Coming tho the end of our current trip around South America we are returning home for a couple of months before setting off again.

A number of regions are on the list for the next jaunt starting probably in November. Mexico and Central America are high on the list as we have never been as is a return to Asia and Australia / NZ. A couple of concerns I have are that it will be expensive when compared with say SA or Asia and whether, in the case of Central America, whether it is too compact to spend that amount of time there. I appreciate that Mexico is huge but friends are suggesting that we should stick to the southern half of the country.

We are not into beaches as such but are keen divers. Really not interested in staying in resortsNature, history, hiking, culture and food are major interests. As far as budget is concerned, travelling for such long periods, we necessarily restrict our budget to <$100 per day all in ( or even less!)

Any suggestions re time of year for weather, countries and areas not to miss and where to avoid would be much appreciated, or any general thoughts or opinions would be much appreciated.

We enjoy Guatemala so much we ended up putting down some roots there - a scholarship nonprofit in a town on Lake Atitlán and a little home away from home there; we visit 2 or 3 times/year and generally end up (and occasionally start) in either Belize or Honduras for blue water time. We're not really beachy people, either, but I'm a keen diver and my husband an avid flyfisherman.

Whether 6 months would be too much for you is hard to say; we love living in and exploring the Pacific NW of the US so much that it's longer than we've chosen to be away from there, but we've made about 20 trips to Guatemala and will continue to spend months/year there and feel we've barely scratched the surface.

I consider Guatemala to be the cultural gem of Central America; the landscape is really varied and its known for stellar Maya sites and contemporary indigenous culture. It's not known for beaches or diving. $100/day can be plenty there - when we're not at our home on Lake Atitlán we generally pay $25-35 for clean, cute, safe, well-located midrange hotels, for example.

Belize has lots of limestone karst - great caving including caves with 100 year old pottery and sacrifice victim remains. The population is really varied culturally: Creole, Garifuna, Maya, Mennonite, Mestizo, and more. There are lots of islands and some terrific diving, especially on the atolls. It tends to be more expensive than Guatemala and Honduras.

For cheaper diving, the Bay Islands and especially Roatán and Utila lead the charge - good small stuff and wrecks. We've enjoyed the mountains around La Ceiba and the Copán region in the west, too.

In Mexico we've spent time on the Yucatán Peninsula and in Chiapas, enjoying both.

Others can chime in about their favorites; you'll find that about 90% of this forum focuses on Costa Rica (which doesn't really tick boxes for us) and Mexico. My photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection are below in case you're interested - all my recommendations are embedded there. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

<I appreciate that Mexico is huge but friends are suggesting that we should stick to the southern half of the country.>

Hmmm... I guess I agree depending exactly what you are considering "the southern half of the country".

I guess if you draw the line slightly above Guadalajara, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico City that works.

Wow, you really never stay home
What is your definiton of "southern" Mexico? We loved Zacatecas. Further North is Copper Canyon where I've wanted to go but haven't gotten there yet. Quetaro, Guanajuato, Delores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende, Pozos are all worth a visit. Not sure about Michocan these days, but it used to be just lovely. Oaxaca is a do not miss and PUebla has enough for a couple days. San Cristobal was fascinating. And of course, Mex City is once again a great place to visit. Its been quite awhile since I've been to Puerto Vallarta but there wasn't anything particularly interesting beyond the beache for us when we went. Maybe its changed. Cancun was pretty awful but Merida is supposed to be nice (never been.) The ruins out there are nice. Verzacruz was a very fun city...music everywhere. We used to travel a fair amount to Mexico prior to the drug wars. Just went back last year after about a 5 year absence.

IN Central America I have only visited Costa Rica & Guatemala. In the minority I think, but we didnt care for Costa Rica at all. We enjoyed several visits to Guatemala which is considered the enternal spring so you could go there pretty much anytime.

Pricewise Colombia is one of the least expensive countries I have ever travelled in thanks to the strength of the U$D. Mexico is may be equivalent to Ecuador and parts of Chile. Can't speak to current costs in CR or Guat.

I can think of many areas in Mx that will tick your boxes off but would like to ask a few questions first.
Are you ok with areas that may not be warm at that time of the year?
Is your intent to stay at one place and do day trips?
Does your 100. per day include transport fees?

Thank you all some much for all the excellent info. Guatemala sounds like our sort of place but from what I understand, Costa Rica probably not so much. BA now fly
directly into CR so a flying visit may be necessary. Hopefully we would be able to sources an open jaw ticket back from SA as we really want to combine with a visit to far southern Patagonia - never managed to be there at the right time so far!

To answer your specific questions, cybor, our style of travel varíe tremendously depending on where were are. Usually we tend to stay in a place for 4-5 days, sometimes a lot longer. We do do daytrips but are equally happy just staying in the one place absorbing the local life and culture.

We are happy with hot or cold weather and are equipped for both. That said after minus 20c on the Bolivian altiplano some time in warmer climes is looking attractive at the moment!

$100 a day is clearly an average and includes every thing with the exception of our main international flight and insurance.

YT - now we don't! Maybe a couple of months or so this time mainly to visit son and new grandchild and no. 2 son who will be over from Australia soon after we get back.

Our DIL raves over Mexico City and rates it as her fav city in the Americas so may look at flying in there and working our way down.

The only thing potentially putting us off is the food. After 5 months our palates have had enough of the carb loaded cuisine of SA (Peru excluded of course) and I sort of get the impression that the food in CA is much the same? Mexico i believe could be radically different. As far as food is concerned, lighter, fresher, healthier cuisine of Asia is very tempting.