Tourism may be down around the world, and although some businesses in Guatemala are suffering, the outlook isn’t as dim here as it is in other Central and South American countries. Why? Well, Guatemala is seen as a cheaper option for vacation than the ever popular Costa Rica and Panama. And to be honest, Guatemala is less expensive.

Nowadays, flights to Central American countries from the United States all hover at about the same price, so picking your destination, if guided by your budget, may mean choosing a country that has cheaper accomodations and activities. (For a search of international flights, try www.kayak.com.)

Guatemala not only offers high quality tourism, it does so at better prices. There are the more expensive tourist towns, such as La Antigua, but prices there don’t even begin to compare with the expenses of Panama City. Other hotspots such as Lake Atitlan are relatively cheap, but there are more undiscovered jewels in Guatemala where renting a villa is a fraction of the price of renting in Costa Rica.

If you are all about exploring Guatemala and getting the best possible vacation at a good price, check out the beach town of Tilapita, or Monterrico. Also growing in popularity is the Lago de Izavel, which is actually the largest lake in Guatemala. Rio Dulce is a popular place to stay for those who come to see this region.

If you are interested in planning a trip to Guatemala, but not sure where to start, let my contacts help you out. I’ve got connections for real estate, long term rental, vacation rental, villas and more through my connections with the Gringo Network.