where
The following itinerary is very rough, and our plans for each country likely won’t solidify until 2 or 3 months before we’re heading there, but here goes for now (this will get updated as we go along, with an indication of when it was last updated):
Last updated March 3rd, 2013
2011
1. Mexico: Pacific coast of Oaxaca, Oct 7 – mid Nov; Barra De La Cruz, mid-end Nov.
2. Nicaragua: early to mid-Dec
3. Panama: Bocas Del Toro, mid-Dec – mid-Jan
2012
4. Quito, Ecuador: mid-end January
5. Lima and southern Peru: February – March
6. Chile: April – May
7. Peru: Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu, June
8. Northern Peru: Chicama, Lobitos, Pacasmayo, July – Aug
9. Lima: Sept
10. Portugal: Oct
11. Morocco: Nov – mid-Dec
12. Senegal: mid-Dec – mid-Jan
2013
13. Sri Lanka: mid-Jan – mid-Feb
14. Singapore: approx. one week end of Feb
15. Indonesia: all of March, April and May
16. New Zealand: June
17. South Pacific (Fiji or Tahiti): July
18. Hawaii: August
Two years is a long way out to plan for travel, so we’re staying open and are ready to go with the flow. We’re buying our tickets as we go. We want to spend at least 6 weeks in each country, unless we aren’t having fun. And if we’re having too much fun, we’re open to staying longer than a month and a half!
You’ve chosen the worst possible time to visit Senegal. Those months, however, would be perfect for Liberia. If they get through this election next week, I recommend switching out Senegal for Robertsport, Liberia.
Hey Nate! I know it’s not the best season, but we might end up pushing it out to Nov/Dec. That should be good for Senegal, no? We figure in six weeks, we’re bound to get something. We’ll look into Liberia too, thanks for the tip, but Senegal is on my life list!
I want to see you in a huge barrel in Hawaii. Are you guys working along the way or just using your savings? I can give you tips for Indonesia. I just got back from Sumatra. Mentawaii and there is a cheaper way to do it by land. It is probably the most saught out surf destination in the world!!! Happy travels!!!
We are using savings for this trip, but we’re also thinking of doing some writing along the way and pitching articles to publications. Email me about the Mentawais! We are definitely looking for a cheap way to hit them.
How are you traveling with your boards? Airlines charge anywhere from $50 to $250 per leg. Are you guys taking longboards or shortboards? Would love some insight as I’ve taken many short trips to places, but can’t wrap my head around longterm travel with my longboard.
Michael
Hi Michael!
We brought 2 shortboards each: one fish for smaller days and one shortboard big enough for big days. I can’t imagine traveling cheaply long term with a longboard; it’s hard enough getting the shortboards on some buses! But I think if you’re hitting mostly surf towns, the cab drivers in those kinds of towns have a lot of surfboard- toting experience. We had to include estimated board fees in our budget for plane tickets, and we’re trying to fly the airlines with friendlier board fee policies. We refuse to pay Continental, American Airlines or Delta’s ridiculous charges.
It’s awesome to hear from you!
Delphine
hey michael and delphine – it’s hector from cerro azul, peru. back in the chicago cubicle. i got a good clip of michael on a wave at cerro azul. let me know where i can send to you in case you want to post it
hi hector! how was macchu picchu? and the rest of the surfing? find any awesome spots we should surf on our way back up? we’ll email you to give you our email address so you can send the clip. thanks! we also have some photos of you on some good waves, we’ll send them as soon as we get wi-fi somewhere.
hey there,
I would really like to go for a surf in kenya, tanzania, mozambique or madagascar – did you perhaps meet someone on the road who surfed those spots?
thx a lot, take care and have fun
-steph
Hi Steph,
We haven’t met anyone yet who’s actually surfed those places. Maybe once we get to Africa, we’ll meet more surfers who’ve been to some of those countries. We’ve read that Mozambique and Madagascar are beautiful but sharky. I think in order to get good waves on the East African coast, you have to very carefully pick which month to go because it’s quite inconsistent. Have fun on your travels!
thank you! 🙂
Hey, I just discovered your blog. I lived in Hawaii for a long time – best time to surf is definitely in winter. Almost no waves in summer, unless you surf the south shores which are not as cool as the north. I got back from Indonesia a couple of days ago. If you need any information about any of the places feel free to email me.
Have fun!
Hey Marie! We know that the waves are mostly south shore in HI in the summer, unfortunately that’s the only time we can really fit it into our schedule. It will be the first time we’re in Hawaii, but we’re moving to California when we’re done travelling, so it definitely won’t be our last time!
Hi Delphine, Mike. You guys are amazing – living my life through you guys!! I moved to LA about 5 months ago so be sure to look me up when the time comes. Safe travels
Steven Burton…..
Hi Steven! We will definitely see you in LA sometime soon, maybe later this year — we’ll hopefully be moving to Santa Cruz when these travels are over. We’ll practically be neighbors! I’m envisioning lots of surfing road trips to southern California…See you soon!
Hey guys, looks like you’re having a blast. On a board – related adventure myself in south America and my travel partner and I Andre looking at doing the Central Chile to Lima surf trip; mind if I ping you with a few questions via email? In particular concerned with safety/theft since I’ve heard it’s rampant (but more so in northern Perú). Love to hear your thoughts!! Congrats on taking the leap, by the way 🙂
We would love to help with whatever information we’ve got! I’ll email you — check your inbox. Talk soon!