10 Affordable and Beautiful Vacation Destinations in Latin America

Yes, Cancun gets a bad rep for being a Spring break party town. But the city's blue-watered, white-sand beaches rival Cabo's, and there are plenty of affordable, more low-key options if you're not interested in spending your days at Señor Frog's.

For an unforgettable — and more budget-friendly! — Mexican getaway, stay at the Hotel Casa Turquesa or the Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach. And don't miss the food at La Habichuela!

While Puerto Rico's beaches and food are idyllic and gorgeous, its status as a US territory can make it a pricier vacay. Meanwhile, Bocas del Toro in Panama is home to equally turquoise waters, tropical weather, and delicious seafood — all available for cheaper airfare and hotel stays.

For a little slice of paradise, spend the day at the beach, getting delicious local eats at small spots like Cafe del Mar or Capitan Caribe. And at the end of the day, head back to a wallet-easing, tropical hotel like Playa Tortuga or the Koko Resort.

Miami: Delicious Latin food, fun nightlife, and towering, shiny condominiums overlooking the ocean. Panama City: same thing, different price tag. Offering lots to do in addition to gorgeous beaches, this is a great destination for travelers looking for a fun getaway with some urban, Latin flare.

Stay at the uber-affordable Novotel Panama City or the Coral Suites, then take a boat trip down the Panama Canal, see adorable monkeys at Monkey Island, and hit the bars and clubs in the Casco Viejo neighborhood.

If you're itching for outdoor activities — like a great hike through Peru's Andes Mountains — but you're on a budget, you might find Argentina's Patagonia more feasible. But this will be a totally new experience: while Peru's go-to site is hot and humid, the Patagonia's icy glaciers and wild, barren landscapes are chilly to mild (depending on the time of year you visit) but breathtaking.

Take yourself on a hiking tour of the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, or sign up for one of Viator's many sailing or hiking excursions. If you're really on a budget, you can stay in La Tosca Hostel, a popular local guesthouse, or opt for the cozy Calafate Parque Hotel located in the center of town.

The Argentinean capital is known for its uniquely Latin and European urban vibe. But since flights and hotels there can get steep depending on the time of year, why not opt for the equally intriguing Europe-meets-Latin-America metropolis of Mexico City?

Once you've checked into a hotel like the Crowne Plaza Hotel de Mexico or the Hilton Mexico City Reforma, you can spend the day shopping and sightseeing at the Zócalo, then tour the charming cafes and bookshops of La Condesa neighborhood. And the best part? After you've spent the night enjoying Paloma cocktails at bars like El Imperial, you can get the best taco you've ever had at many of the city's safe-to-eat food trucks that are open until the wee hours of the morning.

With some limitations remaining on travel to Cuba, a trip including flights and guided tours are typically in the $3,000-and-up range. If you're looking for a dose of equally captivating culture and tasty food that's more in the hundreds-of-dollars range, head instead to colorful Cartagena.

Bunk at spots such as the under-$100 GHL Relax Corales de Indias or the slightly more luxurious Armeria Real Luxury Hotel and Spa, then get your fill of delightful dishes (ceviche! arepas!), historic sites (the Walled City of Cartagena), and enchanting nightlife (you really can’t go wrong here, but popular places include Bar Tu Candela and Café Havana).

Lovers of the great outdoors, rainforests, and wild beaches often head to Costa Rica, but Central America's Nicaragua has gorgeous wild beauties in its own right — for a much smaller price tag.

Perfect your surfing skills at the beach, take a day trip to the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, and go ziplining with local companies like Da' Flying Frog Adventures. After your day of adventures, you can rest your head at Pelican Eyes Piedras Y Olas Resort or the simpler $100-a-night Posada Azul. Hungry? Anywhere you go there's delicious seafood, tapas, and cerveza, and even flavorful, delicious gelato!

Diving and snorkeling lovers adore Belize for its underwater life and relaxing beach vibes, but Roatán offers equally breathtaking views of ancient reefs brimming with sea creatures, from coral to, yes, the occasional dolphin.

You can snag a delightful suite here for $120 or less (try the Infinity Bay Resort, Paradise Beach Club, or the Clarion Suites Roatan at Pineapple Villas), and after a day spent being a subaquatic adventurer, grab a bite at the Roatan Oasis or the Sundowners Beach Bar.

Not only is the Riviera Maya destination more affordable than the Brazilian hotspot, but it's also not as full of tourists, giving you breathing room to enjoy the endless beaches.

Bonus: there are some great boutique hotel options here in the under-$100 range, including Hotel Banana and the Hacienda Paradise Boutique Hotel. After you arrive — or after a day at the beach — grab a delicious taco lunch (don't forget the Dos Equis!) at Los Aguachiles, then in the evening, get your fix of nightlife at Mamitas Beach, where there's always a party happening.

Of course all of the destinations in Mexico are gorgeous in their own right and chock full of Mayan history, but if you're looking for a combo of Mayan culture plus melt-in-your-mouth Latin meals, Guatemala is a really inexpensive alternative. History buffs will love this small city; you can even stay in Hotel Cirilo, which was made from the ruins of an 18th-century colonial church.

To fill your days, there are plenty of tours of Mayan ruins at Tikal National Park and the Temple of the Two-Headed Serpent — you might recognize the latter from Star Wars, and, guess what? You can climb to the top. Don't forget to fuel up with delicious Guatemalan meals at bistros like Fridas and Panza Verde.