Cheap And Underrated Places To Visit In February

Rather than book a flight to yet another tourist hot spot where you’ll be elbowing your way through selfie sticks or fighting for towel space on the beach, we invite you to check out these alternative destinations.

Guatemala

Guatemala might just be Central America’s best-kept secret. A country rich with culture, flavor and a bounty of natural beauty, Guatemala’s main tourist draw is the colonial Spanish city of Antigua. Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular destination for language learners who flock to the many Spanish language schools that call this colorful city home.

Flanked by volcanoes, and just a couple hour’s drive from the picturesque Lago de Atitlán, Antigua is an affordable option that—according to BudgetYourTrip.com—averages $46 USD per day, per person, with hotels averaging $17 USD per night.

More Reading: A Budget Traveler’s Guide to Guatemala

Colombia

Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of its violent past, Colombia has turned over a new leaf since signing the FARC peace deal last year. With a renewed promise of safety and stability, the country has seen a spike in tourism as of late.
Colombia is one of the most biodiverse places on earth—from the Caribbean-facing cities to the Andes Mountains to the villages near the Amazon—offering something for every traveler.

For visitors keen on a more metropolitan experience, the capital of Bogota offers street art, a rising culinary trend and rich history. For those set on sand and sun, Cartagena is the country’s seaside gem where balmy weather and afro-Caribbean influences make for a colorful experience.

More Reading: A Solo Traveler’s Guide to Cartagena, Colombia

Greenland

When Culture Trip asked travel bloggers to share their 2018 travel predictions, one of the next big destinations to pop up was Greenland.

“Anyone who has been to Iceland in the past couple of years has noticed growing congestion on the roads and at popular attractions due to the tourism explosion there,” explained Scott Shetler of Quirky Travel Guy. “Greenland offers many of the same sights (glaciers, waterfalls, remote hiking trails, small villages with unique culture), but with much more solitude and a greater feeling of being off the beaten path.”

Similar to Iceland, Greenland is not a cheap destination to visit but is one of the few places on earth where tourism has yet to run amok, and nature remains pristine. Still very much overshadowed by its popular neighbor, Greenland is extremely underrated.

As for visiting in February? While the days will be shorter (roughly four to five hours), you’ll be greeted with a nightly show of the northern lights.

More Reading: Greenland Cuisine: Exploring the Flavors of the Arctic Circle

Bolivia

Another warm-weather getaway for the cold month of February, Bolivia is a South American country nestled in between Chile, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Often eclipsed by its popular neighbors, which draw hoards of tourists each year, this landlocked nation is a cheap and underrated destination. Home to the iconic salt flats, immense volcanoes and the “world’s most dangerous road” (Yungas), the country is a haven for thrill seekers, adventure travelers and nature lovers.

Canada

While Canada may not seem underrated or cheap, hear us out. The northern neighbor of the United States is a destination that many are guilty of not exploring. Even for those U.S. travelers who have been to Canada, more often than not it is for short stopovers in cities like Montreal. Spectacular locations like Alberta can often fall under the radar of American travelers whose sights are set on places much more far flung.

Alberta recently caught our eye as a winter destination of unparalleled and mystical beauty. Lake Abraham, for example, is a bucket-list rite of passage in itself because of the “frozen bubbles” that form beneath the lakes icy surface. Rather than travel to a warm weather destination this February, we dare you to double down on the cold and head even further north to witness the beauty of Alberta.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.