Budget Backpackers (2024)

04/12/2023

A VERY OVERDUE LIFE UPDATE 💥

🎓 Exactly 10 weeks ago today, I (Mariam) began my Masters in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London.

💡The last couple months have been an absolute whirlwind. Every week has been engaging, fast-paced and constructively challenging in its own distinct way.

💻 Meanwhile, Christian’s been hard at work building websites for his clients. He also spent three weeks cat sitting in Croatia this October (more to come on stories soon).

🌏 As you can guess, we’re very keen to resume our travel adventures. We’ll be based in London till at least next summer, but after that, who knows. For now, the plan is open.

🎞️ Anyway, this is mainly why there’s been a hiatus in posts lately. We hope to resume content in the new year, but with a more nostalgic, narrative twist!

🫶🏽 Until then, wishing everyone a great end to 2023! Our thoughts and prayers are especially with the people of Palestine, and we pray for an end to the occupation soon InshAllah.

17/08/2023

EL PENON DE GUATAPE DAY TRIP | save for later 📌

Continuing on with our Colombia Series, our next excursion breakdown is a day trip to Guatape from Medellin.

🚎 Buses depart regularly from Medellin’s Terminal del Norte. It takes two hours each way and costs £3.36 pp.

🎟 El Penon de Guatape (The Rock of Guatape) is the main reason we came. It’s a 65 million year old granite formation, once worshipped by the Tahami tribe. Entry costs £3.95pp. The climb to the top has 649 steps. Views are 10/10.

📍 Guatape is one of Colombia’s most colourful pueblos. It’s full of vibrant streets, buildings and storefronts. Alongside roaming the quaint town, you can take a boat or kayak tour across the surrounding lake. For coffee breaks, hit up .

💸 This is a very easy and affordable day trip from Medellin. The entire experience came to £19.54 pp, all costs included.

💡 We recommend going to El Penon first before exploring Guatepe because it tends to get very busy by the afternoon. According to locals, Sundays get the most visitors so try to avoid this day.

02/08/2023

IPIALES BREAKDOWN | save for later 📌

⏳ Duration: 2 nights
🛏 Accommodation: “Modern and comfortable apartment in Ipiales” on (£9.44pp per night)
🎟️ Excursion: Iglesia La Lajas (free)

💡If you’re headed for Ecuador after Colombia, then the border town of Ipiales makes for an ideal stop.

⛪️ The main highlight of this city has to be Iglesia La Lajas, a gorgeous Gothic sanctuary built into the side of a canyon.

💭 We’d seen this cathedral pop up on Instagram, but as far as Colombia points of interest go, it remains off the beaten path. We were the only tourists there when we went.

💬 Do you enjoy visiting places of worship? What’s the coolest sacred building you’ve seen to date?

13/07/2023

MEDELLIN CITY BREAKDOWN | save for later 📌

From Cartagena, we took a flight with to Medellin for £40.33 each. This took just one hour, as opposed to a bus which would’ve taken 13+ hours.

⏳ Duration: 14 nights
🛏 Accommodation: “Laureles-Estadio Open Designer Loft” on (£10.86pp per night)
🎟️ Excursion: Day Trip to El Penon de Guatape (£19.54pp)

🇨🇴 Free/cheap activities:
▪️ Plaza Botero for statues (free)
▪️ Jardin Botanico de Medellin for nature (free)
▪️ Parroquia San Joaquin for architecture (free)
▪️ Cerro El Volador Natural Park for views (free)
▪️ Metropolitan Cathedral of Medellin for architecture (free)
▪️ The Rafael Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture for architecture (free)
▪️ Museo El Castillo for history/nature (£3.59pp)
▪️ Pueblito Paisa (free) ft Museo de Ciudad for history (£0.99pp)
▪️ Football match @ Atanasio Girardot Stadium for culture (£2.93pp)
▪️ Comuna 13 for culture (free) ft Free Walking Tour with

🍴 Food/drink recommendations:
▪️ Naan (affordable & yummy Indian food)
▪️ (cereal cafe with games)
▪️ (amazing brunch/good for working)
▪️ app for ordering food in

💭 Final thoughts: Medellin is a digital nomad hub for a reason. The city has plenty of sights and attractions for exploration, as well as a cafe culture which is perfect for remote work. Transport is also efficient and groceries are affordable, making it an ideal base to slow down for a couple of weeks.

💬 Which activity in Medellin would top your list?

06/07/2023

CARTAGENA CITY BREAKDOWN | save for later 📌

Continuing on from our 4-week Colombia itinerary, let’s dive right into a Cartagena breakdown.

⏳ Duration: 7 nights
🛏 Accommodation: “Midtown Suites 306 by the Sea and Old Town” on (£12.34pp per night)
🎟️ Excursion: Paratriking with (£31.63pp)

🇨🇴 Free/cheap activities:
▪️ Playa Bocagrande for beach (free)
▪️ Bocagrande for skyline views (free)
▪️ Las Murallas (city walls) for history (free)
▪️ Centenario Park for wildlife spotting (free)
▪️ Getsemani for art, culture & nightlife (free)
▪️ Castillo de San Felipe for history/views (£5.05pp)

🍴 Food/drink recommendations:
▪️ for arepas
▪️ for pastries
▪️ for a sit-down dinner
▪️ for sunset drinks
▪️ Abaco Libros y Cafe for coffee & cake

💭 Final thoughts: Cartagena is beautiful, there is no doubt, and a week is plenty of time to see the city and its surrounding treasures. Having said that, it is one of the more touristy areas in Colombia, and the beach is pretty average. For better shorelines, head further north to Santa Marta or Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona.

💬 Which spot in Cartagena would you explore first?

🇨🇴 🌴

08/06/2023

COLOMBIA EXPENSE BREAKDOWN 💸

Curious to know how much four weeks in Colombia cost us? Read on for a full expense breakdown covering groceries, public transport, excursions & more!

FLIGHTS ✈️ | £245.70

A one-way flight from Panama City with to Cartagena, and then a one-way flight from Cartagena to Medellin with the same airline.

ACCOMMODATION 🛏 | £308.96

We stayed in an in each city we visited. Overall, accommodation across Colombia was comfortable and affordable, working out to £11.03 each per night on average.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT 🚎 | £54.55

This includes coaches between Medellin, Salento, Cali and Ipiales. All in all, public transport was affordable, however it’s good to have some flexibility with your itinerary in case unforeseen circumstances affect any routes e.g. landslides.

TAXIS 🚕 | £27.41

Several rides with when travelling between our Airbnbs and bus stations. These were not only budget-friendly but recommended by the locals themselves.

FOOD & DRINK 🌯 | £111.41

Eating out is incredibly affordable in Colombia. We had some great sit-down meals for under £10 in total.

While in Cartagena, be sure to try the arequipe pastries at , arepas from , dinner at the ambient and a drink at sunset from the .

GROCERIES 🛒 | £60.90

Our experience of supermarkets in Colombia is positive, with stores having a good variety of fresh produce and general food products at low-cost.

EXCURSIONS 🎟 | £40.16

Composed of attraction/museum tickets, a salsa class in Cali, tejo in Salento, a DIY day trip to Cocora Valley and entry to Guatape’s iconic El Penon. We also caught a football match in Medellin - more on all these excursions soon!

INSURANCE ✍🏼 | £19.88

Full cover with . They not only had economical options, but allowed you to buy a new plan whilst already abroad.

OTHER 🛍 | £27.02

Mainly consists of souvenirs, a local sim card and data top ups, as well as a verified flight reservation with for entering the country.

TOTAL COST 💸 | £895.98 OR £32 per person per day

Is this cheaper or more expensive than what you expected?

30/05/2023

COLOMBIA ON A BUDGET (new series) 🇨🇴

🌏 Far from its negative news portrayal in past decades, Colombia blew us away with its vibrance and energy. We travelled this country for four weeks in total, visiting Cartagena, Medellin, Salento, Cali and Ipiales, but you could easily spend longer and not run out of things to do.

📍If your immediate concern is safety, then swap out associations of drug cartels for tranquil coffee towns. Replace thoughts of violence with hospitable locals, eager to welcome visitors into their way of life.

🔥 And what a vibrant way of life it is! Expect lively music and fiery dancing, vivid colours, stunning landscapes and rich tastes. A mix of beaches, mountains, modern cities and verdant jungle, we truly believe there is something for everyone.

💸 Colombia is incredibly affordable, especially when compared to some of its South American neighbours.

💻 It’s also an ideal destination for remote workers, with plenty of cafes for productive days and endless history, culture and nature to explore in your downtime. If we had to choose one country to live in in South America, this would probably be it.

💡Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing more details on the different destinations we stayed in, a suggested itinerary, standout experiences, as well as a full expense breakdown revealing all our costs.

Does Colombia hold a place on your bucket list? Or perhaps you’ve already been, in which case we’d love to hear about your experience! How long were you there and where did you go? ⬇️

🇨🇴 🇨🇴

18/05/2023

Ever wondered how much it costs to volunteer? Read on for a full expense breakdown from my three weeks in Cyprus with !

FLIGHTS ✈️ | £161.31

Return flights with , direct from London Heathrow to Larnaca. Flight time: 4 hours 40 mins.

ACCOMMODATION 🛏 | £75

19 nights in the charity’s flat in Nicosia. It’s a 25-minute walk from the Dignity Centre and sleeps up to five. The normal price is €12 per night, but for two of the three weeks I volunteered all costs were subsidised, meaning I only paid for a week’s stay.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT 🚎 | £15.82

Two trips with . Only €9 each way, they are comfortable, frequent and can be booked online.

TAXIS 🚕 | £22.96

A couple of rides between the bus depot where the shuttle drops you off and the volunteer flat.

FOOD & DRINK 🌯 | £133.21

Lunch from the Armenian bakery in the Old Town quickly became a tradition. Beyond that, this expense includes several dinners and drinks out after wrapping up for the day at the Dignity Centre.

GROCERIES 🛒 | £38.88

There’s a supermarket right next to the volunteer flat, which is super handy. However, groceries weren’t the most affordable and most of the time it worked out cheaper to eat out or get a takeaway from hot counter (7min walk from the flat).

INSURANCE ✍🏼 | £22.55

Full cover with Puffin Insurance, which we’ve used several times before.

OTHER 🛍 | £22.68

Mainly consists of souvenirs and gifts for loved ones back home. Buyuk Han on the Turkish side is great for this.

TOTAL COST 💸 | £492.41

Is this cheaper or more expensive than what you expected? Would you ever consider volunteering abroad?

🇨🇾

15/03/2023

I had the pleasure of speaking with Paul from about my recent experience volunteering in Cyprus! 🇨🇾

If you’re interested in giving the episode a listen, you can access the conversation via the link in our bio. Alternatively, just search for The Selfish Altruist wherever you stream your podcasts. 🎙️

🇨🇾 ❤️

30/01/2023

GALAPAGOS ISLAND BREAKDOWN: SAN CRISTOBAL 🤿

Our final island breakdown before we move onto tours. It certainly requires more effort and funds to visit all three main hubs in this archipelago, but we found each to be so different that - if you can afford it - it’s definitely worth the time!

⏳ Duration: 4 nights
🛏 Accommodation: Palma del Mar 2 (£12 pp per night)
🎟️ Tour: 360 Tour ($160pp)

🐢 Free/cheap activities:

▪️ Interpretation Center for history (free)
▪️ La Loberia for snorkelling (free)
▪️ Cerro Tijeretas for views (free)
▪️ Las Tijeretas for snorkelling (free)
▪️ El Barranco for blue footed bo***es (free)
▪️ Punta Carola for beach days (free)
▪️ Playa Baquerizo for beach days (free)
▪️ Playa Mann for beach sunsets (free)

💭 Final thoughts: If Santa Cruz is too busy, and Isla Isabela too quiet, then San Cristobal is just right. Or at least, we felt so. It provided a perfect middle between the vibe of the other islands. It also seemed to have the most and best free activities, ultimately becoming our favourite of the three.

🐢

24/01/2023

GALAPAGOS ISLAND BREAKDOWN: ISLA ISABELA 🌋

The largest but most laidback of the three main islands, here are some pointers for exploring Isabela.

⏳ Duration: 4 nights
🛏 Accommodation: Posada del Caminante (£12 pp per night)
🎟️ Tour: Los Tuneles ($90pp) + Sierra Negra ($30pp)

🐢 Free/cheap activities:

▪️ La Playita for beach days (free)
▪️ Laguna Salinas for flamingos (free)
▪️ The Wall of Tears for history (free)
▪️ Concha de Perla for snorkelling (free)
▪️ Tortoise Breeding Centre (free? can’t confirm as we ended up skipping this)

💭 Final thoughts: The complete opposite to Santa Cruz, the main town on Isla Isabela is very rustic. Think dirt roads and a slowed down vibe. There isn’t tons to do, so if you crave a relaxing break then this is the island for you.

🐠 🐢

13/01/2023

GALAPAGOS ISLAND BREAKDOWN: SANTA CRUZ 🌊

Continuing on from our 2-week itinerary overview, let’s dive right into all things Santa Cruz.

⏳ Duration: 5 nights 🛏 Accommodation: La Mirada del Solitario George (£14 pp per night)
🎟️ Tour: Isla Bartolome ($200pp)

🐢 Free/cheap activities:

▪️ Tortuga Bay for beach days (free)
▪️ Playa Mansa for snorkelling (free)
▪️ Fish Market for wildlife spotting (free)
▪️ Playa de la Estacion for snorkelling (free)
▪️ Los Gemelos for nature (free)
▪️ Lagunas de las Ninfas for nature (free)
▪️ Las Grietas for snorkelling ($10)
▪️ El Chato Ranch for tortoises/lava tunnels ($10)
▪️ Charles Darwin Research Station for history/tortoises ($10)

💭 Final thoughts: By far the most developed of the three inhabited islands, and the busiest since most cruises depart from the port here. It’s a good transition into life at the Galapagos, but does feel super touristy in parts.

💬 What would be at the top of your list of these activities in Santa Cruz?

🐢 🐠 🇪🇨

30/12/2022

GALAPAGOS 2-WEEK ITINERARY | swipe for a daily breakdown ➡️

PART 3 : SAN CRISTOBAL | save for later 🗓️

And there you have it! A day-to-day breakdown of 2 weeks in the Galapagos. As mentioned before, the itinerary can be adapted. Days can be alternated or even swapped out, depending on how long your trip is.

In January, we’ll be delving into each island in a bit more detail. After that, we will share more information on the three day tours we splurged on, as well as our honest thoughts on each.

We hope you’re finding all this content useful. If you have any questions at all about a particular day or activity, then please don’t hesitate to reach out 📩

🌵 🇪🇨

16/12/2022

GALAPAGOS 2-WEEK ITINERARY | swipe for a daily breakdown ➡️

PART 2 : ISLA ISABELA | save for later 🗓️

Let’s pick up right where we left off with a rundown of the Galapagos’ largest island.

In general, we filled our time with snorkelling, hikes, beach days and the odd museum or historical site, whilst keeping a keen eye out for wildlife and splurging on three full-day tours during the whole two weeks.

Stay tuned for PART 3 : SAN CRISTOBAL which will be out next week! 🤿

🐢 🐠 🐢

09/12/2022

GALAPAGOS 2-WEEK ITINERARY | swipe for a daily breakdown ➡️

PART 1 : SANTA CRUZ | save for later 🗓️

With a place as unique as the Galapagos, you naturally want to be extra efficient with your time. So we thought we’d launch the second segment of our Galapagos series off with a suggested 2-week land itinerary. 🐢

Disclaimer: this is in no way a fully comprehensive list, covering everything there is to do in the Galapagos. It is a simplified breakdown of our personal route and experience. We felt like we spent enough days on each of the three main islands, and had plenty of time to tick off all the activities on our list. ⏳

However, the following can also easily be adapted depending on your time, budget and personal preference. For instance, if you can afford it, you may wish to add another tour or two. On the other hand, if you want to spend less or have a more chill itinerary, opt for further beach days. 🌊

Stay tuned for PART 2 : ISLA ISABELA & SAN CRISTOBAL coming next! 🌋

🐢 🐠

28/10/2022

GALAPAGOS BUDGET TIPS 💡

Following on from our Galapagos expense breakdown, here’s a list of our top tips for keeping costs low. Save this post for later to help you plan your trip. Are there any tips we’ve missed? Drop them in the comments 👇🏽

💸 ATMs:

Cash is king in the Galapagos and not many places take card, so be sure to withdraw as much as you’re comfortable carrying before flying out. There are ATMs on the islands, but almost all have a fee (typically $4) as well as a withdrawal limit per day ($200-$300).

Note: Isla Isabela is most limited so be sure to withdraw before travelling here. Supposedly there is only one ATM on the whole island, but even that was out of order at the time of our visit.

🍴MERIENDAS:

The golden rule for eating cheap on the Galapagos: look for meriendas. These are set dinner menus offered at local restaurants, and typically come with a starter and drink too. Our most expensive dinner was $7 each, our cheapest was $4, so this really is a great way to get value for money compared to touristy restaurants that could see you spending $20 per meal.

⛴️ FERRIES:

There are only two crossings between the islands per day, so if you have set travel dates, don’t delay booking this. A one-way ferry typically costs $30 per person, however some agencies may offer a small discount if you book a return journey. We got a discounted rate for booking all journeys with our hostel in Santa Cruz.

🎟️ TOURS:

This is where haggling can really pay off, but some alternative strategies for finding cheap tours include being flexible. Most agencies offer last-minute rates for tours leaving the next morning, so make sure to enquire about this first. You could also bag a discount by booking all your tours with one agency, or liaisoning with other travellers and booking in a group.

Final note: if there’s a tour you really have your heart set on, be sure to secure this first, as some tours to more remote islands e.g. Isla Bartolome can sell out days or even weeks in advance.

🐢

15/10/2022

GALAPAGOS EXPENSE BREAKDOWN 💸

🧭 Journey: Quito ✈️ Galapagos Islands ✈️ Guayaquil
🏡 Stays: Santa Cruz, Isla Isabela, San Cristobal
✈️ Flights - £271.25
✍️ Insurance - £18.46
🛏 Accommodation - £169.14
🛒 Groceries - £21.84
🚕 Taxi - £13.75
🍴 Food - £74.76
☕️ Drink - £25.72
🎟 Excursion - £426.82
⛴ Public Transport - £87.22
🛍 Other - £149.16

💰 Cost Per Person: £1,258.10
🌚 Cost Per Night: £96.78

This is (and probably will be for a while) our most expensive breakdown to date, especially when compared to our usual daily budget of £25 each.

The two biggest costs were flights & excursions, alongside the $100 tourist tax you must pay upon arrival. Therefore, while flights are generally around this price year-round, you can choose to spend less depending on the excursions you do.

Initially, we budgeted $100 each per island for tours ($300 total each). As you can see, we exceeded this, but it was a price we were willing to pay for the incredible experiences that followed. The three tours we did do were Isla Bartolome ($200pp), Los Tuneles ($90pp) and the 360 Tour on San Cristobal ($160pp). More to come soon on each experience!

We did however manage to keep our food & accommodation costs pretty low, on average spending between $4-7pp per dinner out. We stayed in hostels on each island, which averaged out to £13pp per night over 13 nights.

Is this more or less than you were expecting for a 2-week trip across the Galápagos Islands? Tag someone you think might find this useful 📣

Want to know more about a particular expense? Simply send us a DM or comment below 👇🏽

🐢

07/10/2022

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A TRIP TO THE GALAPAGOS 🦈

Ever since their discovery in the 16th century, the Galapagos have held fascination for travellers far and wide. But what exactly makes the islands so special? Completely isolated from the outside world, a new wave of fearless endemic species were freely left to evolve. In fact, this bubble is so unique that it inspired the basis for Darwin’s theory of evolution.

So, first question to ask yourself when considering a trip to the Galapagos? Essentially, it’s choosing how to visit. The two main options are cruises (often very expensive), or staying in accommodation on land (more budget-friendly).

✈️ Santa Cruz, San Cristobal & Isla Isabella are the three islands you can stay on. The first two have airports connected to mainland Ecuador. BUT, do be careful when booking flights, as certain fares only apply to Ecuadorian nationals. If foreigners buy these “cheaper rates”, even if it’s by accident, then they face a $150 fine at the airport.

📝 There’s a pre-registration form to complete before flying into the Galapagos. It’s similar to COVID entry forms, in that it asks where and for how long you’re staying on the islands. Be sure to fill this out ahead of your trip 👉🏽 https://www.gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec/step-by-step-tct-online/

🔖 All visitors must purchase a tourist transit card at the airport in mainland Ecuador. This costs $20 and is something you need to keep as it has to be returned upon your departure. It is separate to the $100 entry tax visitors pay upon arrival. However, if you are Ecuadorian, or hold nationality from another South American country, this tax is cheaper.

☀️ November to May is the best time to go, when the weather is warmer and the oceans are most calm and prime for snorkelling/diving. Our 2-week trip was in June, during which we had a mix of cloudy skies and sun, as well as some very choppy ferry crossings.

🗓 Don’t forget to save this post for later, and stay tuned for our Galapagos expense breakdown next week!

🐢 ***es

30/09/2022

GALAPAGOS ON A BUDGET 🐢

🌎 Okay, so we know it’s been a while since our last post. The truth is, life hasn’t slowed down at all since leaving South America. But, we finally have a plan on how to resume content, starting with our brand-new Galapagos on a Budget series.

💸 Throughout our 9 months in the Americas, this is probably the most special place we visited, so it only makes sense to start here. We knew it wasn’t going to be the most affordable adventure, but from both research and our own lived experience, you’ll find that there are definitely ways to keep costs low.

💡Over the next few weeks, we’ll share tips on how to prepare for a trip to the Galapagos, hacks on how to eat cheap and find cheap stays, as well as a full breakdown of our expenses. We spent 13 nights in total, split between the three main islands, so we’ll also discuss free things to do on each, as well as which tours are worth forking out for.

📍It really is a shame to miss this place because of budget limitations. Therefore, we hope that by sharing all this info, the islands become more accessible to those who (like us) can’t afford to splurge on expensive cruises, or for anyone simply wondering how much a budget trip to the Galapagos costs.

🗓 Our first post covering all you need to know & do in preparation of going will be out next week!

🇪🇨

06/06/2022

🌏 Destination Guide: Gjirokastër 🇦🇱

🏠 Stay: Boutique Hotel Musée (4 nights)
💰 Cost: £128.81 each

📍Things to see:

▪️ Gjirokastër Castle
▪️ Skenduli House
▪️ Zekate House
▪️ Ismail Kadare House
▪️ Qafa e Pazarit (Old Bazaar)
▪️ Memi Bey Mosque (Bazaar Mosque)
▪️ Ethnographic Museum (Enver Hoxha’s House)
▪️ Ali Pasha Bridge
▪️ Benca Aqueduct
▪️ Cold War Tunnel

🌞 Highlights: The Old Town is a treat to the eyes no matter which direction you turn. We especially enjoyed visiting the hilltop castle and hiking to Ali Pasha’s bridge, however highlights also came in the form of food and accommodation. Our hotel was a boutique property, restored to resemble an ancient Ottoman house. Restaurants with traditional cuisine were plentiful, affordable and had outstanding vegetarian options.

⛈️ Lowlights: The biggest lowlight has to be that we didn’t stay longer. While four nights is enough to see most of the town’s offerings, we could easily see ourselves getting settled for up to a couple of weeks. Sadly, the Ismail Kadare House and Ethnographic Museum were closed when we visited due to renovations.

💡 Tips: If you’re planning to stay in the Old Town, we suggest taking a taxi upon your arrival to avoid making the steep climb up with bags. Wondering where to head after? Both Berat and Sarandë are convenient to get to from Gjirokastër. If you’re planning to explore multiple parts of Albania, then these are two cities we definitely recommend.

This was without a doubt the most enchanting town we visited during our trip through the Balkans, and one of our absolute favourite places in the world. Do you have a favourite town, city or country? Let us know in the comments. 💬

💾 Save this post for your next trip to Albania.

📚 Check out our Destinations guidebook for more city breakdowns. To find the guide, simply swipe right to the book icon on our main feed.

📍 Explore our Albania highlight for our story of the trip, including journey, accommodation tour, attractions and more...

📸 Gjirokastër, 2021

🇦🇱

16/05/2022

Mexico ➡️ Panama 8/8 ☑️

If you’ve been keeping up to date with our stories, you’ll know we recently arrived in Colombia. So it’s only fitting we take a minute to reflect on the last 6 months.

Our journey through Central America began in Mexico last October. One by one, we managed to tick off each of the 8 countries that make up this between-continents region.

That being said, it definitely hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Some mishaps along the way include isolating in El Salvador after testing positive for Covid, having valuables stolen on a beach in Mexico and dealing with a serious UTI in Honduras.

Now for the highlights! The following are our top 5 moments/experiences from the trip so far:

▪️Getting ‘engaged’ at Chichen Itza in Mexico 👀
▪️Spending a night on Volcano Acatenango in Guatemala 🌋
▪️Boarding down a volcano in Nicaragua for Christian’s 30th 🎈
▪️White water rafting, kayaking & spotting crocs in Costa Rica 🛶
▪️Disconnecting for a few days on the San Blas Islands in Panama 🏝️

Our plan now is to keep moving south until the summer. Countries on our radar (after Colombia) include Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia - but we’ll see how far we get.

Have you travelled to Central or South America? Drop your favourite countries and experiences in the comments below 👇

Budget Backpackers