One-on-One with Willie Parra

For Willie Parra, travel has never been about ticking off destinations—it has always been about following curiosity wherever it leads. From his earliest days, inspired by Jacques Cousteau and driven by a fearless urge to dive into every lagoon and explore every creature, his journey has been shaped by wonder. Along the way, he has taken on countless roles—salesman, butcher, night watchman, cameraman, carpenter—each one adding a layer of grit and humility to his path. What ultimately defined his calling was the discovery that adventure could be both a career and a way of life.

In this Coffee Table Chat, Willie reflects on the influences that sparked his love of exploration, the turning points that transformed his professional journey, and how his philosophy of traveling without expectation continues to shape the way he engages with the world. His story is a reminder that travel, at its best, is not about luxury or status but about openness, resilience, and the joy of discovery.

1. What was your biggest early influence that sparked your desire to travel?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about anything unusual… I was lucky to have a close-knit, active family who lived in the countryside and didn’t rely on the classic 8-to-6 office job. Although they were never very outdoorsy people, they were the “let’s go camping, but we’ll stay 50 meters from the car” type… In any case, they never conditioned my constant desire to dive into any lagoon I found or to touch any animal or creature that appeared. My obsession with not missing a single episode of “The Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau” lit that flame in my heart and mind: I had to do it, I had to see these places sooner or later. I’ve been lucky enough to have fulfilled most of those initial dreams…

2. What was the most important turning point in your professional travel career?

I’ve done so many things in my life, career-wise. I come from a middle-class family, with an average income and no social connections to help me, so after graduating from high school, the idea of ​​going to college to study Marine Biology was just a dream; there wasn’t enough money to pay for it, so I started working at 18 to be able to pay for it myself. I’ve worked as a clothing salesman, a butcher, a night watchman, a tour driver, an underwater cameraman, a carpenter, and more! But the moment everything changed was precisely when I went to college on my own and discovered a whole new world of activities. That’s when the company VERTICAL invited me to work with them as a Junior Mountain Guide. The rest of my story is something to sit down and talk about over a good wine…

3. How has your approach to travel evolved over the years?

I’ve embraced every travel opportunity as a completely new path, without prejudice, without high expectations, just waiting for it to open up and surprise me—for better (ideally) or for worse. It doesn’t matter in the long run. Everything teaches you and prepares you for the next step. I approach it with humility, meaning I arrive receptive and energized. I’m eager to discover the essence of each location, its natural surroundings, and its people. I apply this approach both in urban areas, such as a new European country, and in more remote corners, such as Antarctica or the Arctic. I love traveling and exploring the unknown.