Have you got room in a box for the adminstrators of this forum site 
s any plan needs a back up plan and plan for them to fly out the window hopefully not the aircraft //// enjoyed your plan a lot of good information tho / hope your internet plan to keep us updated works from there 
I recon if i added up all the planning ive done for all the trips ive done in my whole it would come clooooose to what you have done for this one trip.
Chuck your computer out, take one change of clothes and some gear. Go have an adventure ffs
Way too much planning! seems like a recipe for disappointment !
It sounds that you have already lived your whole trip through your computer sitting here in Australia.
It might not all be quite like that when you set foot on foreign soil (unless you get onto a fully organised tour).
So keep a Biiiiiiiig open mind for change !
I hope it all goes relatively to plan for you if not, It may be you first and last trip overseas.
In fact , I change that, hopefully it won't all happen like you've planned so that you will at least have a story to tell !!! 
Wow, its tough crowd here. Id be doing a lot of planning if I were off to Peru, particularly travelling with windsurf gear.
Keep us updated Jase, can't be long now before you head off.
Select to expand quoteDezza said..
Exactly the same colours as the pet guinea pig I had when I was 5, it was called Malcolm 
How'd he taste
Select to expand quoteDezza said..
Wow, its tough crowd here. Id be doing a lot of planning if I were off to Peru, particularly travelling with windsurf gear.
Keep us updated Jase, can't be long now before you head off.
Agreed, and its great to see someone going through all the fun and entertaining us at the same time. It makes up for the lack of windsurfing in winter.
I would love to go to Peru, even though I can't wavesail, so its good to see someone enjoying themselves.
I have pretty basic Spanish, enough to ask questions and sometimes understand the responses, so going to Peru without it is in itself a challenge. Going as a tour group or even as a small group is much much easier than going by yourself. By yourself you have to get everything right and have no one to fallback on. An organised group has someone else do it for them, and even a small group means that someone can stay with the gear while the others need to go elsewhere.
I went to Dahab once. If I had organised a hotel shuttle instead of a taxi from SSH to Dahab I would have saved myself heaps of grief and some money as well. Planning that would have been heaps better than winging it.
Its no fun sitting in the back of a taxi in latin america looking for a place when you can't speak Spanish. Even knowing the typical cost or how far away the place is can save you a drama. Just for the sake of balance though, even when you can speak Spanish and know the price, and know how far away it is, does not stop the taxi driver from trying to charge you the gringo rate 
Anyway, keep up the reports when you get there. More windsurfing info is better than no windsurfing info.
sorry no trying to put a damper on your plan. Sounds like a great trip!
was just warning you about putting too much faith in internet research for overseas trip for someone that hate travelling.
Plan was to make us believe he was actually going may be the chicken out plan came into full effect 
/ was looking forward to the planned evening diary 
where he hiding is he actually ok
Select to expand quoteking of the point said..
Plan was to make us believe he was actually going may be the chicken out plan came into full effect / was looking forward to the planned evening diary where he hiding is he actually ok
I reckon he's gone already. Probably no internet connection or didnt plastic wrap his board bag properly and has been arrested.
Sorry for the lack of updates guys but I was accused of over planning so I stopped planning...
Very close now, Only 17 days till departure. I will probably pack gear this weekend so I'll give you a rundown on what I'm taking when I can work out how much I can jam in my bags....Leaving my head phones at home.
J
Select to expand quotejh2703 said..
Sorry for the lack of updates guys but I was accused of over planning so I stopped planning...
Very close now, Only 17 days till departure. I will probably pack gear this weekend so I'll give you a rundown on what I'm taking when I can work out how much I can jam in my bags....Leaving my head phones at home.
J
Nah, if you want to plan, plan.
Figure out what the story is with currency. Some places have stable currency, and some places prefer USD and you get a much better exchange rate. I am not sure if Peru is as bad as Argentina or Venezuela, but its worth checking before you go. You can get better USD exchange here if you book it ahead too.
I was on one of those 'pullman busses' from Chile to Argentina. It wasn't too bad, as long as you get the one where the seats recline completely. I think the entertainment screen wasn't so good, but nothing an ipad wouldn't fix.
I know you want to stock up on headphones in Colombia, but noise cancelling ones for the bus trip are worthwhile.
Its probably not relevant, but my biggest pain on one trip was waiting at the coach terminal for the bus. They never seem to know which 'platform' that they are going to arrive at, and there are heaps and heaps of busses. So, like any gringo tourist I was constantly asking which bus this one is, until finally the right one turned up. Sort of fun if you are with others, but not so much fun when you are by yourself and carrying a bucketload of gear.
Select to expand quoteFormulaNova said..
Figure out what the story is with currency.
The currency looks easy enough, US dollars or the local currency is widely accepted. I'm taking US funds with me and will get local currency from an ATM on arrival at the airport. I'm taking a Qantas (Master card) cash card with me loaded with AUS dollars and a Visa for backup as not all places accept Visa and Master card...Apparently it's normally one or the other. I've been learning some basic Spanish...Enough to get me out of trouble and I've organized a private driver that speaks English to take me from the airport to the bus terminal...He assures me he'll get me on the right bus.
Not long now...Just a little excited.
cheers J.
I wouldn't bother with the Qantas cash card or any other cash card. Just use your credit card, even in the ATMs. Visa and MasterCard FX rates are as good as you can get - much better rates than any preloaded cash card. Prepay your credit card bill, i.e. Transfer more money to your credit card bill than the balance owing and tada! you have a store of funds to draw down on from the credit card without incurring any interest charges.
Select to expand quoteCambodge said..
I wouldn't bother with the Qantas cash card or any other cash card. Just use your credit card, even in the ATMs. Visa and MasterCard FX rates are as good as you can get - much better rates than any preloaded cash card. Prepay your credit card bill, i.e. Transfer more money to your credit card bill than the balance owing and tada! you have a store of funds to draw down on from the credit card without incurring any interest charges.
Not at all concerned about exchange rates or fees as money is not the problem...What I have a problem with is using my credit card in a foreign country that is renowned for credit card fraud. The only thing I'll be handing over is pre-paid cards with limited money available, The few bucks I'll loose in crappy rates is just peace of mind for me...There I go over planning again.
The level of planning that makes you comfortable enough to do the trip is the right amount of planning.
So long as you're flexible when the plan meets reality.
Combine the old adages "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy" and "Plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."
Peru! WooHoo!
Select to expand quotefeerless said..
Make sure your pack your ummmm mmmmm ......BALLS
They are safe and sound in the girl friends handbag.
PACASMAYO PERU...
So on with the over planning I go....
Luckily for me I met an awesome Peruvian local who spent the summer in Australia, She has been able to assist in a lot of the final finer details when it came to some of the unknowns after I actually touch down in Lima including the transfers from the airport and the bus trip to Pacasmayo...So a really big thank you to Bettina.
So what am I taking...
My gear ready for the trip...
Apart from the obvious stuff you need for travel and my windsurf kit I'll be taking my camera gear to capture my adventures for hopefully all to enjoy what I hope to be an amazing journey. This will all be packed into my carry on bag to ensure it stays safe from the baggage chuckers. Without some prior over planning this may have led to some issues when arriving at the airport in Lima, You see certain camera equipment and drones are required to be declared or they will be taxed or confiscated (drones) at the air port customs check. If your drone is confiscated you are required to obtain a letter of permission from the transportation office to get it released after paying a tax, All of this takes time in a country where Spanish is not my strong point. Anyways all that has been avoided since I did some EXTREME over planning and got all the permissions and information I needed in advance.
The Camera Gear...
I think I've got it covered...Might take just one more...
What camera gear is going...Well my trusty Canon 7Dii with 100-400mm for all my windsurfing still photography needs. The DJI Mavic Pro for some aerial support and my DJI Osmo+ to capture some lifestyle stuff and a GoPro session and K4 harness mount for some on water activity.
This shouldn't be a problem getting through customs...Should it?
The Windsurfing Kit...
What windsurfing kit is going...I'm taking 1 board and 3 sails all being packed into a single travel bag that just sneaks in under the maximum heavy bag allowance of 32kgs (It will incur a $75 heavy bag charge). My board will be my Simmer Style Quantum 105, It's my every condition board...From 10 to 30 knots this board is sweet for me. Sails...I'm taking the all new 2018 Simmer Style Icons, These are Simmers 5 batten real world wave sail in sizes 5.0, 5.3 and 5.6. Why those sizes? They all fit on a 400 mast and would cover most wind ranges in Pacasmayo for me. Masts...I'll be taking two 400s just incase I break one...Not sure on how easy it would be to get a replacement if I busted one so taking a spare for some insurance. Obviously a boom, Extension and Base along with 2 sets of quad fins. Just to be safe and ensure I over plan to the max I've purchased a new base and replace my down haul and out haul ropes with new formuline and I'll take some spare as well. Wetsuits...A 3/2 steamer was advised so that's what I'm taking...And that should probably do...Forgetting anything?
I thinks I have everything I need...Ahh sh!t forgot spare harness lines DAMIT!
Final Airport Transfer Lima...
So the last bit of over planning was for a private airport transfer when I arrive in Lima...I organised a private driver through a recommended company in Lima, There are numerous warnings around transport and the dangers it presents to the gringo from being kid napped for ransom or extortion to waking up missing some vital organs. Apparently half of the taxis on the road are just posing as taxis, Some honest but a lot connected to organised crime. On arrival I'll have an English speaking driver awaiting to whisk me and my kit across town in a air conditioned Hyundai H1 to the the bus station. According to Trip Advisor Lima has some of the worst traffic in the world with most of the driving public choosing to ignore any form of road rules what so ever. So while I payed a premium price of $35US for this private service it's nice to know I'll get to my final destination with my bank balance and kidneys intact.
International Phones and Data...
So in this day and age where we are forever connected to the internet for everything from checking the forecast and posting crap on seabreeze to keeping in touch with family and friends I looked around for some options as my current carrier Telstra doesn't have a supporting network within Peru. I was told I could buy a SIM card on arrival at the airport in Lima but not wanting to risk the language barrier and not knowing how much time I'd have available I have chosen to buy a pre-paid SIM before leaving. It was actually free and came with my travel insurance that I got from Woolworths. Their global roaming SIM has call and data support through one of the leading telcos in Peru and the rates are reasonable. The only minor drama is you get a new number. Minor I say because you can actually just add your home land-line to the SIM and have your calls to your mobile redirected via you land-line to the new number...Easy.
The Final Count Down...
I know if I was as AWESOME as Dan Berry I'd just get up in the morning before my flight, Punch a koala in the face, Throw a pair of jocks in my backpack, Sling my board under my arm and jump on my magic carpet and fly off to my next great adventure...But I'm not. I've planned and executed every detail so far and since some have offered some great wisdom I'll leave you with 2 that I stand by.
"Pi$$ poor planning leads to pi$$ poor results"
and
"Failing to plan is Planning to fail"
So I've over planned the sh!t out of this but I'm comfortable with that, Taken the fun and excitement out of it, I don't think so. That all begins very soon when I get on the plane.
Only 15 days to go...
Check out www.limaeasy.com for some light reading if your interested.
Cheers J. 
Really enjoying the build up jh2703. Worst part of my trip to Peru was the el-cheapo, unofficial "taxi" ride from the airport at 2 am through Lima's dark back streets. The city is known for its fog which made it extra creepy. Planning and any advice from locals is valuable.
Funny how we travel to a third world country and consider US$35 expensive in return for convenience and safety. Yet, US$35 would just get you from the Sydney CBD to the Airport in a BO filled taxi driven by someone that just barely speaks English but absolutely has no clue how to get around Sydney. Come to think of it...
Select to expand quotejh2703 said..
I know if I was as AWESOME as Dan Berry I'd just get up in the morning before my flight, Punch a koala in the face,
What was it that Bill Kilgore said? "Dan don't surf." (no more)
I think he trade his board and sail for a mountain bike...
How ruuuude
. I was just encouraging you to go have and adventure and not get caught up in planning out every minute detail of how you invisage the trip will be. Hope you choke on your guineapig now
We just had a trip to Europe and we got a prepaid travel sim from Aust Post office. Loaded it in the phone at home to make sure she works. Swapped them back. On landing OS swapped the sim and presto we had a phone. Being an Aust sim all reloads were done on an Aust site in English. Coverage was good too. That's what we will be doing again as it was 100% easier than the Dutch & Swiss sims a I didn't have those languages.
I've read somewhere, might be fake news as well, but about 80% of the hype and fun of a trip is on the planning and after the trip when you talk about it.
I've read somewhere, might be fake news as well, but about 80% of the hype and fun of a trip is on the planning and after the trip when you talk about it.
Select to expand quoteR1DER said..
ARE YOU THERE YET?????
Oh no, I don't think he's actually going anywhere. Was that the intention?
Select to expand quotejh2703 said..
PACASMAYO PERU...
The Camera Gear...I think I've got it covered...Might take just one more...
he should be easy to spot, no?!
(he does take some really good photo though)
