Que bueno @therovingreader! I was in South America for 2 years, I wanted to go to Guatemala but I was already too tired to continue going north. Perhaps someday! Great post!
Language tips - stay with the locals, eat with the locals, live like the locals. Yes that's how i learned spanish.
Two years! Your Spanish must be amazing. And I can't think of any better way to learn a language than with locals.
You missed Mexico??? But you were so close!! My country is beautiful!! So sad you left it out haha