Jessica taking in the view (photo: Najma Nuriddin)

How to plan a trip to Guatemala for less than $400

Most people like to plan a trip to death. They research the best hotels, the best restaurants and the best activities to do. Not me. I can’t plan to save my life. For me, planning exerts energy that can be better spent doing.

My lack of planning was most recently exhibited in an impromptu trip to Guatemala. I chose to explore the Latin American country because it was the cheapest destination on the map: roundtrip tickets from Los Angeles to Guatemala City were only $175.00.

I bought a ticket — 10 days, 10 nights — and I left the boring stuff, like figuring out where I was going to sleep at night, for a later date. Screw research and guidebooks. I just wanted to land.

Surprisingly, my non-plan plan paid off — and I didn’t have to pay that much for it. I ate good food, met great people, stayed in great places, bought cool stuff, and did fun things — like kayaking, horseback riding, soaking in a private hot spring, and salsa dancing. The best part: the whole trip cost only $400.

How did I do it, you ask? Well, in the event that you choose to take an unplanned trip to Guatemala, here are a few ways to cut down on the costs.

DON’T BOOK ANYTHING ONLINE

Najma Nuriddin and Jessica horseback riding on a mountain in San Pedro

People in other countries are smart. And they take advantage of not so smart people who think they can get the best deal on the Internet. My coworker booked a hostel in Guatemala online for $15 a night. A steal right? Wrong. When she got there, she realized that not only was it the grimiest hostel in sight, but it was $10 more than ever other hostel in the city. Online also offers no room for negotiation. Most hostel owners will go down on their prices. Don’t get duped by booking in advance.

BRING A LIGHT BACKPACK

I visited six cities (two of them twice) in 10 days. By the end of the trip, I needed to see a chiropractor. I wanted to take my 40-pound backpack off every chance I could get. But if you’re traveling throughout the country, and you’re on a budget, you’ll need to shop around for the best hostel deals. Shopping = walking. And walking with a gargantuan backpack digging into your shoulders = hell. Since I was often in hell, I was quick to settle with the first hostel I saw. Most times, the first hostel you see won’t be the best price. Do yourself a favor and pack lightly.

Jessica getting a dance lesson (photo: Najma Nuriddin)

You have two options when you pay for things in Guatemala: dollars and quetzales. $10 equals 76.92 quetzales, the native Guatemalan currency. Just to give you an idea of how much things cost: 25 quetzels can get you a decent breakfast, 76 quetzales can get you a fabulous dinner. Merchants will charge you more if you pay in dollars because it appears to be less money. Beware: paying in dollars will ensure a rip off. Pay in quetzales to secure a fair deal.

DON’T GET SUCKERED BY THE CUTE LITTLE KIDS ON THE STREET

There will often be adorable four, five and six year kiddies trying to guilt trip you into buying loads of useless crap. They walk up and down the street–speaking a few words of your native language (they are really bright kids)-–attempting to swindle you out of your cash. To prevent being duped, just tell yourself “No I don’t want to take a picture with you” and “I really can live with out six keychain trinkets for the price of seven.”

THE CHICKEN BUS IS YOUR BEST BET

Guatemalan street musicians

The name is a turn off, but the chicken bus– which is kind of like a city bus in the United States–is the cheapest way to travel. I will warn you, however, they jam-pack travelers on that bus like a bunch of sweaty sixteen year olds who just finished playing a game of soccer. They often squeeze three people per seat and let passengers dwindle in the isle. The busses also don’t stop for bathroom breaks—so take a leak before you get on the windy rode. Don’t be like me and find out the hard way.

BEING BLACK IS A PLUS

I probably don’t have to tell you this, but Black travelers in Guatemala are few and far between. The plus of being one of the few is that you are somewhat mysterious. And mysterious can be intriguing. If anything, your Blackness will warrant many interesting conversations. If you’re lucky, it will gain your more respect, leaving you less susceptible to the tourist rip off.