As long as this thread has been bumped to the top, I'll offer another option. Go to the Dominican Republic (easy and fairly cheap from USA or Europe) to rent a bike. In Cabarete and Las Terranas 150-250 cc enduro-style bikes, Japanese or Chinese, rent for US$25-40 per day. Bring some straps and a waterproof duffel and, if you're picky, a helmet.
I'm no expert, but I've seen some fun riding, not too much traffic, minimal security concerns, nice scenery and very friendly people. Prices are low for the Caribbean, high compared to Central America. Landscapes are similar, and there's enough to stay busy riding around for a couple of weeks--longer if you stop long enough to tan something besides face, neck and hands.
This was my backup trip to the hoped-for-but-never-achieved Cuba trip. If I don't get sucked into the work vortex too quickly I'll write a separate report.
Hope that's helpful to someone.
Mark
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