3) Ecuador
Straddling the equator, Ecuador is a west facing country on the South Pacific Ocean. Ecuador is a small country compared to its neighbors, Columbia and Peru. That doesn’t mean it has less to offer. In fact, it makes it easier to see a lot on a tight travel schedule. Cruise to the Galapagos Islands and stay the night for as cheap as $20/night. Quito is a must-see city for several reasons. It’s the country’s capital and it’s less than an hour from the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World, AKA the Equator). Standard hotel rooms here run $20 or less. Basic meals are also extremely affordable. Think a couple bucks for chicken skewers and empanadas. Dinner out could cost $5-$10. Public transportation within cities is roughly $1, and inter-city buses to most places in the country won’t cost over $10. That means you can travel to your heart’s content!
