Journey
Journey
Destination Details
Rome
Free (friend's place)
New York
Free (friend's place)
Guatemala
Mostly arranged (brother's wedding)
Sunday 14 Jun · 12:00 PM local (19:00 Irish time) · La Quebrada, La Esperanza, Xela · Live stream: YouTube Live (unlisted) via OBS on MacBook Air · DJI Mic 3 on Sam + Astrid (officiant)
Honduras — Utila
Utila — budget dive hub, hostels & dive lodges
Utila over Roatán — cheaper, excellent diving, great for logging dives before Galápagos.
Nicaragua — San Juan del Sur
San Juan del Sur — hostels, surf town vibe
Late June/July = start of Pacific swell season. Good conditions for beginners. Fly to Ecuador via Bogotá or Panama City on Jul 9/10.
Ecuador Mainland
Quito, Baños, Cotopaxi area
Galápagos Islands
Hostal Sir Francis Drake, Puerto Ayora
Atacama Desert
San Pedro de Atacama
Bolivia
Intrepid Bolivia Highlights — included
Buenos Aires
Mix of hostel & nicer stays
Las Torres, Patagonia
Las Torres Mountain Hostel (all-inclusive)
El Chaltén
Hostels in town (no booking required)
Iguazú Falls
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
São Paulo
Friend's place
Rio de Janeiro
Hostels / budget stays
Bookings
01.06.2026 · Ryanair FR9611
Depart 15:30 DUB Terminal 1 → Arrive 19:35 FCO Terminal 1
04.06.2026 · British Airways BA1584 · Ref: 🔒 · Direct
Depart 11:05 FCO Terminal 3 → Arrive 14:35 JFK Terminal 8
Rescheduled from 13:10→16:40 (change accepted)
08.06.2026 · JetBlue · Ref: 🔒
B6 1328 Depart JFK 06:00 → Fort Lauderdale (FLL) ~09:00
B6 1380 Depart FLL 11:00 → Arrive GUA ~13:30
⚠️ Schedule changed — was direct JFK→GUA 10:41. Now connects via FLL. Confirm on jetblue.com once logged in.
25-27.06.2026 · Hedman Alas overnight coach · GUA → La Ceiba (LCE) + ferry
25.06: shuttle Xela → GUA City (~4–5hrs), overnight · 26.06 ~05:00: Hedman Alas → La Ceiba (~15hrs), overnight · 27.06 09:30: ferry → Utila
~$40–60 USD · Book at hedmanalas.com once in Guatemala
04.07.2026 · Coach or flight · Utila → La Ceiba → Las Manos border → Managua
Onward to San Juan del Sur. Border crossing can be slow — allow a full day.
09.07.2026 · Avianca · Ref: 🔒 · 2 stops · 12h 10m
AV393 Depart MGA 19:30 → Arrive SAL 20:25 · Seat 11A · TACA · A320
AV365 Depart SAL 22:05 → Arrive BOG 02:00+1 · Seat 14A · GOL/TACA · 737 MAX 8 · 1h 40min connection at SAL — stay airside
AV8377 Depart BOG 06:55 → Arrive UIO 08:40 · Seat 4K · Avianca Ecuador · A320 · 4h 55min BOG layover (airside)
Rerouted 22 Jun (was AV457 SAL→UIO direct) — now via BOG. Arrives UIO 08:40 Fri 10 Jul. ✅ Seats selected.
20.07.2026 · Avianca AV1688 · Ref: 🔒
AV 1688 Depart UIO 11:10 → Arrive GPS 12:20 · 2h 10m direct · Airbus A320neo
Classic fare · 10kg carry-on + 23kg checked bag · Arrives GPS 12:20 → ferry + bus to Puerto Ayora ~1hr → Scuba Iguana gear fitting 15:00
30.07.2026 · Avianca AV1689 · Ref: 🔒
AV 1689 Depart GPS 11:15 → Arrive UIO 14:25 · 2h 10m direct · Airbus A320
Classic fare · 10kg carry-on + 23kg checked bag · Last dive Jul 28 · rest day Jul 29 · one night Quito · onwards to Atacama Aug 1
31.07.2026 · LATAM LA1353 + LA1447 · Ref: 🔒
LA 1353 Depart UIO 13:29 → Arrive GYE 14:22 · 53min · Seat 9A
LA 1447 Depart GYE 17:38 → Arrive SCL 23:29 · 4hr 51min · Seat 20F · 3hr 16min layover GYE
Economy Full · 12kg carry-on + 23kg checked bag included
01.08.2026 · LATAM LA150 · Ref: 🔒
Depart SCL 16:56 → Arrive CJC 19:05 · Economy Light · 23kg bag included
Then bus/transfer CJC → San Pedro de Atacama (~1hr)
04–05.08.2026 · LATAM LA375 + LA864 + OB673
LA375 04.08 Depart CJC 21:37 → Arrive SCL 23:43 · Ref: 🔒 · Seat 13A
LA864 05.08 Depart SCL 04:36 → Arrive VVI 07:56 · OB673 Depart VVI 13:50 → Arrive LPB 14:55 · Ref: 🔒 · Seat 11A (LA864)
⚠️ OB673 (VVI→LPB) operated by Boliviana de Aviación — check in at VVI with OB, not LATAM · Arrive La Paz 14:55 — full day before Intrepid welcome meeting Aug 6 18:00
06–16.08.2026 · Intrepid Travel · Booking: 🔒 · Ref: 🔒
La Paz → Uyuni Salt Flats (4WD, Train Cemetery, Fish Island) → Eduardo Avaroa Reserve (Laguna Colorada, Árbol de Piedra) → Potosí (silver mines) → Sucre (UNESCO, dinosaur footprints) → La Paz
11 days · Twin share (travelling with friends) · Accommodation included throughout · Max group 12 · Rated 4.8/5 · Welcome meeting Aug 6 18:00 La Paz
~16.08.2026 · Flight from LPB · LATAM / Boliviana de Aviación
01.10.2026 · LATAM · Ref: 🔒 · Order: 🔒
LA 476 Depart EZE 19:21 → Arrive SCL 20:44 · 1hr 52min layover
LA 304 Depart SCL 22:36 → Arrive PUQ 03:04+1 · Overnight
Full fare · 1×23kg checked bag · Free changes · ✅ Seats re-selected 30 May
✅ Date changed Sep 10 → Oct 1 (+€94 paid 26 May). Fly 01.10, rest 02.10, trek starts 03.10.
12-14.10.2026 · Two flights + overnight in Buenos Aires
El Chaltén → El Calafate bus (~1.5hrs) · FTE → AEP · Night in BA · AEP → IGR next day
16.10.2026 · GOL / LATAM · Direct ~2hrs
Depart from Brazilian side. Irish passport — no visa required for Brazil.
20.10.2026 · Flight ~1hr (GOL/LATAM) or overnight bus ~6hrs (~$25)
02.11.2026 · British Airways · Ref: 🔒
BA0248 Depart GIG 18:00 Terminal 2 → Arrive LHR 08:35 Terminal 5 (03.11)
BA5929 (Aer Lingus) Depart LHR 14:00 Terminal 2 → Arrive Cork 15:25
20-28.07.2026 · Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz · Lisa Lindzus — [email protected]
Gear fitting 20.07 (15:00–18:00) · 21.07 Gordon Rocks · 22.07 Seymour/Mosquera North · 23.07 Bartolome/Cousins Rock · 24.07 Mosquera South/Daphne · 25–26.07 rest · 27.07 Floreana · 28.07 Gordon Rocks
6 × $252 USD = $1,512 USD · Includes all gear, transport, bilingual PADI guide, lunch + snacks
✅ Balance $756 USD paid 20 Jun 2026 — fully paid
20-30.07.2026 · 10 nights · Double Room · Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz · Tel: +593 5-252-6221
Booked 29 May via Booking.com · Conf: 🔒 · PIN: 🔒
Walk to Scuba Iguana on Av. Charles Darwin — no panic for 07:15 dive starts
03-07.10.2026 · All Inclusive · Self-Guided · Mountain Hostel throughout · [email protected]
Day 1 (03.10): Transfer Puerto Natales Bus Station 14:15 → Central · Day 2: Las Torres Base · Day 3: Francés sector · Day 4: Francés Valley → Paine Grande · Day 5 (07.10): Grey Glacier → catamaran → Puerto Natales 21:30
Deposit paid 26 May (🔒) · Total: $2,070 USD
⚠️ Balance 🔒 due 23.07.2026 — falls during Galápagos diving (Day 3). Pay before dive day.
01.06.2026 – 03.11.2026
True Traveller · Policy 🔒 · Adventure Pack (scuba to 40m, trekking to 4,600m, surfing)
DAN Europe Sport Silver · ID 🔒 · All diving incl. DCI treatment + evacuation
Planning Notes
Setup: YouTube Live (Unlisted link — private to invited viewers only, auto-records). iPhone 16 Pro on tripod via Continuity Camera → OBS Studio on MacBook Air → YouTube. DJI Mic 3 receiver into MacBook Air USB-C.
Mic placement: Mic 1 on Sam (groom) · Mic 2 on Astrid (officiant, confirmed no PA system). Yessika's vows captured by Sam's mic at close range.
Day-of timeline: Arrive 9:00 AM with wedding party for photos — collect WiFi password then. Mics on at ~11:30. Stream goes live ~11:50. Ceremony 12:00 PM.
Backups: OBS records locally simultaneously. Mobile eSIM hotspot if venue WiFi drops.
Files: Viewer PDF (watch_the_wedding.html) and technical plan PDF (wedding_stream_plan.html) saved to Desktop/trip/Sam's Wedding/. YouTube link to be added to viewer PDF once stream is created.
Confirmed schedule (updated voucher 26 May): Jul 20 gear fitting 3–6 PM · Jul 21 Gordon Rocks · Jul 22 Seymour Channel/Mosquera North · Jul 23 Bartolome/Cousin Rocks (back ~17:00) · Jul 24 Mosquera South/Daphne · Jul 25 rest · Jul 26 rest · Jul 27 Floreana ✅ (back ~17:00) · Jul 28 Gordon Rocks. Jul 26 Gordon Rocks dive dropped — swapped for Floreana Jul 27.
Pricing: 6 × $252 USD = $1,512 USD. Includes all gear (5 or 7mm wetsuit), transport, bilingual PADI guide (max 6:1), lunch + snacks.
Payment: 50% deposit ($756 USD) paid 24 May ✅. Balance $756 USD paid 20 Jun 2026 ✅. Fully paid — $1,512 USD total.
Gordon Rocks: 25 logged dives required, last within 18 months. Richard has ~47 dives ✅. PADI Advanced OW ✅.
Arrival notes: National Park entrance fee $200 USD cash (payable at Baltra airport — get USD cash in New York or Quito). ✅ TCT pre-registered and paid $20 USD (ref WEB-242790, passport PN8629517). On Jul 20: present preliminary TCT PDF at Galápagos Government counter at Quito airport before boarding AV1688 → receive definitive TCT by email → show at Baltra. ✅ Return GPS → UIO flight booked (ref BTDWPF, Jul 30).
W Journey upgrade offered 20 Jun — declined. Staying on original self-guided all-inclusive booking (Oct 3–7, $2,070 USD). No further action needed with Elizabeth.
Day-by-day:
Day 1 (Oct 3): Transfer from Puerto Natales Bus Station at 14:15 → Central sector
Day 2 (Oct 4): Hike to Las Torres Base → Central sector
Day 3 (Oct 5): Hike to Francés Sector → Frances sector
Day 4 (Oct 6): Hike to Francés Valley → Paine Grande sector
Day 5 (Oct 7): Grey Glacier lookout → catamaran via Pehoé Lake → Puerto Natales 21:30
⚠️ Balance $1,656 USD due 23 Jul 2026 — falls during Galápagos diving (Day 3 on the water). Pay before dive day from phone.
After trek: Oct 7 arrive Puerto Natales 21:30 → bus Oct 8 → El Calafate (~5–6hrs, border at Cerro Castillo) → El Chaltén Oct 8–12 (Fitz Roy + Cerro Torre, free trails).
Dates: 6–16 Aug 2026 (11 days) · Twin share · Travelling with two friends.
Itinerary: La Paz (welcome meeting 18:00 Aug 6) → Uyuni (Salt Flats, 4WD, Train Cemetery, Fish Island) → Eduardo Avaroa Reserve (Laguna Colorada, flamingos, Árbol de Piedra) → Potosí (silver mines, Casa Real de Moneda) → Sucre (UNESCO White City, dinosaur footprints, Chataquila trek) → La Paz.
Logistics: Arriving La Paz Aug 5 (LATAM LA864+OB673, 14:55 LPB) — full day before welcome meeting. ⚠️ OB673 VVI→LPB operated by Boliviana de Aviación — check in at VVI with OB, not LATAM.
Still to action on the road: Hedman Alas GUA→La Ceiba (book from Guatemala, Jun 25) · Honduras→Nicaragua transport plan · Las Torres balance $1,656 due 23 Jul ⚠️ · Bolivia→BA flight (~Aug 16) · End-of-trip flights (El Calafate→BA→Iguazú, Iguazú→SP, SP→Rio).
Completed on the road: Scuba Iguana balance paid ✅ (20 Jun) · Bolivia Intrepid GGSV booked + paid ✅ (20 Jun) · LATAM LA150 SCL→CJC booked ✅ · LATAM LA375+LA864 Atacama→La Paz booked ✅.
Oct 8–12: El Chaltén (Argentina) — Fitz Roy + Cerro Torre. Free trails, no booking. Bus from Puerto Natales → El Calafate → El Chaltén.
Oct 14–16: Iguazú Falls — Argentine side (walk inside falls) + Brazilian side (panoramic). Fly El Calafate → Buenos Aires → IGR.
Oct 16–20: São Paulo — visiting friend (4 days). Fly from Foz do Iguaçu (IGU) → São Paulo (GRU).
Oct 20–Nov 2: Rio de Janeiro (13 days). Fly or overnight bus from São Paulo.
Tierra del Fuego (Ushuaia) dropped — effort/reward too low, logistics too tight.
Checklist
Budget Overview
| Category | Estimated Cost (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Galápagos Diving (6 days) | ~€1,385 | Scuba Iguana, Puerto Ayora. 6 × $252 USD = $1,512 USD. Deposit $756 paid 24 May ✅. Balance $756 paid 20 Jun 2026 ✅. Fully paid. Schedule confirmed incl. Floreana Jul 27. |
| Galápagos Accommodation | €332 | Hostal Sir Francis Drake, Puerto Ayora. 10 nights Jul 20–30. Booked 29 May ✅. Conf: 🔒 |
| Internal Flights | ~€2,200 | Paid: Avianca MGA→UIO €554 ✅ · UIO→GPS €302 ✅ · GPS→UIO €289 ✅ · LATAM UIO→SCL €422 ✅ · LA150 SCL→CJC €99 ✅ · LA375 CJC→SCL €169 ✅ · LA864+OB673 SCL→LPB €265 ✅ (~€2,100 paid). Remaining ~€600: Bolivia→BA, El Calafate→BA→Iguazú, Iguazú→SP, SP→Rio. |
| Travel Insurance | €622.66 ✅ | True Traveller (€520.60) + DAN Europe Sport Silver (€102.06) — both paid. |
| Bolivia Intrepid "Bolivia Highlights" (Aug 6–16) | ~€1,550 ✅ | Intrepid Travel · Booking #6909868 · Ref GGSV · $1,676.25 USD paid 20 Jun 2026 ✅. 11 days La Paz → Uyuni → Potosí → Sucre → La Paz. Twin share, accommodation included. |
| Las Torres W Trek (Oct 3–7) | ~€1,900 | 5D/4N All Inclusive Self-Guided. $2,070 USD. Deposit €360.52 paid 26 May ✅. Balance $1,656 USD due 23 Jul — ⚠️ pay during Galápagos stay (before Jul 23 dive day). |
| Daily Living | €6,000 – €7,500 | Hostels €15–30/night, food €10–15/day, local transport, activities, occasional nicer stays |
| Buffer / Emergencies | €500 – €1,000 | Keep separate. Use only for true emergencies or last-minute changes. |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED | ~€13,000 – €14,700 | Original budget €14,000. All intercontinental flights + insurance + key bookings = ~€8,164 committed. Galápagos accommodation came in at €332 (vs ~€780 est.) — saving ~€448. Total available incl. Revolut credit card: €16,500. Main risk: daily living over €43/day in BA and Rio. |
Budget Recommendations:
- Use the built-in Budget Tracker tab — Log daily in real-time. All data saves locally to your device.
- Galápagos fully booked — Scuba Iguana 6 dive days (~€1,385) + Hostal Sir Francis Drake 10 nights (€332 ✅) + National Park fee $200 cash + TCT card $30. Total Galápagos est. ~€1,900. Accommodation came in €448 under original estimate.
- Internal flights — Book as you go (closer dates = cheaper sometimes). Use Google Flights or Skyscanner for price alerts. Consider overnight buses to save money (overnight bus = free accommodation).
- Accommodation — Aim for €15–25/night average in hostels, mix in one nicer hotel per country (€40–60) for mental health breaks.
- Food — South America is cheap. Street food €2–5, restaurant meals €8–15. Cook in hostels sometimes. Budget €10–12/day average.
- Activities — Diving, hiking, tours are your main splurges. Most rest covered by accommodation/food budget.
- Keep €500–1,000 emergency fund separate — Don't touch for daily spending.
Insurance
True Traveller — Traveller Policy
Underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance (AXA Group)
Medical Emergency (worldwide): +44 20 7985 7446
Within USA/Canada: 1 800 986 6380
Claims online: truetraveller.com/claims
General: +44 20 3822 0200
DAN Europe — Sport Silver
Underwritten by IDA Insurance Limited, Malta
International: +39 06 4211 5685
Email: [email protected]
Call DAN immediately for any diving incident — decompression illness, ear barotrauma, nitrogen narcosis.
✅ What You're Covered For
True Traveller (Adventure Pack)
Both policies — TT medical + DAN diving-specific
True Traveller (Traveller Pack)
True Traveller (Adventure Pack)
Within Adventure Pack limit
True Traveller — specified item
7-day USA allowance on Area 4 policy
DAN Europe — total cost, no limit
Embassies & Contacts
Source: ireland.ie/en/dfa/embassies — verify details before travel. Emergency: +353 1 408 2000 (DFA Dublin, 24hr).
Guatemala
Jun 8 – Jun 27, 2026
Honduras
Jun 27 – Jul 4, 2026
Nicaragua
Jul 4 – Jul 9, 2026
Ecuador (inc. Galápagos)
Jul 9 – Jul 30, 2026
Chile
Aug 1–4 & Oct 1–7, 2026
Bolivia
Aug 6 – Aug 16, 2026
Argentina
Aug 16–Oct 1 & Oct 8–14, 2026
Brazil
Oct 12 – Nov 2, 2026
Journey
Journal
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Expense Tracker
- Ryanair FR9611 — Dublin → Rome01.06.2026€150.98Paid
- British Airways BA1584 — Rome → New York04.06.2026€404.26Paid
- JetBlue B6 1328+1380 — New York → Guatemala08.06.2026 · via Fort Lauderdale~€279Paid
- British Airways — Rio → Cork02.11.2026 · BA0248 + BA5929~€590Paid
- True Traveller InsuranceJun–Nov 2026€520.60Paid
- DAN Europe Sport SilverApr 2026–2027€102.06Paid
- Avianca AV393+AV457 — Managua → Quito09.07.2026 · via San Salvador€553.94Paid
- LATAM LA476+LA304 — Buenos Aires → Punta Arenas01.10.2026 · changed from Sep 10 ✅ · re-select seats at latam.com€333.47Paid
- Avianca AV1688 — Quito → Galápagos20.07.2026 · 11:10→12:20 direct · ref BT8WZS~€302Paid
- Avianca AV1689 — Galápagos → Quito30.07.2026 · 11:15→14:25 direct · ref BTDWPF~€289Paid
- LATAM LA1353+LA1447 — Quito → Santiago via GYE31.07.2026 · 13:29 UIO→GYE→23:29 SCL · Economy Full · 23kg bag incl · ref NAVHCH~€422Paid
- Galápagos Diving — Scuba Iguana (6 days)Jul 21–28 · Floreana Jul 27 ✅ · fully paid 20 Jun 2026~€1,385Paid
- LATAM LA150 — Santiago → Calama (Atacama)01.08.2026 · 16:56→19:05 · Economy Light + 23kg bag · ref UUNYDK€98.72Paid
- LATAM LA375 — Calama → Santiago04.08.2026 · 21:37→23:43 · Seat 13A · Economy Full · ref IRULEZ€168.72Paid
- LATAM LA864+OB673 — Santiago → La Paz via Santa Cruz05.08.2026 · 04:36 SCL → 14:55 LPB · Seat 11A (LA864) · Economy Full · ref AMLMUS€264.77Paid
- Intrepid Bolivia Highlights (Aug 6–16)Booking #6909868 · Ref GGSV · 11 days twin share · La Paz→Uyuni→Potosí→Sucre→La Paz · paid 20 Jun~€1,550Paid
- Las Torres W Circuit 5D/4NOct 3–7 · All Inclusive Self-Guided · deposit €360.52 paid 26 May · balance $1,656 USD due 23 Jul~€1,900Deposit Paid
- Internal Flights + Transport (remaining)Bolivia→BA · El Calafate→BA→Iguazú · Iguazú→SP · SP→Rio~€600Pending
💡 Enter local amount + rate and EUR auto-calculates — or type EUR directly.
| Date | Destination | Category | Local | Rate | EUR | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No expenses yet — add your first above. | |||||||
Packing List
Family Info
This page is for Mum and Dad. It has Richard's bank details, contact information, and who to call if something goes wrong. The Now tab always shows his current location — check there first.
🏦 Bank Account IBANs
Use these if you need to transfer money to Richard in an emergency. All three accounts are his.
For international transfers, the bank may also ask for SWIFT/BIC: IPBSIE2D (PTSB) · BOFIIE2D (BOI) · REVOGB21 (Revolut)
🛂 Passport Details
Keep this page available in case Richard loses his passport abroad and you need to report it to the DFA or an embassy.
🔒
Passport scan loads after login ↑
📱 How to Reach Richard
🚨 Emergency Contacts
✅ Safety Preparations — What Richard Has Done
True Traveller policy (€520.60) — covers medical, hospitalisation, evacuation, repatriation. No excess.
DAN Europe Sport Silver — covers all diving incidents, hyperbaric treatment, follow-up care. 24/7 emergency line.
Yellow fever, typhoid, rabies, hepatitis A & B, tetanus — all done. Malaria tablets and altitude pills packed.
Registered at citizensregistration.dfa.ie — Irish authorities know his route. They can assist if needed.
The Home tab of this site always shows exactly where he is and what dates. Updated throughout the trip.
Richard posts updates on the Blog tab as he goes. If there's a recent post, he's fine and having a great time.