What is the cheapest and most beautiful place to go on vacation in Central or South America at Christmas?

There are 4-5 of us going, so renting a house is an option...we'd like either a big city (Buenos Aires, etc.) or a beach vacation (i.e. Costa Rica). We will fly from Miami.

Laos

check out web sites for Jaco Beach and Playa Samara in Costa Rica. Or if you like more laid back Playa Zancudo. All have rental houses.

Cartagena would be the cheapest and most beautiful. Or Los Roques, venezuela

Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile and Argentina are now expensive.

There are some very lovely "haciendas" you can rent in the Coffee Region in Colombia. You'll be surrounded by coffee plantations and the weather is just great. The landscape is breathtaking. And not expensive at all!!

http://www.world66.com/southamerica/colombia/eje_cafetero
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Well It's NOT CHEAP but it is still a beautiful country to visit. GO TO EL SALVADOR.

Cheap, beautiful, safe, you will regret if you don't go to Colombia, bis cities and beaches, besides all of the great landscapes all around the whole country, Cartagena, Santa Marta(you can rent an aparment for days or weeks, very cheap, as well as Cartangena), San Andrés, zona cafetera, cali, medellÃ*n, bogota, the amazon...

Sorry, but the most beautiful place wont be the cheapest one.
I should try with Punta del Este in Uruguay.. It's a wonderful place, incredible beaches, very safe, and so much cosmopolitan.

take a look.........http://www.reservas.net/alojamiento_hoteles/puntadeleste_photogallery.htm