While the gringos charge to Costa Rica and the package tourists get sun burnt in Mexico, Guatemala continues to be low key and low cost. The ruins are as impressive as those in Mexico, you could laze away weeks on the beaches, and the whole country fiercely continues its culture and traditions. Many locals rent out their spare room to make up for the lack of hotel accommodation, offering a bed and three meals a day for less than $10. Furthermore, outside of Guatemala City, there’s none of the petty crime found in more visited Central American countries.