El Cafecito Travel Talks

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 & Julie Warren 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...

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...

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 Digital Hayden 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 plac...

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...

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 pandemic Jay 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...

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 w...

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.wo...

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&ap...

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. Face...

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...

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 a...

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...

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. Finall...

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’...

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...

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.    Gues...

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 i...

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 believe...

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 t...

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...

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. W e 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.klimenko Ho...

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 u...

“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 lig...

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/Cafec...

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 Faceb...