Middle/South America: where to go?

Hello all, this summer I'm going to backpack for 3 weeks in middle or south america, can't really decide which country to do tough. I'm going with a sort of "backpack travelling agency" because I can't be arsed to look for lodgings all the time etcetera.
Anyways, choices are:
1) Mexico: from mexico city to Cancun by public transport, on the way stopping at maya temples and taking hikes in the forest.
Mexico City, Teotihuacán, Oaxaca, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Palenque, Bonampak, Mérida, Tulúm
2) Costa Rica: lots of visits to national parks which are supposed to be phenomenal.
San José , Santa Elena, Lago Arenal, Fortuna, Rara Avis , San Juan River, Tortuguero
3) Venezuela: again amazing jungle and swampland nature combined with a rather unique culture
Ciudad Bolívar, Salto Angel, Barinas, Mérida, Caracas

All of them seem amazing, unfortunately I only have the time/money to do 1. So if anyone has ever been to some of those places and can provide some comment then that might help.

i would suggest mexico.
thanks,
dessa

If your goal while on vacation is to experience "something completely different", then #3 is your ticket.

The first 2 options, while comprising fine holidays, can't compete with Venezuela as a 'magical mystery tour', IMO.

Full disclosure: I live near the Mexican border, so am already familiar with the language, history & culture there. Costa Rica and Venezuela I saw while on Army duty 20 years ago; my contacts with local people were minimal. Nevertheless, Venezuela was/is high on my "Wow"-o-meter. :)

I am not a well travelled person, but I have been to Costa Rica and it was great!

Cheap beer, dingy bars, gorgeous women, fresh fruit off the trees, civilized people (they love Canadianse down there) , poisonous snakes, cool wildlife, decent smoke, exceptional coffee, what else could you ask for?

We were about 50 miles north of San Jose, up in the mountains and way off the tourist path. It was fantastic. And can those local girls dance! ~:eek:

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dingy bars

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What the heck is a dingy bar??? ~:confused:
Anyways, thanks for all the input so far!

din·gy1 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dnj)
adj. din·gi·er, din·gi·est
Darkened with smoke and grime; dirty or discolored.
Shabby, drab, or squalid.

Man, I was in some bars down there that were beyond belief. The glasses were stuck to the counters and the chairs were stuck to the floors. The place was fully of sweaty degenerates drinking crappy beer sitting at the bar with their elbows stuck to the counter. I would sit right next to them, order a crappy beer and pour a ton of this horrendous local hotsauce into my beer, which always elicited a few comment, and sit there getting drunk right alongside them.

I was so happy I could have cried. ~:mecry:

i'm american (usa), and i've never been to south/central america, but i have traveled a bit. i think it all depends on what you're looking for. i've been in fairly wild/on-your-own type places (mongolia, nwfp pakistan, for example), and i've traveled in "super civilised" places too (western europe, etc). they each hold enjoyment, but very different kinds of course. what you need to do is ask yourself what kind of experience you are after, and then look at the potential programs each place offers. you said you are doing it through a company, so your options may be limited from the get-go. i hate those companies, usually, i think it's much better to travel completely on your own or with 1-2 good friends, but different people are different, right?

each place should offer plenty of ancient stuff (aztecs, olmecs, etc), plently of nature (rainforests! deserts! etc), or plently of modern amenities (caracs, san jose, puerto vallarta, etc). just think aboput which of thoise things are most interesting to you, then do it! also, think about which place you are a least likely to go to again.. i mean say you live right across the border in texas.. you can go back to mexico whenever.. or maybe you have a family friend in brazil.. you can hit up venezuela easily in the future.

good luck, you'll have fun where ever you choose!

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Originally Posted by Beirut

..... The glasses were stuck to the counters and the chairs were stuck to the floors. The place was fully of sweaty degenerates drinking crappy beer sitting at the bar with their elbows stuck to the counter. I would sit right next to them, order a crappy beer and pour a ton of this horrendous local hotsauce into my beer, which always elicited a few comment, and sit there getting drunk right alongside them.

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Ahh, Beirut shares my love of 'low places'. Whenever I travel, I like to see their museums, universities, halls of government, etc.....then also their scruffy, half-lit, smoke-filled blue collar taverns. Kind of gives me a better "feel" for the place (and the people).

Don't even think about... just pack up and go to Belize .
1) they mostly kinda speak english
2) the best skin diving and scuba diving in the western hemisphere
3) did i mention the Myan ruins. If you want the touristy type hop over to guatamala on a day trip.
4) Rum and Coke (either kind) Ganga if that is your bag.
5) cheep, cheep, cheep
6) you can have the whole beach (or island) to your self for that special romantic interlude.
7) great backpacking (guided or not)
8) horse back riding and windjammer cruses just to name a few.
It is what Hawai was in the '30s. You can travel as cheep $5 a night, to ritzy $200 a night.
Check it out mon. I almost moved there in the '80's.