, plus any fees charged by your home bank. To minimize fees, withdraw larger amounts less frequently rather than making many small withdrawals. Carry a backup debit card and some cash in case your primary card is lost, stolen, or declined.
Safety and Health Considerations
Safety in Central America requires awareness but should not be a reason to avoid the region. The most common crimes affecting tourists are pickpocketing and bag snatching, which are most common in crowded markets, bus stations, and tourist areas. Carry your passport in a money belt or hidden pouch, keep your phone and camera out of sight when not in use, and avoid walking alone at night in unfamiliar areas. In Guatemala City and Tegucigalpa, exercise additional caution: take registered taxis rather than street taxis, avoid certain neighborhoods after dark, and do not display expensive electronics in public. In tourist destinations like Antigua, Granada, and La Fortuna, safety concerns are minimal.
Health issues in Central America are primarily related to food and water. Drink only bottled or purified water, and avoid ice in drinks unless you can confirm it is made from purified water. In Costa Rica, the tap water is safe to drink in most areas, but in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, stick to bottled water. Street food is generally safe if it is cooked fresh in front of you and served hot. Avoid raw salads and unpeeled fruits in areas where water quality is questionable. Carry oral rehydration salts and a basic first-aid kit, and consider taking a probiotic supplement to maintain gut health during your trip. Mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and chikungunya are present in all Central American countries; apply insect repellent containing DEET and consider sleeping under a mosquito net.
Travel insurance is essential for Central America. A Complete policy that covers medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost luggage costs about 5 to 10 dollars per day, or 150 to 300 dollars for a month-long trip. World Nomads and Safety Wing are the two most popular providers among budget travelers, and both offer policies specifically designed for Central America. Medical care in private clinics in Guatemala City, San Jose, and Tegucigalpa is good and affordable, but in rural areas, facilities are basic. If you have a serious medical emergency in a remote area, medical evacuation to a city hospital or back to your home country can cost tens of thousands of dollars without insurance.
