I totally know what you mean. We visited there while on a cruise with my new wife for our honeymoon. I was cuckoo for the tour guide. Very pretty woman about my age!!! LOL That country is just amazing and the guide did such a good job telling us the history and culture, etc... that Im hooked on going back many more times. We only got to see some of the Gulf side, and the rain forest.
After being told that people from all over the world go there for there University, because they dont believe in expensive education. Its also one of the top Universities to become a doctor. Im going to be trying to talk my daughter into going there for college, instead of here in the states. Plus it would give me a reason to go there and visit for an extended period of time.