Travel and FOOD in Guatemala: Stay Tuned!

My homemade guacamole & handmade tortilla chips in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica (2010)
~Flower compliments of the rainforest!~

Rainforest, Pyramids, Ruins, Caves, Beaches, Coffee....and TROPICAL FOOD here I come! Continuing our Central and South American tour, this time we're headed to Guatemala! I'm planning to explore (hands-on) local Guatemalan cuisine via this blog, but it only makes sense to preface the food aspect with how we're fully able to experience it. I have been asked how in the WORLD we're able to get away for so long. There are many components of traveling to exotic places for SUPER cheap:

1) Choose your destination wisely! We like to evaluate potential destinations first and foremost by cost of plane ticket in and prices while we're there. For example, flying to and staying in South and Central America costs a FRACTION of what a European trip would.

2) Staying in hostels or bartering on a weekly house rental is at the very least HALF and as little as 10% of the cost of a hotel or resort.



We were able to stay in this house in Costa Rica for $65 a night. PARADISE!


3) Eat with the locals and skip the "Americanized" joints (you didn't travel all this way to eat a burger and fries, did you??!) We like to check out eateries that are rich in local culture and food, and easier on the wallet. Explore the kinds of restaurants where the owner IS the chef!

$1.50 USD in the mountains of Peru
(a STEAL if you're OK with chickens and cats hanging out inside the joint!)

4) Cooking local food! See #2: we pick places to stay that have a kitchen available at our disposal. Not only does this save money, but I really enjoy cooking with fresh, local ingredients and replicating dishes I've found in local restaurants. Shopping at the local markets and getting a fish straight from the water is the best and most flavorful way to go!

Market in Cuzco, Peru (2009)

5) Utilizing local transportation: take local buses both for cost-saving and entertainment value instead of touristy "luxury vans" and coach services.

6) Pack light and skip the extra baggage fees and lugging around heavy stuff. Do NOT to go to a 3rd world country with your wardrobe of designer shoes and clothes and jewelry, unless you want to stand out like a sore thumb and potentially be the victim of theft. Worried about bringing enough clothes? There are always laundry facilities that you can access and of course, anything that you "forget" can easily be acquired. People do live, eat and wear clothing there every day... The goal is to blend in and assimilate as much as possible, so pack for comfort. Last year I went to Costa Rica for 3 weeks with one backpack and one messenger bag...it can be done.

7) (Oh yeah...FLY FOR FREE!) This year, we paid our taxes and purchased most all food/general items on our Spirit card and earned a ton of miles so that this flight was absolutely FREE! Just make sure to pay your balance off each month! ;)

8) Leave the fear at home! An all-inclusive resort vacation or cruise is definitely "easier" and "safer", but if you ask me, there is no REAL reward in travel without some risk and uncertainty. Taking note of all of the other travelers, business people and kids in your foreign destination helps to put "travel warnings" into perspective. I mean, I have to remind myself that I DO live in Detroit for most of the year. ;) Of course, always use common sense and general awareness to make sure you're not in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Stay tuned....next post will be about my travel "equipment". ;)

Sorry, one more: beef tacos and veggie salad in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica (2010)