WELCOME TO THE ROUTE MAP
We have a general idea of the route we are taking. All the way down from Canada to Patagonia. All the way up from South Africa to Northern Europe. And all the way around, from Europe, through Asia, Australia and back over to Alaska and then Canada.
A very loose plan. We don’t know how long we will take, or the specifics of the route. We don’t even know which countries for sure, but we’ll hit as many as we care to on the way. We had considered making a more detailed plan but thought it might be restrictive or, even more likely, wrong within months.
This has already turned out to be true. A planned three-month stint on the west coast of the United States turned into the most marvellous jaunt around the deserts of Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. It took six months and not three. Same deal with Mexico, eight months instead of two. This is fine by us.
So, no plan. Just a steady drift in a general direction.

Where We’ve Been
By Country
The map above shows an overview of This Big Road Trip so far. If you want a more in-depth look at the places we have visited then the maps below should show you our journey town by town along with some key photos that we’ll be adding along the way.
Maps are in reverse date order. The current country at the top, the country we were in previously under that and so on.
This Big Colombia
(October 2019 – Now)
Info to follow.
Places we stayed in Colombia
- Cartagena
- Manzanillo
- La Siriaca
- Santa Veronica
- Minca
- Palamino
- Camarones
- Rioacha
- Cabo de Vela
- Punta Gallina
- Barrancas
- Pueblo Bello
- Nebusimake
- Mompox
- Aguachica
- Playa de Belen
- Las Bocas
- Pamplona
- Cucuta
- Piedecuesta
- Mesa de Los Santos
- Chicamocha Canyon
- Barichara
- Mogotes
- Santa Rosita
- Guacamayas
- El Cocuy
- Jericó (Cocuy)
- El Manzano
- Villa De Leyva
- Bogotá
- Suesca
- Villets
- Doradal
- Guatape
- La Pańa
- Medellin
- Santa Elena
- Jerico (Antioquia)
- Jardin
- Rio Sucio
- Santa Ines
- Filandia
- Buenavista
- Pijao
- Salento
- Ibague
- Neiva
- Desierto Tatacoa
- Paicol
- Tierradentro
- La Estrella
- Armenia
- Giradot
- Chiá
- Venecia
- Puerto Berrio
- Giron
This Big Panama
(September – October 2019)
The last stop on the road before we have to cargo-ship Sherpa across the Darien Gap. The highlight was probably a couple of days spent aboard a yacht as crew members as we sailed through locks of the famous Panama Canal.
Places we stayed in Panama
- Almirante
- Gualaca
- Boquete
- Santa Catalina
- Santiago
- Valle de Anton
- Panama City
- Colón
This Big Costa Rica
(August – September 2019)
The most visited country in Central America. Very touristy but, thankfully, still small touristy. It’s rainy season. It rained. A lot. Our new friend, the Red Eyed Tree Frog, was a stand out acquaintance while San Jose a surprisingly modern and vibrant city with a great food, beer and coffee scene.
Places we stayed in COSTA RICA
- Liberia
- Fortuna
- Buenos Aires
- San Jose
- Parc Nacional Quetzal
- Pueblo Nuevo Rivas
- Uvita
- Dominical’Playa Blanca
- Cachí
- Cahuita
- Punta Eva
This Big NICARAGUA
(June – July 2019)
Back to a place that feels a little like home. We have been to Nicaragua quite a few times and love the laid back vibe and undeveloped feel. We camped right next to the land we purchased years ago on Playa Maderas and spent nights listening to the surf crash on the beach. Claire also volunteered at a Medical Clinic in Popoyo for 5 weeks while I headed back to Canada to get my fix of triathlon.
Places we stayed in NICARAGUA
- Ocatal
- Esteli
- Matagalpa
- Leon
- Managua
- Laguna Apoyo
- Guasacate
- Popoyo
- Ometepe
- Playa Maderas
- Popoyo
This Big HONDURAS
(May 2019)
Common belief: The people aren’t friendly and there is nothing to see.
Actuality: The people were friendly and the countryside was beautiful.
Honduras was surprisingly good fun, it didn’t have some of the star attractions of some places but there were friendly faces, great roads and a real sense of pride that their country was improving rapidly. We stopped for an ice cream in the previously titled ‘World’s Most Dangerous City’.
Places we stayed in Honduras
- Suchitoto
- Cucuyagua
- Copan Ruinas
- Lake Yojoa
- Comayagua
- Danli
This Big El Salvador
(May 2019)
The land of friendly faces and Papusas. El Salvador was a welcoming destination. I don’t think we have ever had as many people come up and talk to us as we did here, some even inviting us back to stay in the grounds of their home!
Places we stayed in El Salvador
- Ahuachapan
- Laguna Verde
- San Jose del Majada
- Lago Coatepeque
- Parmacito
- Alegria
- Playa El Cuco
- Playa El Cuco
- Perquin
This Big Guatemala
(March 2019 – Present) – our current location.
A indigenous cultural gem, Guatamela’s reputation for colourful clothing is matched only by the infamous state of the roads.
Places we stayed in Guatemala
- YaxHa
- El Remate
- Flores
- Finca Ixobel
- Rio Dulce
- Cascadas Calientes
- Lanquin
- Coban
- San Cristobal Verapaz
- Nebaj
- Zunil
- Xela
- San Marcos La Laguna
- Antigua
- Jalpatagua
This Big BELIZE
(February 2019 – March 2019)
Compared to the mass of Mexico and big ‘ole USA, Belize will be a relatively short stint. Where have we heard that before? From the Garifuna beach towns to the stunning Mayan village of the Southern Highway, Belize was an unexpected treat.
Places we stayed in Belize
- Copper Bank
- Sarteneja
- Orange Walk
- Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
- La Democracia
- St Hermans Blue Hole National Park
- Dangriga
- Hopkins
- Placencia
- Red Bank
- Dump
- Maya Village Centre
- Cockscombe Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pine Ridge
- San Ignacio
This Big Mexico & CuBA
(July 2018 – February 2019)
From the heat and barren desert-scapes of Northern Baja to the more tropical beach of the south. Mexico is a big country defined by its wonderful people and rich cultural heritage.
Places we stayed in Mexico and Cuba
Mexico
- Ensenada
- Ojos Negros
- San Felipe
- Puertocitos
- Gonzaga Bay
- Ejido San Lucas
- Mulege
- Loretto
- La Paz
- Todos Santos
- West Cape Baja
- San Jose
- Cabo Pulmo
- El Pescadero
- Topolobampo
- Alamos
- El Fuerte
- Areponamichic
- Creel
- Perihuete
- Mexiquillo
- Durango
- Parque Natural Sierra Organos
- Zacatecas
- Aguacalientes
- Guadalejara
- Etzatlan
- Tapalpa
- Nevado de Colima
- Colima
- La Maria
- Mazatmitla
- Angahuan
- Patzcuaro
- Morelia
- Guanajuato
- Queratero
- Bernal
- Jalpan
- Rio Verde
- Tamasopo
- Teotichuacan
- Mexico City
- Toluca
- Nevado de Toluca
- Cholula
- Iztaccihuatl
- Xico
- Tlacotalpan
- San Mateo Yelta
- Oaxaca
- Hierve Del Agua
- San Jose Del Pacifico
- Zipolite
- Playa Azul
- Ocozocoautla
- San Pedro
- San Cristobal
- El Chiflon
- Lagos Colon
- Lagos Tzcaua
- Las Nubes
- Guacamayas
- Frontera Corozal
- Cascada Las Golindrinas
- Metzabok
- Palenque
- Escarcega
- Campeche
- Cenote Kankirixche
- Merida
- Celestun
- Cuzama
- Izmal
- Chichen Itza
- Valladolid
- Rio Largatos
- Cancun
- Puerto Morelos
- Chiquila
- Holbox
- Tulum
- Bacalar
- Chetamul
CUBA
- Havana
- Vi?ales
- Cienfuegos
- Santa Clara
- Sancti Spiritus
- Trinidad
- Playa Giron
This Big USA
(January 2018 – July 2018)
The initial ‘let’s get through this and to Mexico’ portion of our road trip turned into an Off-road Adventures in Wonderland; hooking up with some fellow overlanders like Basil Lynch and Rob Rossi, who showed us their American South West back yard.
Three months turned into six. Action packed days turned into milky way lit nights. Red rocks, tower blocks, sun, sea, sand dunes and cactus. Below freezing temperatures making way for heatwaves. The South West USA is a feast.
Places we stayed in USA
- Spokane
- Kennewick
- Portland
- Ashland
- Grass Valley
- Sacramento
- Pismo Beach
- Cosa Mesa
- Santa Ana
- Encinitas
- San Diego
- Anza Borrego
- Borrego Springs
- Fish Creek
- Coyote Canyon
- Mountain Palm Springs
- Santee
- Lakeside
- Palm Springs
- Joshua Tree
- Lake Havasu City
- Bakersfield
- Waterford
- Oakhurst
- Yosemite
- Reno
- Fallon
- Eureka
- Cathedral Gorge
- Hurricane
- Rockville
- Zion
- Bryce Canyon
- Paria
- White Pocket
- State line AZ/UT
- Kanab
- Escalante
- Hanksville
- Moab
- Navajo National Monument
- Page
- North Rim Grand Canyon
- Marble Canyon
- Lake Powell
- Flagstaff
- South Rim Grand Canyon
- Williams
- Prescott
- Cottonwood
- Sedona
- Fort Wingate
- Tijeras
- Santa Fe
- Abiquiu
- Taos
- Red River
- Bandelier National Monument
- Albuquerque
- San Antonio
- Carlsbad (NM)
- White Sands
- Truth or Consequences
- Silver City
- Gila Springs
- Tucson
- Yuma
- Calexico
PARTNERS
During the planning of our trip, we have been fortunate to meet people who have shown a great deal of enthusiasm about the expedition and have supported us through products/services or gone out of their way to help in some way. They played a part in helping make This Big Road Trip a reality, are passionate about what they do and passionate about doing it well. If you're in the market for their product or services then we can highly recommend them.
