Revolutionizing the 3-Day Weekend: 7 Underrated (and Easy-to-Get-to) Countries Highly Worth a Visit

20170523_Columbia_CartagenaCartagena, Colombia has become a popular international destination over recent years.

For weekend warriors, there’s little as sacred as a three-day weekend. That extra Monday or Friday makes it possible to do so much more—drive farther, hike longer, explore more. And we’ve got good news: the three-day weekend just got a little sweeter. Thanks to the cheap international airfares of the 21st century, it’s just as feasible to spend your next long weekend abroad as it is on a road trip.

Stretch your dollars as far as possible by planning trips a few months in advance and being flexible about which airlines you’ll fly. This also gives you time to research the best (and cheapest) lodging at your chosen weekend getaway. You can find round-trip fares to each of the following destinations for $500 or less from the eastern US fly markets.

Check out these seven international destinations with serious three-day weekend potential.

1.Colombia

Fly into: Rafael Núñez International Airport, Cartagena

Cartagena is filled with historical buildings.
Cartagena is filled with historical buildings.

Nick Harris

This gorgeous Colombian city on the Caribbean coast is well-worth a visit, and it’s considered a more affordable alternative to vacationing in a South American tourist hotspot like Rio de Janeiro.

Established in June 1533, Cartagena (named after the Spanish city and naval station on the Mediterranean coast) is packed with well-preserved plazas, palaces, monasteries, and churches. You’ll also want to check out the city’s fortified walls, built hundreds of years ago to protect Cartageneros from Caribbean pirates. The fortifications are so extensive that they’ve even been given UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. It’s a great city for walking around, and, thanks to a booming tourism business, its security has improved considerably in recent years.

2. Puerto Rico

Fly into: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan

Cueva Esqueleto is one of the many caves you’ll find along the beach in Puerto Rico.
Cueva Esqueleto is one of the many caves you’ll find along the beach in Puerto Rico.

Alan Cressler

Since Puerto Rico is a US territory, traveling here is really simple. In fact, if you don’t have a layover anywhere outside the US, you won’t even need a passport, though you’ll obviously still need a government-issued photo ID.

Once you arrive, there’s plenty of fun for adventurous types. A good place to start is at the Rio Camuy Cave Park, an hour west of San Juan, where you’ll find more than 220 caves to explore. If you are into spelunking, sign on with a local outfitter to guide the way. There’s also incredible surfing in Rincón, site of the 1968 World Surfing Championships, where they regularly get 25-foot winter swells. Or, stick to land and check out the only tropical rainforest in the US Forest Service system: there’s excellent hiking and camping in El Yunque, 45 minutes east of San Juan.

3. Trinidad and Tobago

Fly into: Piarco International Airport, Port of Spain

Trinidad and Tobago is a hotspot for birdwatchers.
Trinidad and Tobago is a hotspot for birdwatchers.

Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith

Less than seven miles off the coast of Venezuela, the tiny Trinidad and even tinier Tobago gained independence from European colonization in 1962. The twin-island nation is known as the birthplace of calypso music, not to mention the limbo, and holds an incredible Carnival festival each year on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

The islands are big for birdwatchers, too—Trinidad’s Maracas Valley has a wildlife sanctuary that is home to 13 species of hummingbirds, and the Asa Wright Nature Center boasts 400 species of birds, plus reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and thousands of types of flowering plants. There’s also Tobago’s Buccoo Reef, where you’ll find the area’s best snorkeling.

4. Bermuda

Fly into: L.F. Wade International Airport, St. George’s Parish

Bermuda’s clear, tropical waters are easy to get to from the United States.
Bermuda’s clear, tropical waters are easy to get to from the United States.

Peter Burka

Forget what you’ve heard about the Bermuda Triangle: it’s definitely worth a trip to this archipelago at the western end of the Sargasso Sea. Bermuda’s territory encompasses more than 100 islands sitting around the caldera of a submerged volcano.

In addition to the Royal Naval Dockyard and maritime museum, be sure to check out historic St George’s, another World Heritage Site. There’s also the Crystal Caves, and best of all, Bermuda’s famous pink sand beaches. Scuba divers and snorkelers will have a blast in the clear, shallow water, where you’ll find endless reefs and wrecks. And don’t worry about budgeting for car rental—there’s no such thing in Bermuda. Instead, stick to public transit or rent a scooter to make your way around the 20-square-mile island.

5. Mexico

Fly into: Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, Puerto Vallarta

Sayulita is great for surfing, paddling, or just hanging out on the beach.
Sayulita is great for surfing, paddling, or just hanging out on the beach.

Bill Reynolds

Puerto Vallarta is a tourism hub, and traveling within Mexico is relatively cheap. For an active long weekend, take an hour cab ride northwest to Sayulita, known for its surfing.

There are tons of local shops in Sayulita where you can rent a board or take a lesson. Stand-up paddleboarding is popular here, so whether or not you’re up for paddling past the breaks, there are plenty of ways to get in the water. Closer to Puerto Vallarta, there’s also Islas Marietas National Park, a group of uninhabited islands just off the coast of the Mexican state of Nayarit where you can go scuba diving and snorkeling. It’s also a great place to spot dolphins, humpback whales, sea turtles, manta rays, and the blue-footed booby, not to mention countless tropical fish species.

6. Montreal, Canada

Fly into: Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Montreal

The Notre-Dame Basilica is an impressive example of 17th-century Baroque architecture.
The Notre-Dame Basilica is an impressive example of 17th-century Baroque architecture.

GPS

Our neighbors to the north inhabit a huge and varied landscape, so it’s tough to narrow down the best spot for a long weekend. If you’re looking to get an international experience, though, head to Montreal, where you’ll get a European feel without the long, expensive flight.

This French-Canadian city has fantastic public transit and is easy to navigate, and it doesn’t cost a dime to explore the quaint streets of Old Montreal on foot. Montreal is chock-full of culture and history, and is home to several must-see museums. Besides checking out the poutine at any number of local vendors, you’ll want to visit the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica, hike up Mont Royal, and visit the Montreal Biodome, which houses replicas of four distinct North American ecosystems.

7. Nicaragua

Fly into: Bluefields International Airport, Bluefields

Go volcano boarding down Cerro Negro, the youngest volcano in Central America.
Go volcano boarding down Cerro Negro, the youngest volcano in Central America.

Guillaume Baviere

Costa Rica has become a popular tourism destination for outdoorsy types looking for adventure in the rainforest, which means it’s also become somewhat pricey. For a more affordable long weekend, head to Nicaragua, where you’ll find plenty to do on a lower budget.

Infrastructure in Nicaragua has improved significantly in the last decade and a half, so it’s much easier to get around the Central American country’s rugged terrain. Head to San Juan del Sur for phenomenal surfing and backpacking, or hike up and board down Cerro Negro, a young active volcano. In fact, there are 19 active volcanoes in Nicaragua, and several are accessible to hikers. Telica is an excellent vantage point for sunset hikes, and the trek up San Cristóbal is the most challenging around.

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by Nick Harris