With the start of summer vacation for students, the beginning of summer, and the onset of hurricane season, June can seem like a scary and expensive time to travel.
While it’s true that travelers should expect the crowds to increase during the summer season as more people naturally gravitate to the outdoors as temperatures heat up, there are some ways to avoid summer travelers. For some destinations, June is one of the best months to explore for travelers beyond the fact that the days are warmer and the sun is shining longer. June is considered “shoulder season” for quite a few destinations.
Shoulder season is that incredible in-between time between low season and high season. For many destinations, weather is a significant driver in the low season, and often, it is that time of year when people don’t want to be bothered with less-than-perfect weather. However, with shoulder season, you often are on the cusp of near-perfect weather with low-season prices. It creates the perfect solution for travelers trying to avoid overcrowding while saving money.
Even amid the official start of a busy travel season, we have created a roundup for last-minute travelers looking for that win-win situation, proving that miracles do exist. Here are the cheapest places to travel this June.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, For As Low As $200 Round Trip
Contrary to popular belief, June is considered the shoulder season for Puerto Rico. Shoulder season is the sweet spot between the high seasons and low seasons. Travelers seeking a destination to avoid the summer crowds should head to San Juan.
Kick off your time in San Juan by exploring Old San Juan. Start your day at Castillo San Felipe del Morro, where you will find impressive bay and city views. Next, take a few minutes to journey through the colorful streets and architecture while you’re in the area. If you’re looking for the iconic colorful umbrella canopy, remember it’s on Calle de la Fortaleza in Old San Juan.
No vacation in the Caribbean is complete without a trip to the beach. Balnea o El Escambrón is excellent for water activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. Condado Beach is great for lounging.
Now that you’re excited about San Juan, let’s discuss how to get there. Skyscanner data shows the best flight options depart Atlanta, Boston, Houston, and Los Angeles. Travelers can find flight deals from these cities for less than $350 round trip.
The cheapest option this June is to leave from Orlando. In Skyscanner, use June 11 through 16 as your travel dates for a round-trip ticket for less than $200.
Cancun, Mexico, For As Low As $300 Round Trip
If you don’t mind the typical afternoon Caribbean rainfall, June is the best time to visit Mexico’s popular destination: Cancun. There are theories of why June sees fewer travelers. Temperatures tend to run higher, and the rain is more frequent. Yet these factors can also be seen as opportunities for travelers to worry about a “wild time” because the beaches, bars, and attractions are less crowded.
One activity that should be high up on your “to-do list” this summer is swimming or whale-watching the largest fish in the world: the whale shark. Because of the warmer water, whale sharks settle around Isla Mujeres from June until September. It’s incredible to witness up close because scientists say this time of the year is when you will see the world’s largest concentration of this species.
While you’re on an experience of a lifetime, make plans to hang out on Isla Mujeres, one of the most popular destinations in the area. There are a ton of bars, entertainment, and the Ruins of the Temple of The Goddess Ixchel.
Aside from fewer crowds, visiting Cancun in June is also a great way to save money since it officially kicks off the low season.
According to Skyscanner, round-trip flights departing Atlanta, Miami, and Houston are all less than $400. The cheapest option leaves from Fort Lauderdale. Use Jun 16 through 21 as your travel dates for a round-trip flight for less than $300 on Expedia.
Medellin, Colombia, For As Low As $350 Round Trip
June marks Colombia’s second month of the low season since it’s technically considered the rainy season. However, that hasn’t stopped tourists from traveling to Colombia’s coastal city, Cartagena. A great alternative to beating the crowds and humidity is visiting Medellin instead. Nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring,” Medellin has perfect year-round weather.
Cartagena is undeniably a great city filled with incredible food, exciting nightlife, and coast views. Still, there’s no shortage of fun or beauty in Medellin.
July is a better option for “La feria de las Flores,” The Flower Festival, which is the city’s biggest carnival celebration.
Coffee lovers should make time to visit a local coffee farm or producer. It’s a great way to learn about the coffee industry while supporting local businesses. Visit Parque Avi by Medellin’s Metro Cable, a great way to see the city from above. Not to mention, it’s quite epic and will easily be a highlight of the trip.
Visit Jardin Botanico and relax at the outdoor cafes in Provenza and Parque Lleras.
According to Expedia, round-trip flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City can be purchased for less than $550.
Miami departing flights are the cheapest. Use Jun 18 through 22 as your travel dates in Skyscanner for a round-trip ticket for less than $350.
Lima, Peru, For As Low As $500 Round Trip
Another excellent destination for June is Peru. June is technically the dry season in Peru, and it’s the calm before the storm of tourists, who typically visit in July and August. June is also a fantastic time to save money all around, as flights and accommodations are a lot cheaper than in the higher season.
If you time it right, you can visit Peru during Init Raymi, known as “The Festival of the Sun. It takes place on June 24 and is considered one of the most important festivities in the Incan Empire. Inti Raymi celebrates the God Sun — the most revered god in the Incan religion. The festival typically takes place in Cusco, which is an easy plane ride from Lima.
Most people don’t spend time in Lima; it’s usually a stopover for Cusco and the Sacred Valley. However, it’s an exciting metropolitan city that boasts excellent restaurants, food tours, and ceviche. There are incredible museums to visit, such as the Larco Museum, the National Museum of the Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru, and the
National Afro-Peruvian Museum.
Flights from New York City, Orlando, and Washington, D.C., can be purchased for less than $600 round trip on Expedia.
According to Skyscanner, the cheapest option is from Miami. Use June 27 through June 30 as your travel dates for a round-trip ticket for less than $500.
