This past winter spent about 3 months doing trips down to Yaviza,Panama and all over Mexico , good times all over
Ditto to all of Michelle's suggested places,
... just to add a few more In Panama do not miss the area around Volcan Baru , either do one side or both , i.e. the country around Volcan and around Boquete will be a total surprise and a treat to visit very populated and temperate ,explore all the small roads to their ends. El Valle)In Guatemala Coban area is neat, coolish moutain climate , coffee growing

In Mexico the list is enormous but to pick a few additional areas try to do some exploring in the Sierra Gorda when you are near Xilitla, try to get to Cuetzalan de Progreso,PUE the paved road to there from Zacatlan and Xalapa is very nice in all respects Xalapa city and surrounding upslope country both very scenic and a Mexican surprise
As for security . not a worry anywhere if you stay alert to any signals of potential problems ,mind your manners and stay off the streets late after store closing hours , avoid booze joints and druggies .
Central America per se is no more dangerous than Mexico . The hazards are more related to urban areas where the slackers and ne'er do wells cluster and try to get their daily money needs ( usually for booze and drugs) by resorting to muggings or rip and run tactics- just as in USA and Canada. For this reason stay especially vigilant if walking in some of the bigger cities or taking a break at uncrowded city vista points where these cretins often wait their chance and then dash off into their known slums or trails.

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93