| Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 | |
Southeast Asia and Central America costs?Interest forums / Travel on a shoestring | ||
So I was deciding between a backpacking trip to southeast asia or central america...then realized that maybe I could do both? The plan (if this could work) would be to fly to Bangkok, backpack southeast Asia for two months (thailand, laos, vietnam, cambodia), then fly from Bangkok to Central America and backpack down for two months through the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and maybe Colombia. How much money would I need to do that? My family would give me the flight from Bangkok to Mexico as a mega- group present, and I already have my shots. I like to travel in hostels rather than couchsurf, I drink occasionally but not a lot, and I'd do hikes and tours, but very, very little shopping. Edited by: dochas11 | ||
You COULD do both...but i wouldn't. Firstly because the flights will cost you(or your family) a fortune! Secondly because there is more than enough in either area to see for 4 months (or longer). I'd choose one or the other and save the second for another trip...... | 1 | |
Which one to choose would depnd on your interests as well as when you want to go...... SE Asia is overall cheaper day-by-day (if cost is vital) though of course your flights (from the USA?) will cost a lot more than Central America... | 2 | |
would agree with Lucapal....to spend 2 months in each region would be very rushed, there is lots to see and do in both areas. Both regions are very easy to travel in. also if you pick 1 region you save on one flight which may allow to you spend more time on the road | 3 | |
Agree with the others. If your family are happy to pay for a flight, I'd just ask them for a return flight to Bangkok, then spend 4 months in Asia. Or a flight into Mexico and out of Colombia. As for budget, it's hard to say without knowing your spending habits in detail, but I've travelled those regions very comfortably on less than $50 per day. It could easily be done for less. | 4 | |
If you were to do Coumbia as well, you'd be looking at flights between Mexico and Columbia, since you can't do that part overland. I'd stick with one area with that amount of time and budget. | 5 | |
With more time,the Op could do it overland...why not? All he would need is a small part by boat between Panama and Colombia..the rest from Mexico down could be all overland. 2 months is not enough time for Mexico,CA and Colombia though.It would be a stretch even doing all that in 4 months. | 6 | |
Ah yes, I forgot the boat part. Either way it'd be added expense, though. | 7 | |
Thanks for the feedback! Looks like I'll do one first, and save the other for the next trip. How much time would you all recommend to do Mexico--->Colombia? 5 months, 6 months? | 8 | |
How much time (and money) have you got? ;-) Obviously,more is better. If you just want to see the Yucatan (not all of Mexico),the main countries of CA and Colombia......4 months would be a bare minimum.6 would give you a chance to get more of the beaten track and take things a bit slower. | 9 | |
I have a lot of time- basically I'd quit my job and backpack central america until my money ran out, then teach in colombia or costa rica. As for money- I was hoping to save up to 6,000 dollars, though maybe I can make it up to 7,000. | 10 | |
Ok....time is good. Money.....are you coming from the USA? If so,you can get to Mexico pretty cheap. When you are in CA you can live on about US$30-50, a day,depending on the country.More than that if you want to do a lot of activities or stay in nicer places. US$50 a day average will give you 4 months for US$6000....of course you need to add insurance,flights to get to your starting point,visa costs etc. | 11 | |
I did most of Latin America last year so, here we come... (costs per day in U.S. dollars) Costa Rica $55 I did Southeast Asia 7 years ago Edited by: sergiolini | 12 | |