El Cafecito Travel Talks

#63 What Does an Ecuadorian Look Like? Aug 22, 2026 1520 Douglas Chang was born in Ecuador, but his family story began thousands of kilometres away in China.Three of his grandparents came from China to Ecuador with very little, eventually settling in small communities near Guayaquil. Douglas remembers stories of his grandmother, his father leaving school at 12 to work, the family running small businesses, and the importance of cacao at a time when it re

#62 Finding Family In Ecuador Aug 16, 2026 1467 When Hannah O’Hare Bennett arrived in Ecuador as a Peace Corps agriculture volunteer, she wanted more than travel...she wanted to build relationships and truly understand a place.Placed in a small rural community near Saraguro, Hannah initially struggled with isolation, limited Spanish and the thought of spending two full years away from home. But through the patience, humour and warmth of her hos

#61 40 Years Backpacking Aug 14, 2026 1526 “Home is where the backpack is.”Ken has spent 40 years travelling the world and 36 years working internationally as a United Nations peacekeeper and diplomat. Born in what is now Zimbabwe, he was given 48 hours to leave the country at the age of 18 and began building a life without a permanent home.In this episode, Ken remembers travelling before smartphones, GPS, online reservations and ATMs...wh

#60 Looking for Home Aug 11, 2026 1510 Dan left London with a plan to travel through eight or nine countries across Latin America. Almost a year later, that plan looks very different.Three months in Panama became six months in Colombia. In Salento, an unexpected relationship pulled him into a local family and changed the direction of his journey. When the relationship ended, Dan had to move forward — but he doesn’t regret the experienc

#59 The Travelling Lion Aug 6, 2026 1190 What if your travel companion had been to 117 countries, needed his own luggage, had his own Instagram account—and happened to be a lion?Meet Montgomery J. Lion, better known as Monty, Ken’s rather unusual travel companion.Monty’s story began in Tanzania, when Ken brought him home for his son. Years later, when his son left for university, Monty joined Ken on the road—and never really stopped trav

#58 Documenting the Journey Aug 4, 2026 1004 What will you remember from your travels a year from now? Carina, a traveller from Germany, has taken a sabbatical to spend more than a year exploring the world. But she isn’t just travelling; she’s documenting the journey.Through a private written journal, photography, and printed photo albums for each country she visits, Carina is creating a personal record of the places she sees, the food she e

#57 Finding a Wife Abroad Aug 1, 2026 1204 At 73, a traveler shares a very personal story about looking for companionship abroad, using an international matrimonial agency, and eventually marrying a woman in Colombia.He talks openly about spending thousands of dollars through the agency, the excitement of arriving in Medellín, falling in love, getting married and the red flags he admits he ignored along the way.At his request, we have chos

#56 Black Queer Travel Jul 31, 2026 1398 What is it like to travel the world as a Black queer couple?In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Ash and Phae, two slow travellers from the United States who share their experiences navigating the world while embracing multiple identities. From defining what “non-binary” and “queer” mean in their own words to discussing safety, community, and the realities of long-term

#55 7 Wonders Quest Jul 29, 2026 971 What does it take to visit all Seven Wonders of the World before turning 26?In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, I sit down with Austin from the Netherlands, who set himself an ambitious goal: visit all seven of the New Seven Wonders before his 26th birthday.From watching the sunrise over Machu Picchu to seeing the Taj Mahal at dawn, Austin shares the unforgettable moments, unexpected trav

#54 One-Way Exploration Jul 4, 2026 1147 What would you do if you had no return date?At just 24 years old, Fabian left behind a career in sports event management in Austria and bought a one-way ticket to South America. Six months later, he’s still exploring—discovering new cultures, making friendships in hostels, cheering alongside locals during the World Cup, and learning that travel is about much more than checking countries off a list

#53 Group Tours vs. Solo Travel Jul 2, 2026 1685 Should you join a group tour or travel independently?In this episode, I sit down with Nathan, an experienced traveller and international teacher, to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both styles of travel.We discuss safety, flexibility, cost, meeting new people, language barriers, and when each approach makes the most sense. We also talk about cruises, all-inclusive resorts, relocating a

#52 Irish Teacher in Colombia Jun 30, 2026 1562 In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Azim, a 27-year-old teacher from Dublin, Ireland, who is working at an American international school in Valledupar, Colombia.Azim shares what led him to leave Ireland, how international teaching can open the door to travel, and what life is like in a hot, music-filled Colombian city famous for vallenato.The conversation explores cult

#51 Behind the Hotel Desk Jun 26, 2026 1417 What really goes on behind the scenes of a hotel?In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Pierce Lowney, an Irish hospitality professional who started working in a local pub at just 14 years old before building a career in luxury hotels. Now backpacking across South America, Peirce shares the stories, lessons, and unforgettable moments he’s experienced from both sides of th

#50 Medellín to Ushuaia – A Motorcycle Journey Across South America Jun 23, 2026 1024 In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Gregorio Cárdenas from Medellín, Colombia, who set out on the adventure of a lifetime: riding his motorcycle from Colombia to Ushuaia, Argentina—the southernmost city in the world.What started as a dream became a journey through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Along the way, Gregorio balanced life as a digital

#49 Moving to Ecuador with a Dog: What Nobody Tells You. Jun 21, 2026 1442 In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Troy, who recently relocated from the United States to Cuenca, Ecuador — along with his dog, Cosmo.Troy shares the real process of moving internationally with a pet, including paperwork, airline restrictions, unexpected costs, and why he eventually used a pet transport service with a pet nanny. He also talks about the extra complicat

#48 What Ecuador Taught a 12-Year-Old Traveller Jun 15, 2026 1099 What is it like to move to another country at age 10, learn a new language, attend school in a different culture, and build a new life from scratch?In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd sits down with Karmarri and his mother, artist Iyahdae Rose, as they reflect on two years living in Cuenca, Ecuador, before returning to the United States.Karmarri shares his experiences learning

#47 Sailing to Latin America Jun 8, 2026 1290 What would make someone from Switzerland trade a plane ticket for a sailboat?In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd sits down with Tobias, a young traveller who chose the slow route to the Americas. Instead of flying across the Atlantic, he spent 26 days at sea, sailing from Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands to Martinique in the Caribbean.Tobias shares what life was really like o

#46 Photography, Identity and the African Diaspora with Skye Jalal Jun 2, 2026 1477 In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd speaks with photographer and recent graduate Skye Jalal, who is travelling through Ghana, Kenya, Germany, Ecuador, and Mexico on a Watson Fellowship.Skye shares how photography became her way of exploring identity, community, family, and the African diaspora. She discusses her experiences photographing Afro communities across different countr

#45 Welcome Back – The Relaunch of El Cafecito Travel Talks May 31, 2026 1352 After several years away from the microphone, El Cafecito Travel Talks is back.In this special relaunch episode, the tables are turned as Skye Jewel interviews host Tony Lloyd about his journey, life in Latin America, travel, community building, and the experiences that have shaped his perspective over more than 25 years living in Latin America.In this episode, we discuss:• Growing up as a Third C

#44 Hash House Harriers Apr 11, 2021 976 Ed Howell a.k.a. Hazukashii, after retiring from the US military, decides to spend his time hashing around the world.Hazukashii shares with us the tales of the Hash House Harrison, how he was renamed, and his quest for hashing in over 100 countries. His words of advice for us: people are people and the hash is a great way to meet new friends and to discover new culturesHis Hash web site: ttp://go

#43 Father & Son Feb 22, 2021 1439 Brian and Alec Altonen farmers Michigan USA taking a winter break to do a father and son trip to explore Ecuador togetherThey share with us the reasons for travelling at this time, what they hope to get out of this trip and what life was like back at home for the last year.Their words of advice for us is, do your research go travelling but do it safely.Guest: Brian and Alec Altonen alecaltonen@

#42 Where is George? Jan 15, 2021 1592 George Griffiths from Canada also featured in show #33 and #37, finally settled in Cuenca Ecuador George shares with us his impressions of his first 6 weeks in South America, some of the interesting things he has seen so far, somethings he is not a fan of and the cost and characteristics of his new home.His words of advice for us is to have someone to guide you along the way in your transition of

#41 Mike FM Holiday Travel Special 2 of 2 Dec 31, 2020 1796 Six Travellers six continents six questions...Intro: Who are you and something about you?Share with us one of your childhood memories pertaining to the holidays?What was one of your most interesting Holiday travel experience?What was one of the best gift you’ve ever gotten?What was one of the best gift you’ve ever given someone?What are your plans for the 2020 Holiday?suggestions for how others ca

#40 Mike FM Holiday Travel Special 1 of 2 Dec 30, 2020 2391 Six Travellers six continents six questions...Intro: Who are you and something about you?Share with us one of your childhood memories pertaining to the holidays?What was one of your most interesting Holiday travel experience?What was one of the best gift you’ve ever gotten?What was one of the best gift you’ve ever given someone?What are your plans for the 2020 Holiday?suggestions for how others ca

#39 Hannah's Happiness Project Dec 27, 2020 1525 Hannah Kern From the UK, a VEGAN | ENVIRONMENTALIST | SOLO CYCLIST | FEMINIST | SOCIAL & HAPPINESS ACTIVIST, decide to leave behind a possible career as a lawyer to travel the world to spread her messages.Hannah shares with us why she decided to embark on this journey, some of the struggles she’s had along the way and various highlights.Her words of advice for us is to look for the opportunit

#38 Travel Bromance Dec 16, 2020 1368 Nicolas Pollock from Australia and Daniel Rubner from Germany headed off on individual solo adventures and as destiny would have it they find each other and discover a Travel Bromance.Nicolas and Daniel share with us how they met, the fun they had travelling together and how they’ll continue being friends for a lifetime.Their word of advice to us is through solo travelling you discover more and al

#37 Flying in Time of Corona Dec 6, 2020 1493 George Griffiths from show #33 is on his way from Canada to Cuenca Ecuador while Covid is still roaming the world.George shares with us some tips on what we need to prepare for before travelling, some of his own mishaps and ways he overcome them.His words of advice for us is to do your due diligence before leaving out but don't stop travelling Guest: George Griffiths https://www.facebook

#36 Racecation Nov 28, 2020 1145 Pau Amos an American who retired early from his university career found a way to combined his two passions, travelling and competing in triathlons "Racecation"Paul shared with us from his new home in Cuenca Ecuador how he was able to combine his passion for competition and exploring the world at the same time.His words of advice for us it’s not to be afraid to do something that will put

#35 Travelling On a Low Budget Nov 22, 2020 1497 Franco Heiler, an accountant from Argentina discovers that you don’t need to have a big bank account to travel the world.Franco shares with us how a one month trip became a long-term world exploration, navigating his way with little or no money and the “sky bank”...His words of advice for us is that we need to trust in ourselves and trust in peopleGuest: Franco Heiler Instagram. @francoheiler

#34 A New Canvas Nov 15, 2020 1536 Kaspian Clark, an American who found himself with a new canvas after losing his job and home at the start of the global pandemic, decided to pack up and move to Cuenca, Ecuador.Kaspian shared with us the enjoyment he had in his work at Airbnb, his decision to move away and what life is like for him so far in his newly adopted Ecuadorian city.His words of advice for us is to “expose yourself to dif

#33 The Start of a Journey Nov 9, 2020 1620 George Griffiths, a Greek/French/English Canadian (TCK) is off on a journey to see what other possibilities the world has for him.George shares with us the details of his multicultural background, his reasons for embarking on this new journey and what he’s hoping to find at the end of the trail. His words of advice for us is not to be afraid of change. It's always better to have tried and fai

#32 A lifetime of travel Nov 1, 2020 1626 Cindy Smith an American who grew up travelling as an army brat (a.k.a. TCK) which sparked the flame to her lifetime wanderlust.Cindy shared with us the different stages she’s had as a traveller both the good and the bad times and some of the ways travel has changed in the last 20 years. Her word of advice for us is to go out and explore the world regardless of our individual abilities.Guest: Cind

#31 Japanese-Peruvian Oct 25, 2020 1162 Danny Tanaka a Japanese-Peruvian (TCK) realizes that it’s not always that easy to find a place to call home.Danny shares with us what it was like to travel and live in Japan, the home country of her paternal grandparents, why she still continues to travel the world and how this has made her into the person she is today. Her words of advice is that home could be a place within your mind and maybe n

#30 People we meet while travelling... Oct 18, 2020 1193 Peter O'Donoghue, a special needs teacher from Ireland discovered how the people we meet while travelling can impact our lives in different ways.Peter shares with us some of his stories of people he met along the way in his South America trip both in the good and bad times and how this has helped him to form the person who he is today. His words of advice for us is that through travel you can

#29 Travel With Us by Warren & Julie Oct 11, 2020 1729 Warren and Julie Knox an American couple decide to retire early and travel the world while documenting it on their YouTube channel...Travel With Us By Warren & JulieWarren and Julie share with us their reasons for retiring early and travelling, why they decided to document it for others, and how they’ve continued their adventure despite the coronavirus pandemic. Their words of advice for us i

#28 Cuenca: 200 Days of Lockdown Oct 5, 2020 1493 Ben Lehman, an American photographer, while travelling from the southern tip of South America north to Ecuador finds himself in lockdown in Cuenca Ecuador For over 200 days.Ben shares with us how he coped and turned a negative into a positive, ways he made new connections and why he’s thinking of prolonging his stay In this Andean city. His words of advice are that through travelling one can see h

#27 Hayden Lee Backpack Digital Sep 26, 2020 1836 Hayden Lee from a small town in England leaves his default destiny behind it’s create a new reality around the globe which he documents on his podcast Backpack DigitalHayden shared with us how he started his various journeys such as travel, the podcast and becoming a family man. His words of advice for anyone looking to get out of there default destiny is “Whatever you want do, put a plan in place

#26 The Return of The Travellers Sep 24, 2020 1199 Alex and dd, a couple from England, join us as our first guests in six months to share their experience of leaving the COVID lockdowns back home for a new adventure on a vegan farm in the Ecuadorian jungle.They talk about their motivations for traveling during uncertain times, what it was like navigating restrictions, and their plans for building a different lifestyle in Ecuador and beyond. They a

#25 My Passport has Coronavirus Sep 20, 2020 1552 Jerrill Adams an American expat/traveller and a single parent of two boys found himself in an unforeseen predicament at the start of the coronavirus world pandemicJay shares with us how a passport can alter your destination, how one-week holiday turned into a three-month international distancing for him and his boys and how he adapted in the circumstances. His words of advice are that sometimes w

#24 Vilcabamba: Path to Longevity Sep 12, 2020 1212 Nick Vasey an Australian who has travelled and worked in various locations on the globe has found himself settling in Vilcabamba Ecuador also known as the valley of longevity.Nick shares with us the path he took that led him to Vilcabamba, his thoughts on the stories of longevity in this small village and why he considers it the place for him while the world battles COVID and other issues. His wo

#23 Slow Travel Sep 5, 2020 1262 Keith Ferris form Ireland decides to do slow travel through South America after finishing his master in Biological Engineering Keith shares with us why he chose to slow travel, some of the wild things he’s seen and how he found jobs and volunteer opportunities along the way. His world of advice for others while travelling is, be yourself, be flexible and be open-minded. Workaway: https://www.work

#22 Sitting Still Aug 31, 2020 1460 Daniel Hall, a nomadic English teacher from the northeast of England discovers the importance of sometimes sitting still while on a journey of a lifetime. Dan shares with us his reasons for stopping and taking time off, why it's not always necessary to see and do everything while on the road, and how your fellow travellers can be a support group. Also leaving us with the thought that, It&apo

#21 Returning Home Aug 23, 2020 1573 Kate and Dan Hoffman a US couple returning home to middle America after a one-year travel adventure of a lifetime. Kate and Dan share with us what it was like for them to return to a day to day routine with the challenges of finding a job, reconnecting with family, friends and personal adjustment. They give us some insight into how one might deal with the emotional part of returning home.Facebo

#20 Fears of Travel Aug 16, 2020 1520 Trevor Cheatham, an American TCK who was brought up living in various countries and cultures uses fear as part of his motivation to journey to new destinations.Trevor shares with us some of the fears people have before and while travelling, different ways of overcoming them. Finally how fear can be converted into a motivator for travel Fears of Travel (facebook story): by Trevor Cheatham https:/

#19 Solo Female Traveler Aug 9, 2020 1308 Ofer Tandler, an Israeli after doing her military service decides not to do the stereotypical way of travelling as her fellow countrymen in groups, but to venture out as a solo female traveller despite the fears of others.Ofer shares with us why she chose to travel solo, how she prepared emotionally for the journey and the ways she has learned to be solo. Also, she gives us some good advice for an

#18 Where are you REALLY from? Jul 31, 2020 1133 Elaine Cheung an Asian American learns while travelling that a seemingly simple question like “where are you from” can be a difficult one for those who don't fit the stereotypical poster child of a traveller. Elaine shares with us how peoples confusion and pre-judgment of her cultural identity has caused obstacles along the way but that has not stopped her from continuing her journey. She has

#17 World Citizen Tony Lloyd Jul 26, 2020 1122 Tony Lloyd, host of the El Cafecito Travel Talks, a TCK (Trans-Cultural Kid) who after travelling and living in multiple countries has settled in Cuenca Ecuador where he has a cafe hostel called El Cafecito.Tony shares with us via an interview by Johnny Bliss of the Austrian radio station FM4 what it means for him not to fit into one cultural identity both its disadvantages and advantages. Finally

#16 The Life of a Travel Journalist Jul 12, 2020 1619 Johnny Bliss a Canadian Travel Journalist who lives and works out of Vienna where he is the host of a radio show called Johnny’s Journeys on the popular Austrian station FM 4, which is allowed him to travel and meet inspiring people from all over the world.Johnny shares with us how he became a Travel Journalist for one of the top radio stations in Austria, some of the adventurous/experiences he’s

#15 The Banana Room Jul 5, 2020 1801 Angie Pantoja an American leaves her friends and family behind in a small town of Northern Indiana to discover a new international community in the banana room of the hostel El Cafecito Quito.Angie’s share with us what it was like growing up in a small farming town, How she was motivated to travel and some of her eye-opening experiences in the world of an international hostel. She teaches us how s

#14 Travelling out of your Comfort Zone Jun 28, 2020 1342 Luisa Eberenz a Social Worker from Black Forest of Germany, decides to go out of the comfort zone of the gringo trail and interact more with the local communities. Luisa shares with us how she was able to save for her travel. What it means for her to stay with locals versus hostel. How one can be a good gust. The importance of acquiring a new skill to take home and share with love ones. Guest:

#13 Online Business Freedom to Travel Jun 22, 2020 1194 Yohsuke Kobayashi a Japanese American who leaves the path to medical school to become a digital nomadic businessman. Setting up his own online store which gave him the freedom to travel the world. Yohsuke shares with us how he started his online sales business, the management of his time while travelling and working. The challenges but most of all the benefits of being a digital nomad. Also the im

#12 Life After Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Jun 13, 2020 1319 Lotte Heeman from Holland, as a result of a lifestyle change, was able to lose 30kg which then inspired her to climb Mount Mount Kilimanjaro. On summiting the mountain it triggered her to continue the journey and become a world traveller.Lotte on her one year anniversary on the road, tells us about transitioning into a traveller at 42 and being wiser than her younger backpacker years. She believes

#11 An Ayahuasca Journey in Ecuador Jun 7, 2020 1277 Peter Macfarlane a Canadian scientist, musician and yogi, journeys to the countryside of Cuenca Ecuador for a life-changing experience. He takes us on his “Trip” to a retreat in the Ecuadorian Andes with Ayahuasca and San Pedro. Connecting with himself and his inner spirits. Finding a new path to communicate better with family and friends new and old. Also recommending how others can embark on th

#10 Improving Your Professional Life Through Travel Jun 2, 2020 1397 Barbora Simeckova a Human Resources professional from The Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) shares her experience about travel and volunteering and how it can improve your professional life. Barbora talks about how travelling can be an asset to your future work endeavours. Ways to find the right volunteer projects, making international contacts while on the road and how to present your new skills o

#9 Photography While Travelling May 24, 2020 1381 Aidan Klimenko a photographer and videographer with over 20 years experience in Latin America, shares with us about how he developed into the person he is today through travel and photographer.We chat about responsible photo taking while travelling, modern-day photography and how he gives back to the people he photographs while travelling.Guest: Aidan Klimenko Instagram: aidan.klimenkoHost: T

#8 Blind Solo Traveller May 17, 2020 1779 Tony Giles a totally blind and partially deaf solo backpacker with the gold of visiting all the countries on the planet, invites us to see the world his way. After travelling to over 125 countries and all seven continents, Tony shares with us how he navigates the various corners of the globe. how he sees the earth and the people on it. What he has learned about himself and others. He encourages us

#7 A Couple Motorcycling Latin America Apr 29, 2020 1483 “In her wedding vows two years ago, Rachel told Josh she would ride his motorcycle with him to South America, a dream of his for over a decade. A year later, they embarked on what would become a life-changing journey from Seattle through Latin America.”-quote literally by Rachel and Josh themselves.Rachel and Josh Havekost explain what life is like together on a motorbike, the low & high light

#6 Conversation with a Lonely Planet Travel Writer Apr 23, 2020 1438 Luke Waterson, novelist and travel writer tells us about how his love for travel came about, his journeys through South America, and then becoming a Lonely Planet travel writer. Luke explains how he chooses the places to write about, what he thinks is the future of guide books and how you too can become a travel writer.Please take a look at our Facebook stories: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Cafecit

#5 Alternative Summer Holiday Apr 19, 2020 1490 Kayla Burke-Ozuna a university student from New York City decides to spend her summer holidays volunteering in a low-income community in Ecuador’s coastal city of Guayaquil.She talks us through this experience and the lessons she learned. Expressing some of the differences/similarities between life with her host family in Ecuador and that of her own in the US. Please take a look at our Facebook

#4 South America by Pedal Bike Apr 16, 2020 1545 Casper a 36yr old engineer from London is bike packing for the southern tip of South America to North Colombia. After long hours behind a desk in the city, he settles up and hits the road pedalling never knowing for sure where he will be sleeping for the night. However, with the help of strangers finds his way... Please take a look at our Facebook storieshttps://www.facebook.com/pg/CafecitoTrav

#3 You're Never Too Old to Stay in a Hostel Apr 6, 2020 1389 Trudy Carlson a 74-yr-old widow from the USA talks about how she's living out her lifetime dream to travel. Explaining why she chooses hostels as a preferred means of lodging and how she finds them.Trudy also gives suggestions for anyone that would like to follow in her footsteps and some additional tips for senior citizens.Please take a look at our Facebook stories https://www.facebook.com/p

#2 A Journey from A Coma Apr 6, 2020 1683 Michael Stang shares with us his journey of recovery after a skiing accident which left him in a coma and a hospital stay of one and a half years. Amongst several things, he had to learn to walk and talk again in his native language of German and others. But none of that has stopped him from travelling, it's only inspired him to keep moving.When Michael was asked, what he would recommend to p

#1 Teacher to World Traveler Apr 5, 2020 1651 In our first show, we hear from Kay Hanson a teacher from England who decides to leave the classroom behind to discover the world. While on the road she learns about new cultures and her inner self while making lifetime friends from all over the globe. Please take a look at our Facebook stories https://www.facebook.com/pg/CafecitoTravelTalks/notes/?ref=page_internal Questions or comments: elcafeci

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