Is Colombia too expensive for me?

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.

...you will have no worries in colombia with your budget

..i've just returned after 2 years in east asia & traveled for about the same $$$ as south & central america the 2 years prior to that

...however i see the dollar has sunk almost 20 percent against colombia since my last time there in 2005

...of course the $$ in almost all the countries in eastern asia was dropping as well

,,argentina seems to be the only currency the dollar is holding its own against in south america..

Colombia is fine for backpacker travel and is cheaper than Mexico. A typical fun hostel in a shared dorm room will cost $6-$12 a night. A basic private hotel room costs about $10-$25 per night. There are far less hostels in Colombia than in a country like Argentina. In Bogota I think there are about 5-8 hostels and probably more in Medellin. I never had trouble getting a room by just showing up in any place. This also means that the backpacker scene is much more tight knit and you will often run into friends you make in hostels by chance as there is a basic set of places that most backpackers follow, myself included.

Long distance buses are more expensive at about $2-$3 per hour. So for instance from Bogota-Cartagena, a 20 hour bus ride would cost around $45.00

A set meal can be had for $3-$4 and regular restaurant meal with meat as the main food will cost about $4-$7.

There is often a $5-$10 cover charge to get into nightclubs which usually give you the $5-$10 in free drink vouchers. A beer from the supermarket can be had for about $1 and i think they were about $2-$3 in bars, and $5-$6 in fancier clubs.

It depends on what you like to do, but I have no problems traveling around Colombia, even at 1.800 pesos to the dollar for $60 a day.

Ecuador will certainly be cheaper as the dollar is the currency and it's cheaper there to begin with.

Considering that there are almost no high end foreign travelers here, only backpackers, I'd say it's well suited for a small budget.

If you don't move around much, I'd say that's okay.

Thanks for all your helpful and reassuring replies. Do any of you have a recommendation for a beach area/town in the Caribbean area that has some good energy to it?. I've got the LP's "South America on a Shoestring," but the information about the area is sketchy and really doesn't have much to offer.

Any other beach itinerary suggestions? Thanks again.

I would definitely try Cartagena or Santa Marta. They fill up quick around Christmas. Playa Blanca near Cartegena is beautiful. Islas del Rosario is a bunch of islands off the coast. Cartagena has lots of vallenato music that's got lots of vibe. Try Carlos Vives on Itunes.

You can travel $60 a day in Colombia, but the hotels will not be great. There's some backpacking in Parque Tayrona (park) near Cartagena.

-Matt
http://www.youtube.com/mattsartjourney

last year travelled in colombia for about 50$ a day for 2 persons, small hostals, cheap food and drinking rum from the supermarket. Some places were even cheaper, depens also on the time probably, if you travl in the (colombian) holiday season, sleeping places are overpriced

we found colombia very cheap and easy to travel