Top Destinations for the Young and Broke

When you travel while you’re young, you get to open yourself up to new experiences and learn valuable life skills. However, the main stumbling block for young travellers is the cost. Luckily there are plenty of destinations that will satisfy your sense of adventure and won’t bankrupt you.

For the 20 destinations on our list, we looked at PriceofTravel.com’s 2016 backpacker index and also factored in the cost of getting there. You can get to most of these destinations for less than $500 for a return plane ticket.

137 World cities ranked cheapest to most expensive: Backpacker Index for 2020

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1. Tofino, BC

Tofino is a paradise for active travellers, offering endless adventures in the great outdoors, from surfing and hiking to watching whales, bears, and storms. Budget accommodation is plentiful too. The easiest ways to get here involve driving, but you can travel part of the way by ferry from Vancouver.

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2. Playa el Tunco, El Salvador

Party at night and learn to surf by day in Playa el Tunco, a relaxed little village about 35 km from San Salvador. This is where young Salvadorans come for the weekend, but the town is also popular with backpackers from around the world.

3. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica

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3. Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s premier surfing destination is also a laid-back little town on the Caribbean coast, where the main language is English because of the large Afro-Caribbean population. Puerto Viejo is close to Cahuita National Park, where you can hike, snorkel or try and spot sea turtles and sloths. Fly to San Jose and then take a bus to Puerto Viejo.

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4. Playa del Carmen, Mexico

You can get good deals at Playa del Carmen’s all-inclusive resorts, but this city on the Riviera Maya also has many independent, budget-friendly hotels. Fly to Cancun and then make less tacky Playa del Carmen your base from which to explore ancient ruins, jungles, and cenotes.

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5. Lima, Peru

Peru’s capital combines culture, food, colonial architecture, a hopping nightlife and stunning beaches to give you every kind of adventure you might want. According to Price of Travel, you can get by in Lima on just over $30 a day. There are direct flights from Toronto.

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6. Cuba

Cuba is a growing package-tourism destination, which means you can get great all-inclusive deals, but it also means you lose out on much of the old-timey character that makes this Caribbean island so fascinating. For an even cheaper and more authentic experience, stay with local families instead. There are direct flights to Havana from Toronto and, in season, from Montreal.

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7. Corn Islands, Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s Corn Islands are more expensive than destinations on the mainland, but you can still find basic beach accommodation for as little as $10 a night. This is the perfect destination if you want a Caribbean island experience without the expensive price tag.

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8. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is one of the cheapest destinations to get a rating on Price of Travel’s backpacker index, and you can realistically visit on a budget of less than $20 a day. It’s much more affordable to get there if you fly in from Vancouver than from elsewhere in Canada.

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9. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Beautiful, artsy San Miguel de Allende is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and if it looks familiar, it may be because it was one of the main filming locations for Robert Rodriguez’s Once Upon a Time in Mexico. You can stay for as little as $10 a night.

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10. Lisbon, Portugal

Price of Travel estimates that you can visit the stunning Portuguese capital for just over $50 a day. There’s a huge variety of things to do in Lisbon, including visiting museums, shopping, surfing, lazing on the beach, hiking and dancing the night away in one of the city’s many clubs.

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11. San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala

Lake Atitlan is one of Guatemala’s most popular destinations, and San Pedro la Laguna is the lake’s party town. It’s also one of the cheapest in the area, with many budget options for less than $10 a night. Fly into Guatemala City and hop on a shuttle.

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12. Johnston Canyon, Alberta

About half an hour from Banff, Johnston Canyon is a hiker’s paradise, whether you visit in the summer or winter. There’s a lodge where you can get a small two-person bungalow or cottage for less than $150 a night, although you’ll save considerably if you bring some friends and opt for a four-person cottage. There’s a campground nearby too.

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13. Phoenix, Arizona

Whether you’re into sports, the outdoors, spa treatments, arts and culture or a rocking nightlife, Phoenix has it all, plus a sunny climate year round. The city has a wide variety of budget accommodation options, and you can also get good package deals. There are direct flights from several Canadian cities.

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14. Medellin, Colombia

Bustling Medellin has reinvented itself from what was once considered the world’s most dangerous city to become a centre of arts, culture, and innovation. It’s ridiculously cheap too, with some five-star hotels costing less than $100 a night.

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15. South Korea

South Korea is surprisingly affordable and according to Price of Travel, you need less than $50 for a day in Seoul. The country offers everything from bright city lights and Gangnam style to nature walks and tranquil temples. If you fly in from Vancouver, you can find return tickets for less than $500.

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16. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City’s liberal capital is one of the world’s most populated cities, which means that the entertainment options are endless. You only need a little more than $25 a day, according to Price of Travel. There are direct flights from Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

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17. New Orleans, Louisiana

Price of Travel estimates that you can easily visit the Big Easy for a little under $60 a day. There’s always something festive going on in New Orleans and with so many street artists here, much of the entertainment is free. Fly direct from Toronto.

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18. Krakow, Poland

With its many historical attractions, Krakow is Poland’s most visited city. A large student population and many, many watering holes mean that the nightlife here is lively and fun too. Even though a return flight here will set you back a bit more than $500, you only need a little over $25 a day to visit, according to Price of Travel.

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19. Iceland

Even though Iceland is notoriously expensive, with Price of Travel saying you’ll need around $85 per day to visit Reykjavik, budget flights from Toronto and Montreal make the country an economic option for Canadians. There’s a huge music scene in the capital, and the great news is that enjoying Iceland’s best attraction, its natural beauty, is free.

20. Dempster Highway, Yukon/Northwest Territories

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20. Dempster Highway, Yukon/Northwest Territories

The Dempster Highway winds through about 740 km worth of spectacular Canadian wilderness. It’s a gravel road, so take things slow and enjoy the scenery. There are campgrounds along the way, so bring your tent and some friends for an epic road trip. Because: Canada!