Time We Discuss: Plan a Dream Vacation as a Tour Planner

Watch/Listen to this Episode Plan a Dream Vacation as a Tour Planner

Go anywhere; Host of Time We Discuss is pointing to a picture of guest Ralph Velasco. In the background is an image of Antarctica, glaciers and the ocean.

Ralph Velasco, a seasoned tour organizer and Founder of Continental DRIFTER® Experiences, shares his journey, career, and insights on organizing tours on this episode of Time We Discuss. Velasco, an avid traveler since his teenage years, explains how his passion for travel was sparked during trips to Spain, Peru, Venezuela, and Mexico in his youth. His career as a tour organizer took shape in the early 2000s, spurred by the convergence of digital photography, the internet, and social media. He identifies himself as a digital nomad who spends the majority of his time on the road, conducting tours across different countries, and different continents.

Velasco organizes customized tours that typically last 7 to 14 days, sometimes running multiple trips back-to-back. His client base primarily consists of travelers in their 40s and older, including both singles and couples. Many of his clients are repeat customers, some of whom have taken as many as 15-25 trips with him over the years, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie within the group. Velasco emphasizes pre-trip planning, including Zoom meetings and WhatsApp groups to help travelers become familiar with each other before the journey.

His tours are small in size, catering to groups of just six to ten people depending on the location, and offer a mix of cultural immersion and photography opportunities. While his initial focus was on photography tours, Ralph has evolved to accommodate a wider range of interests including the people, culture, food, spirits and more, especially with the rise of smartphones simplifying travel photography. He believes that leaders should be genuinely interested in the locations they choose to visit, and he spends time a year in advance scouting new destinations. Some of his favorite travel destinations include Spain, the Republic of Georgia, Cuba, and Antarctica.

Velasco highlights his growing interest in custom tours and mentions the challenges and rewards of traveling to remote areas like Antarctica. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of mindfulness while traveling, urging people to be present in the moment rather than seeing the world solely through their camera lenses. His mantra is BE HERE NOW.

Additionally, Velasco has developed a course called Tour Organizer Training: Get Paid to Travel aimed at helping aspiring tour organizers learn the ropes of the business. He also introduced a new series called The Mindful and Intentional Traveler which includes two books focused on travel affirmations and gratitudes, and one on How to Be a Mindful Traveler, designed for reflective activities during travel.

The interview concludes with Velasco reflecting on the importance of being mindful during both travel and daily life, encouraging travelers to appreciate and absorb their surroundings without being overly distracted by technology.

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