QUICK FACTS
Trip length:
Time of year:
Year of trip:
Mexico Budget:
Belize Budget:
Guatemala Budget:
6 weeks
July - Sept
2018
$704
$1,504
$1,357
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click to skip forward to a section:
-
Mexico breakdown: - includes accommodation and activities
- Cancun
- Tullum
- Bacalar
-
Belize breakdown: - includes accommodation and activities
- Hopkins
-
Guatemala breakdown: - includes accommodation and activities
- Flores
- Antigua
Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Things to note:
-
Due to the nature of my freelance work, I always book my flights last minute, which means they cost a lot more than if bought a few months in advance
-
Belize is about twice as expensive as Mexico & Guatemala
-
In Mexico & Belize I really wasn't holding back with my spending, particularly in terms of meals out and drinks
Total Trip Costs
Flights from UK:
Mexico (8 days):
Belize (13 days):
Guatemala (26 days):
Total:
$1,242
$704
$1,504
$1,357
$4,807
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Mexico Costs (8 days)
Visa:
Accommodation:
Transport:
Activities:
Cash spent:
Total:
$23
$110
$22
$36
$513
$704
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Belize Costs (13 days)
Visa:
Accommodation:
Transport:
Activities:
Cash spent:
Total:
$21
$141
$52
$523
$767
$1,504
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Guatemala Costs (26 days)
Accommodation:
Transport:
Activities:
Cash spent:
Total:
$297
$126
$205
$729
$1,357
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ITINERARY SUMMARY
Duration of stay
3 nights and 2 full days
Travel
ADO Airport bus to Downton: 94 MXN / $4
Accommodation
Nomads Hostel, dorm room: $11 per night.
CANCUN
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TULUM
Duration of stay
3 nights and 2 full days
Travel
ADO bus 2hrs: 135 MXN / $6
Accommodation
Mama's Home, dorm room: $15 per night.
Activities
-
Cycling to cenotes:
- Bike here: 100 MXN / $4
- Cenote entrance fees: 180 MXN / $8
-
Hostel cenote tour: 200 MXN / $8
BACALAR
Duration of stay
2 nights and 1 full day
Travel
ADO Bus 3hrs: 292 MXN / $13
Accommodation
The Yak Lake House, dorm room: $16 per night
Activities
-
Hostel Lake tour: 400MXN / $17
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CAYE CAULKER
Duration of stay
8 nights and 7 full days, plus 2 nights and 3 days on Ragamuffin Tour
Accommodation
Dirty McNastys, dorm room: $12 per night.
Activities
-
Caveman Snorkelling Full Day Tour: $90
-
Ragamuffin Tour: $400
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HOPKINS
Duration of stay
2 nights and 1 full day
Accommodation
The Funky Dodo Backpackers Hostel, dorm room: $13.50 per night.
SAN IGNACIO
Duration of stay
2 nights and 2 full days
Travel
Local bus: 4 BZD / $2
Accommodation
Bella's Backpackers, dorm room: $15 per night
Activities
-
Jeep hire for day: $100 ($25 each)
-
Caracol entrance fee: $15
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FLORES
Duration of stay
4 nights and 3 full days
Travel
-
Taxi to border: $10 split between 3
-
Belize exit fee: $20
-
Van from border to Flores: $10 each
Accommodation
Los Amigos, dorm room: $11.62 per night
Activities
-
Tikal Tour: 100 GTQ / $13
-
Tikal Entrance fee: 150 GTQ / $19.50
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SEMUC CHAMPEY
Duration of stay
5 nights and 4 days (should've been 3 nights and 2 days but I got ill)
Travel
Van from Flores: 125 GTQ / $16
Accommodation
Zephyr Lodge, dorm room: 110 GTQ / $14 per night.
Activities
-
Tubing: 90 GTQ / $12
-
Semuc Champey Tour: 185 GTQ / $24
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ANTIGUA
Duration of stay
6 nights and 5 days (again stay was extended from being ill)
Travel
Van from Semuc Champey: 185 GTQ / $24
Accommodation
Tropicana, private room: $29 per night
Cucuruchos Boutique Hostel, doom right: $9.50 per night (now permanently closed)
Activities
-
Pacaya volcano tour: $12
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QUETZALTENANGO (XELA)
Duration of stay
1 night, then 2 nights and 3 days on trek
Accommodation
Kasa Kiwi Hostel, dorm room: $6.50 per night
Activities
-
Quetzaltrekkers Trek to Lake Atitlan: 775 GTQ / £100
LAKE ATILAN - SAN PEDRO
Duration of stay
4 nights and 4 full days
Accommodation
Mr Mullets, dorm room: $10 per night
Hotel San Antonio, private room: $12 per night
Activities
-
Horse riding: $25
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Duration of stay
2 nights and 2 full days
Travel
Boat + van: $12
Accommodation
Driftwood Surfers, dorm room: $12 per night
EL PAREDON
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GUATEMALA CITY
Duration of stay
1 night
Travel
Van: 165 GTQ / $21
Accommodation
Quetzalroo, dorm room: $11 per night
TRAVEL
All of my onward travel was booked through the hostel I was staying at, or just at the bus station.
Only exception was ADO buses in Mexico, booked online at https://www.ado.com.mx/
ACTIVITIES
Again nearly all of the activities I did were booked through the hostel I was staying at.
The full day snorkelling tour in Caye Caulker was with Caveman tours.
The 3 day boat tour in Belize was with Ragamuffin Tours.
The 3 day trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan was with Quetzaltrekkers.
If you're looking to book some day trips in Central America, here are some other ideas:
DO THIS TRIP AS A TOUR
Click on the tour to be taken to the Intrepid Travel page.