After a couple of stints in SE Asia, I was looking at either Mexico or Colombia for a go-around this coming November for 4 months or so. Mexico's kind of overdone, expensive, and too close to home, but Colombia sounds enticing. But I'm concerned whether or not I can afford it.
My budget is max $60 US dollars a day, which isn't much anymore what with the weak dollar, inflation, and all. I've read that accommodation is especially expensive in Colombia, I could swing maybe $25 a night but more than that wouldn't allow for much fun--and it just sticks in my backpacker crawl to pay more. So if $40-60 dollars a night for a place to sleep is typical, I'd better look at another country. Also it doesn't sound like there are many hostels there, and the few they do have are pretty much packed full all the time.
Can someone comment on this? Are my interpretations correct? Is Colombia basically more suited for the higher end traveler and not so much the average backpacker? It actually sounds more expensive there for eating and sleeping than here in the US--and inflation here is driving people nuts.
If it is in fact too expensive in Colombia, might Ecuador be a better option for a backpacker? Or if not there, is there any place in South America that you would recommend for good beach and warmth on a modest budget? I was hoping to find a nice beach on Caribbean side of Colombia and stay there for awhile. Colombia sounds as if it's beautiful.
Thanks for your advice.
