El Cafecito Travel Talks

What happens when a journey to help others takes a turn you never expected?

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd sits down for tea with SaQuane, an Afro American military veteran and nomadic traveller whose adventures have taken him across the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

From finding a sense of belonging in Barbados to navigating life abroad as an Afro man, SaQuane shares his experiences, perspectives and lessons learned along the way.

But nothing quite prepared him for Ghana, where a humanitarian mission led to an unexpected traditional title — and a journey that raised more questions than answers.

It’s a conversation about identity, trust, cultural connections and the unpredictable nature of travel.

As SaQuane reminds us, “The world is bigger than your hometown.”

Join us for another conversation over tea, where every traveller has a story worth sharing.

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El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

Travel Advisor - Latin America:
WhatsApp: +593 99 99 39 550

LinkedIn: Tony Lloyd Wilkinson

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New episodes are released every Tuesday.

Thank you for sharing a cafecito or a tea with us...

Cuenca, Ecuador, has become an increasingly popular destination for people looking to retire, relocate, or begin a new chapter abroad. But what does this growing international interest look like through the eyes of someone who calls Cuenca home?

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd sits down over tea with Andres, a Cuenca-born architect who moved to Chicago and is now exploring the possibility of returning to Ecuador.

After several years abroad, Andres is rediscovering his hometown through a different perspective. Some things feel familiar, while others have changed in ways he never expected.

Together, they explore what it means to leave home, adapt to another culture, and return to a place that may no longer feel quite the same.

It’s a candid conversation about belonging, cultural exchange, community, and the sometimes complicated relationship between newcomers and the people who have always called a place home.

Whether you’re considering moving to Ecuador, already living abroad, or thinking about returning home, this conversation offers a perspective worth hearing.

Grab a cup of tea or coffee and join us!

El Cafecito Travel Talks — Real people. Real journeys. Real conversations.

Support the show

Connect info:

Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas: 

email: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

Andrii left Ukraine years ago, lived in Belgium and Canada, and eventually decided to take on a journey he had dreamed about for a long time.

Now he is travelling through South America by bicycle, carrying everything he needs with him and moving one day at a time toward Ushuaia.

In this episode, we talk about what pushed him to begin, what it feels like to travel through fear instead of waiting for fear to disappear, and how life on the road has changed the way he sees people, risk and possibility.

Andrii also shares how he documents the journey for a Ukrainian-speaking audience and why he believes getting out of your comfort zone is sometimes the only way forward.

Follow Andrii:
Instagram: @cherezstrah
YouTube: Andrii’s travel channel

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cherezstrah?exln=M280a2kxcXFuaXhk&utm_source=qr

YouTube:
https://youtu.be/brkTKZIwCj8?si=qXXCELQ9UJeX5Ebx

Support the show

Connect info:

Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas: 

email: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

What happens when a trip you never planned changes the direction of your life?

Hannah, a nurse from Wales, never imagined herself becoming a long-term traveller. A friend invited her on a trip through Southeast Asia, where a series of unexpected encounters eventually brought her into Sean’s orbit, a Canadian solo traveller who had already left his job to spend months on the road.

They went their separate ways, but their story did not end there.

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Hannah and Sean reflect on how an unexpected connection led to a much bigger adventure, what it is like to move from solo travel to travelling together, and how two people with very different personalities navigate life on the road.

We talk about family reactions, planning versus spontaneity, learning Spanish, the challenges of sharing a long journey, and the personal lessons that can emerge when travel pushes you outside your comfort zone.

For Hannah, travel has also meant discovering that the people who take big trips are not necessarily so different from the rest of us.

Sometimes, you simply have to try.

 El Cafecito Travel Talks
Real people. Real journeys. Real stories from the road.

Support the show

Connect info:

Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas: 

email: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

What does “enough” really mean?

Dave spent around 20 years working in accounting and finance before eventually realising that the life he had built was no longer the life he wanted. At 45, he stepped away from that career, became a bartender, and later began building a life centred around long-term travel.

In this episode, Dave talks about travelling for months at a time, balancing expensive destinations with more affordable ones, and learning how to shape a life around what matters most to him.

He also shares some unforgettable moments from the road — including an accident at Angkor Wat just days into one of his first major trips, unexpected dental care in Thailand, and a chance encounter that landed him at a special International Hobbit Day celebration in New Zealand.

But the heart of the conversation comes down to one question:

What is enough for you?

Dave explains why understanding that answer can change the way you think about money, work, freedom and the kind of life you actually want to live.

A conversation about travel, changing direction, taking chances, and dreaming bigger than you once thought possible.

Follow Dave on Instagram: 

@uncle_traveling_dave

Support the show

Connect info:

Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas: 

email: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

What does it mean for a woman to enter the world of plant medicine — especially in another country, placing her trust in people she may barely know?

Phoenix grew up between two worlds: New York and Ecuador. Those experiences eventually brought her back to Cuenca, where spirituality, Reiki, women’s circles and San Pedro became an important part of her life.

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Phoenix at her Sol Studio in Cuenca to talk about her journey from fear and uncertainty to becoming a facilitator herself.

Phoenix shares a distinctly female perspective on plant medicine: the importance of trust, the vulnerability of giving up control, concerns about personal safety, and why she believes women can bring a different kind of nurturing energy to these experiences.

They also talk about Phoenix’s life as a mother, raising binational children, the accident that led her to Reiki, and what it means to move between the very different worlds of New York and Ecuador.

This isn’t a conversation about convincing anyone to try plant medicine. It’s one woman’s story of how spirituality, culture and community became part of her life.

In this episode:

• Growing up between New York and Ecuador
• Phoenix’s journey into Reiki and natural medicine
• Women’s circles and the feminine perspective
• San Pedro and its place in Phoenix’s spiritual practice
• Why trust and safety matter, particularly for women
• Knowing when someone may not be ready
• Returning to everyday life after a spiritual experience

Guest: Phoenix
Sol Studio — Cuenca, Ecuador
Instagram: @Phoenixdevenus

The experiences and views discussed in this episode are Phoenix’s personal perspectives and should not be considered medical advice.

Support the show

Connect info:

Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas: 

email: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

How do you travel for six months without spending like a tourist every day?

In this episode, I speak with Mirella, a young traveller of Cameroonian heritage who grew up in Germany and France and has spent several months travelling through Latin America.

Along the way, she volunteered in Colombia and Ecuador, including as an English teaching assistant, at a refugee shelter, and with an Afro-Ecuadorian organisation in Cuenca.

We talk about why volunteering can make long-term travel more affordable, how it helps you connect with local people, and why sometimes the people you meet become just as important as the destination itself.

Mirella also shares what she has learned as a solo Black woman travelling through Latin America, the advantages and challenges of volunteering, and what she would ask before accepting another placement.

If you have ever thought about travelling longer, spending less, and becoming more connected to the places you visit, this episode may give you another way to think about the journey.

Topics include:
Volunteering while travelling • Long-term travel • Solo female travel • Black travellers in Latin America • Cultural immersion • Volunteer placements • Budget travel • Colombia • Ecuador

El Cafecito Travel Talks
Real people. Real journeys. Real travel experiences.

Support the show

Connect info:

Questions, comments, guest suggestions, or story ideas: 

email: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

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: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

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: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...

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: [email protected]

El Cafecito Hostel - Cuenca Ecuador
email: [email protected]

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...