With $4000 you could manage 3 months in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, travelling cheaply. I haven't been to Cuba, but think it is more expensive than those places. So if you really want to go to Cuba, you will have less time away in total, but you could still visit Cuba AND spend some time in S America.
It depends really whether your priority is to stay away for as long as possible, or to visit specific places.
It isn't really that easy to move between S. America and the islands you mention. Nor is it easy to move between them.
Try looking for flights between Cancun, Cuba and the Caymans. You are trying to combine areas that while they would seem geographically easy enough to combine, are not on popular air routes.
Do S. America or do a little of the Caribbean or do a little of the USA or a little of Europe but don't try to combine any of those.
Your new idea of the Yucatan and Cuba is a good one, plenty of cheap flights from Cancun to Havana and your money will mean being able to spend enough time. Yes Cuba can be expensive but you'll be fine for 10 days. I know virtually nothing of the Caymans so can't comment on that.
For what it's worth - Europe might generally be safer but the Americas are far from being very dangerous places. Sure some neighbourhoods in some big cities are to be avoided but the same is true of Europe.
Thanks for giving me more input, guys.
I read somewhere in the forum that Cuba for some 2 weeks would be around $2000 if you are not crazy-spending. Is this still true?
And it looks like I will need a Tourist Card to enter Cuba. As there is no Cuba Embassy in Indonesia, I wonder if I can get these from their embassy in Mexico? Or any other better alternatives?
AFAIK you can get them at the airport in Cancun (at least,you could a few years ago...maybe ask on the Mexico or Cuba branch?)
That sounds like a pretty healthy budget for Cuba..depends how you want to live and what you want to do of course,but I know someone who was there last year and spent about US$100 a day...
If I were you, with this budget, I'd fly into San José, Costa Rica, then bus it all the way up to Mexico with Tica Bus (stop in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras) and find the cheapest one way flight from Mexico to Lima, Peru (paid 450dol last year with Aeromexico, direct flight). Then I'd spend the rest of my money in Peru and Bolivia, where it will last the longest.
Forget about Brasil and Cuba where you'd blow your budget in no time. Focus instead on cheap destinations and you'll have the time of your life!
In Europe you could get by on that budget a lot easier if you avoid the western part and visit Eastern Europe instead.
How come your budget does not include flights? Is someone else paying for them? Otherwise I don't really get it, I've seen people reason this way before, but never understood the logic.
$100-$140 per day in Cuba sounds crazy to me. When I went it was much much cheaper, given it was a few years ago, but still. The more you can buy with moneda nacional (local currency) the cheaper it gets. I got my tourist cards at the airport in Cancun through the travel agent. Do check the current situation though as it might have changed!
Why Caymans? How about Belize and Guatemala instead? These countries are GREAT and cheap to go to from Mexico. It's up to you. You can go somewhere expensive and blow your budget in a few weeks, or go somewhere cheap and stay for longer. And since you mention that you want to travel for a few months...
Btw, if you're Indonesian, do you have visas already for these countries? Mexico, USA, Europe, etc.
Hello, Max!
To answer your question, Yes. Someone is paying for my flights. XD
I just have to say the number. But still, doesn't mean I get to splurge...
Good to hear the good words about Cuba. Will check further about the Tourist Card.
As for the Cayman....well, I just figure it is close to Cuba. So it might be a good place to pop up in. But I have to say, your suggestion of Belize and Guatemala sounds very good to me. How much cheaper life is there compared to Cayman?
As for VISA, got me a USA Visa. And I asked the embassy, it seems it also gives me access to Mexico.
And Pepcfb, sounds like a great illitenary!!! I got nothing but time, so bus sounds great! Will look into it...I still have to go to Cuba, though.
Wow. You guys are giving me much more homework this weekend with all this comments. I cannot thank you enough!! And please keep it coming, I'm more and more convinced I will get me a good trip everyday I look at this thread!
For now Have a nice day, people!
As for VISA, got me a USA Visa. And I asked the embassy, it seems it also gives me access to Mexico.
Mexico yes, but how about other countries? Cayman, Guatemala, etc?
But I have to say, your suggestion of Belize and Guatemala sounds very good to me. How much cheaper life is there compared to Cayman?
I haven't been to Cayman, but I think they have European prices, or even more expensive! As a very rough estimate, Belize is half the price of Cayman, and Guatemala is half the price of Belize (a 4th of Cayman)?