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Book now: One-way fares from the US to Costa Rica, Ecuador and more from $49
April 10, 2024
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6 min read
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Avianca Airlines just dropped a major fare sale to a number of popular spots in Central and South America. If you're trying to figure out summer vacations or are looking ahead to the fall, this is an excellent way to lock in discounted airfare to places like Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua. Some flights are as low as $49 each way. The departure cities include Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco.
To take advantage of the red sale, you must book your flights by April 14. The travel window is from now until March 27, 2025. This sale is for Avianca's basic economy tier. You get a free personal item, but a carry-on bag will cost you around $55 each way. A better deal is to check your bag, which will cost you roughly $45 each way.
Deal basics
Airline: Avianca Airlines
Routes: Many U.S. cities to Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua
How to book: Directly with the airline; no code is needed
Travel dates: Now through March 27, 2025
Book by: 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 14
Check the Avianca website for specific restrictions.
Sample flights
This sale offers deals to airports such as:
- El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogota, Colombia
- La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Augusto Cesar Sandino International Airport (MGA) in Managua, Nicaragua
- Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica
- El Salvador International Airport (SAL) in San Salvador, El Salvador
- Palmerola International Airport (XPL) near Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Departure airports from the U.S. include:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C.
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Miami International Airport (MIA)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
I started the search from my home airport, MIA, because of its proximity to many of the destinations in this sale. It was no surprise that there were quite a few fares available, as low as $53 one-way. Departure flights to Managua were commonly around $53.
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The trick was to find return flights. Most were about $103 or more, which still makes for a good deal. May and June, as well as January and February 2025, had good availability for this route at a discounted rate. Also, many of Avianca's routes from Miami are nonstop — another plus.
If you have the flexibility for a last-minute getaway, you can book a nonstop itinerary from Miami to El Salvador in late April for just $142 round-trip.
This sale offers great value in flights from Miami to Ecuador. We found a decent number of itineraries from MIA to UIO in May for just $210 round-trip. You can find similar prices for flights in September and October.
If Fort Lauderdale is more convenient, you can book a nonstop to Bogota in August or September for $184 round-trip.
If you live in Boston, there is good availability in this sale for flights to Guatemala in the fall. We found this itinerary from Boston to Guatemala City in September for $238. Keep in mind that there is a layover each way, but according to Google Flights, it's a substantial discount from typical rates.
There is good availability on flights from New York City to San Salvador, too. We found several departure flights from JFK in September for as little as $64.
Again, the trick is to find a return flight at the same discounted price. We did not have that luck, but combined, the itinerary still was a discount from normal fares for this route.
The best deal we found out of Los Angeles involved Guatemala. This nonstop itinerary from LA to Guatemala City in September is only $165 — a big markdown from the normal price.
Maximize your purchase
When booking any flight, be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:
- Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Credit Card: An unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on eligible Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines purchases
- American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees): 8 points per dollar on all Chase Travel℠ purchases and 4 points per dollar on flights booked directly through the airline
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): 2 points per dollar spent on travel
- Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees): 3 points per dollar spent on air travel
Bottom line
There are plenty of cheap flights to popular Central American destinations for this summer and fall, as well as into early 2025. Book as soon as you can to secure these deals on Avianca.
Pro tip: If you head to Ecuador, consider booking a flight to the Galapagos Islands to enjoy the archipelago's endless natural wonders.
Related reading:
- Valuable travel discounts and deals for college students and young adults
- Dulles becomes first airport to offer Global Entry interviews upon departure
- Everything you need to know about State Department travel advisories
- When and how to renew your passport, according to the State Department
Updated as of 8/20/2025.
Featured image by MATTEO COLOMBO/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.