America

The Americas span two continents and dozens of countries — and the range in cost of travel is enormous. South America is where budget travelers get the most for their money: countries like Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador are some of the cheapest places to backpack anywhere in the world, with hostels, local buses, and street food keeping daily costs remarkably low. Central America (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras) follows closely behind, offering beaches, jungle, and colonial cities at similarly affordable prices. North America — the United States and Canada — is a different story: accommodation, transport, and food all cost significantly more, though budget travel is still possible with hostels, city tourist passes, and off-peak planning.

For backpackers, the classic budget routes run through South America — the Gringo Trail through Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, or up through Central America toward Mexico — combining low costs with some of the continent’s most iconic sights: Machu Picchu, the Amazon, colonial old towns, and volcano hikes.

We’re building out full country-by-country budget guides for the Americas — starting soon with in-depth breakdowns of the cheapest countries to visit, sample budgets, and money-saving routes. Check back soon, or explore our guides for Asia, Africa, and Europe in the meantime.