El Salvador to Costa Rica

[DoubleK]

Hi! - My friend and I are riding from El Salvador to Coast Rica, leaving at the end next week.  We have 17 days to make the trip. We will loosely follow the Pan American Highway. We plan on finding indoor lodging, but plan to bring limited camping gear in case we have to sleep out.  Would love any advice on routes, places to avoid or see, experience in finding lodging, food etc etc.  Thanks!!

[litespeed]

Many years ago, in my pre-bicycle-touring days I traveled through Central America numerous times by bus. My basic rules are: always look for lodging and eating places near the bus terminal. Also never get a room over a cantina. Getting mugged or held up is very unlikely but petty thievery is common. Never leave your stuff unattended. At least some Spanish is essential. No one will speak English in the small towns and few in the cities.

I'd love to be bicycling down there right now.