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 Attempting to visit all 8 countries of Central America in a month was quite a challenge - some 5000km by bus! After flying into Mexico City and down to Costa Rica, I started the overland trip back. A quick visit into Panama and then back to Costa Rica, climbing this active volcano near San Jose. In Nicaragua, I found a remote waterfall and swam  underneath it - very cool on a hot day. I only spent a day in Honduras. Tegucigalpa, the capital, seemed a bit unsafe and so I moved on to El Salvador. This was a friendly country and I enjoyed my time in Santa Ana and the nearby Mayan site of Tazumal. Into Guatemala, and to Antigua - a pretty colonial town much favoured by backpackers. On to Coban where I saw a fascinating parade with lots of colourful costumes and masks. Then, on the hottest day of the trip, I visited the Mayan ruins in Tikal, in its jungle setting. One of the pyramids I climbed was 60m high. Belize is an English speaking country - a relief for my poor Spanish. There, on the “laid back” island of Caye Calker, I scuba dived  with manta rays, turtles and sharks amongst other creatures. Finally, into Mexico and to Chitchen Itza, the famous Mayan site. The massive temple above had a tunnel underneath which you could climb up, leading to an altar in the shape of a jaguar. Palenque was the next, and best, Mayan site, set in a beautiful hilly setting. I then worked my way up the west coast, finally reaching Acapulco to see the famous cliff divers. You can see a perfect 35m swallow dive if you look closely at the picture. I ended the trip back at Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan - my only Aztec site, but a very impressive one including climbing up the 3rd highest pyramid in the world. A tiring trip, but the highlights made it very worthwhile.
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