El Cafecito Travel Talks

Tony Lloyd

El Cafecito Travel Talks is a travel and cultural podcast hosted by Tony Lloyd, a travel planner, hostel owner, and community builder who has spent more than 25 years living and working in Latin America. Each episode features real conversations with travellers, expats, backpackers, cultural explorers, community leaders, and people who have chosen to step outside their comfort zone and explore the world in their own way. From short adventures to life-changing moves abroad, these stories highlight the experiences, challenges, connections, and discoveries that come from seeing the world through different eyes. Along the way, we’ll explore travel, culture, community, identity, and the unexpected moments that connect people across borders. Many conversations focus on Latin America, including the stories, experiences, and contributions of Afro-descendant communities throughout the Americas, but the lessons and connections are universal. Whether you’re an experienced traveller, dreaming of living abroad, planning your next adventure, or simply curious about the people and places that make our world interesting, there’s a seat for you at the table. Grab a cafecito or a tea and join us for the journey. Travel. Culture. Connection.

  1. hace 5 días

    #68 Starting a New Chapter Abroad

    What happens when the life you planned abroad suddenly changes? In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony heads into the countryside outside Cuenca, Ecuador, with Mary and three dogs  for a conversation about travel, relocation, community, loss and starting over. Mary had already lived around the world before eventually settling in Colorado, where she spent decades working in real estate and breeding horses. An unexpected accident changed everything and eventually brought her and her partner to Ecuador. Nine years later, Mary talks openly about the realities they faced when her partner became seriously ill: finding medical care abroad, preparing powers of attorney, navigating different laws, dealing with death and funeral arrangements in another country, and relying on the community she had built around her. But this isn’t an episode about death. It’s about what comes afterward. For the first time in her life, Mary is living alone, improving her Spanish and discovering what she wants her next chapter to look like. As she puts it: “Now that I don’t have to compromise on anything, how do I really want it? What is it that I want?” Whether you’re thinking about moving abroad, already living overseas, or simply wondering what happens when life doesn’t follow the plan, Mary’s story is a reminder that relocation is about much more than choosing a destination.  El Cafecito Travel Talks — real people, real travel, real life abroad. Support the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #68 Starting a New Chapter Abroad
  2. 10 sep

    #67 I Got Tired of Paying Rent

    What happens when rising rent makes you rethink not just where you live — but how you live? Chris worked in construction in the United States before deciding he’d had enough of paying rent. That decision led to four years of van life and, eventually, a journey through Latin America. Over tea at El Cafecito in Cuenca, Ecuador, we talk about how an unexpected trip to Colombia for affordable dental work opened the door to a completely different way of seeing the world. Chris shares his experiences traveling through Colombia and Ecuador, spending two months in Guayaquil, learning some hard lessons in Medellín, and discovering how affordable travel can be when you’re willing to get away from the usual tourist trail. Now he’s thinking about what comes next: perhaps buying a few hectares, building something of his own, and creating a simpler, more self-sufficient life in South America. This isn’t a story about having unlimited money or a perfectly planned escape. It’s about realizing there may be another way to live — and being willing to go looking for it. Topics: Van life • Colombia • Ecuador • Guayaquil • Medellín • budget travel • long-term travel • relocation • off-grid living • South America Support the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #67  I Got Tired of Paying Rent
  3. 3 sep

    #66 Ayahuasca: Beyond the Ceremony (Part 3 of 3) Before You Try Ayahuasca

    Someone listening to this series may inevitably be wondering:  Is ayahuasca for me? That’s where we begin the final part of my conversation with Daniel Hannah. Daniel talks about mental preparation, intention and respect for the traditions surrounding ayahuasca. We discuss what someone should look for when choosing a retreat, whether doing ayahuasca in its traditional South American setting matters, the advantages and disadvantages of working with Indigenous healers, group size, integration after a ceremony and the importance of having adequate support. We also get into the less romanticized side of the experience — purging, difficult emotions, confronting trauma and the potential psychological risks for some people. This isn’t a conversation about convincing anyone to take ayahuasca. It’s about asking better questions before deciding whether to take it at all.  Important: Ayahuasca can involve significant physical and psychological risks and may interact dangerously with certain medications or medical/mental-health conditions. Daniel is sharing his personal experience and opinions; this episode is not medical advice. Anyone considering ayahuasca should seek appropriate professional medical guidance and carefully investigate the safety and credentials of any retreat or facilitator.  Daniel Hannah on Instagram: @daniel.e.hannah⁠ Support the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #66 Ayahuasca: Beyond the Ceremony (Part 3 of 3) Before You Try Ayahuasca
  4. 28 ago

    #65 Ayahuasca: Beyond the Ceremony (Part 2 of 3) The Vision Quest

    What happens when you remove almost everything we normally depend on, food, water, phones, entertainment and even our sense of time? In Part 2 of my conversation with Daniel Hannah, we move beyond ayahuasca itself and into one of the more extreme experiences on his journey: a four-day, four-night vision quest in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Daniel describes entering isolation at roughly 3,500 metres, with no food or water, and what happened physically and mentally as the days progressed. We talk about discomfort versus suffering, the moment he began wondering when they were coming to get him, and what something as simple as a glass of water meant after days without it. But our conversation also raises a bigger question: what does voluntarily choosing hardship mean when millions of people around the world don’t have the choice? Daniel reflects on privilege, gratitude, compassion and why the experience changed the way he thinks about some of the most basic things we take for granted.  Note: This episode describes extreme fasting and dehydration as part of Daniel’s personal experience. It is not presented as medical advice or a recommendation to attempt these practices.  Daniel Hannah on Instagram: @daniel.e.hannah Support the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #65 Ayahuasca: Beyond the Ceremony (Part 2 of 3) The Vision Quest
  5. 25 ago

    #64 AYAHUASCA: BEYOND THE CEREMONY (Part 1 of 3) The Journey Begins

    What leads someone from ordinary travel into the world of plant medicine? In Part 1 of this three-part conversation, Tony sits down with Australian traveller Daniel Hannah to talk about the journey that eventually led him to ayahuasca and a very different way of looking at healing, spirituality and personal growth. Daniel shares his story of travelling since 2016, his early experiences with psychedelics, the powerful experiences that changed his direction, and how his travels through South America eventually brought him into contact with ayahuasca near Cuenca, Ecuador. Rather than presenting ayahuasca simply as a psychedelic experience, Daniel talks about how he came to see it as part of a much larger spiritual and cultural tradition — one that eventually led him deeper into ceremonies, indigenous traditions and the world of plant medicine. This is Daniel’s personal experience and perspective, not medical advice. Ayahuasca and other psychoactive substances can carry serious physical and psychological risks and may not be appropriate for everyone. This is Part 1 of a three-part series. Episode 64 — Part 1: The Journey Begins Episode 65 — Part 2: The Vision Quest Episode 66 — Part 3: Before You Try Ayahuasca Follow Daniel: Instagram: @daniel.e.hannah⁠  El Cafecito Travel Talks — by Tony Lloyd Conversations with travellers and people whose experiences challenge the way we think about travel, culture and the world around us. Support the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #64 AYAHUASCA: BEYOND THE CEREMONY (Part 1 of 3) The Journey Begins
  6. 22 ago

    #63 What Does an Ecuadorian Look Like?

    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 represented some of Ecuador’s greatest wealth. Growing up Chinese-Ecuadorian, Douglas knew he looked different from most people around him—but he says he never questioned whether he belonged. Then he started travelling. As a teenager, Douglas left Ecuador to study in the United States. His journey would eventually take him to Israel, France, Switzerland, Canada, South Africa and many other places around the world. And when people ask where he’s from? Ecuador. In this episode, Douglas and I talk about what happens when nationality doesn’t necessarily match what people expect to see. We explore his family’s journey from China, growing up Chinese-Ecuadorian, travelling the world, discrimination, belonging, why he has never visited China, and his decision to make Cuenca part of the next chapter of his life. But our conversation eventually moves beyond nationality. Douglas talks about being a good citizen wherever you find yourself, remaining curious about other people, and something that has become increasingly important to him: legacy. After a lifetime of travelling, what can we learn from others—and what can we leave behind?  Grab a tea or coffee and join us for another conversation at El Cafecito Travel Talks. In This Episode His family’s journey from China to EcuadorGrowing up Chinese-EcuadorianBuilding a life through hard work, trade and cacaoLeaving Ecuador as a teenagerStudying and travelling around the worldTelling people abroad, “I’m Ecuadorian”Identity, stereotypes and discriminationWhy Douglas has never visited ChinaChoosing Cuenca as a new homeBeing a good citizen wherever you liveTravel, belonging and legacySupport the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #63 What Does an Ecuadorian Look Like?
  7. 16 ago

    #62 Finding Family In Ecuador

    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 host sister Sandra and the rest of the family, an unfamiliar community gradually became another home. Hannah shares the moment she first made Sandra laugh in Spanish, the emotions of leaving Ecuador and what happened when she returned after 12 years. Within ten minutes of arriving, she was once again harvesting corn alongside the family. Now, with a master’s degree in textile design, Hannah is also connecting her life in the United States with the traditional beadwork created by Indigenous Saraguro artisans. This is a story about cultural immersion, unexpected belonging and finding family far from where you started. Hannah O’Hare Bennett:  https://www.instagram.com/hannahoharebennettstudio?utm_source=qr http://www.hannahoharebennett.com/ IN THIS EPISODE: • Joining the Peace Corps at 27 • Adjusting to life in rural Ecuador • Building relationships across a language barrier • Finding family near Saraguro • Returning after 12 years • Connecting textile design with Saraguro beadwork • Why letting go of expectations can create a deeper travel experience Subscribe to El Cafecito Travel Talks and share this episode with someone who believes that family can be found anywhere. Support the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #62 Finding Family In Ecuador
  8. 15 ago

    #61 40 Years Backpacking

    “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...when backpackers depended on guidebooks, postcards, travellers’ cheques and advice from strangers. He also shares some unforgettable experiences, including finding an unmarked hotel in Siberia and attempting to cross from Peru into Ecuador during a violent demonstration. Now 65, Ken reflects on how backpacking has changed, what modern travellers have gained and lost, and why age should never prevent someone from exploring the world. His advice is simple: be brave, be realistic, do your research—and never stop. Ken previously appeared in Episode 59, “The Travelling Lion,” featuring his unusual travel companion, Molly. If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow El Cafecito Travel Talks, share the episode and leave a review. Your support helps us continue sharing independent travel stories from Ecuador and beyond. Topics: Backpacking, long-term travel, solo travel, older travellers, travel before the internet, Zimbabwe, United Nations, Siberia, Peru, Ecuador, travel safety Support the show Connect info: Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas:  email: cafecitotraveltalks@gmail.com El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador email: admincafecito@gmail.com Travel Advisor - Latin America: WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson Support the Podcast: PayPal Donation Link If you have any problem with the PayPal link, please contact:  WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550 New episodes are released every Tuesday. Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

    #61 40 Years Backpacking

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El Cafecito Travel Talks is a travel and cultural podcast hosted by Tony Lloyd, a travel planner, hostel owner, and community builder who has spent more than 25 years living and working in Latin America. Each episode features real conversations with travellers, expats, backpackers, cultural explorers, community leaders, and people who have chosen to step outside their comfort zone and explore the world in their own way. From short adventures to life-changing moves abroad, these stories highlight the experiences, challenges, connections, and discoveries that come from seeing the world through different eyes. Along the way, we’ll explore travel, culture, community, identity, and the unexpected moments that connect people across borders. Many conversations focus on Latin America, including the stories, experiences, and contributions of Afro-descendant communities throughout the Americas, but the lessons and connections are universal. Whether you’re an experienced traveller, dreaming of living abroad, planning your next adventure, or simply curious about the people and places that make our world interesting, there’s a seat for you at the table. Grab a cafecito or a tea and join us for the journey. Travel. Culture. Connection.