El Cafecito Travel Talks
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.
El Cafecito Travel Talks
#61 40 Years Backpacking
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“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
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
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New episodes are released every Tuesday.
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