About Us
Welcome to Blind Pilots
At Blind Pilots, we specialize in guided tours that provide enriching experiences for visually impaired travelers and their companions.
In Spanish, “novidente” means “nonvisual,” and this incorporates anyone at any stage of visual impairment. In English, there is no such catch-all word so, at Blind Pilots, we use “blind” as our “novidente.” Our itineraries are designed for anyone at any stage of sight loss. Whether completely blind, have recently started noticing difficulties, or anywhere in between, our team adapts to your needs to keep things safe, flexible, and fun.
Our Story
Blind Pilots started to take shape on a trip to Prague. I had lived there for a while in the early 2000s, when my eyesight was significantly better than when I went in 2023 with my wife, Alejandra. When I lived there, I knew the city well and could navigate its winding streets and recognize its many beautiful and imposing landmarks. However, in 2023, I couldn’t find my way out of our hotel, nevermind the labyrinth of Prague. This was frustrating for both Alejandra and me. Alejandra wanted to relax and I wanted to explore. But, even though I knew Prague in the past, it would take me forever to find the old haunts or figure out the public transport system. Alejandra and I wanted different things from our time in Prague, but she felt responsible for me and I felt terrible that I couldn’t get around without her help.
I have always been an independent traveler. I loved that all of my belongings could fit into a backpack and that I could move on whenever I wanted. As my eyes got worse, though, it became more complicated to get around foreign places by myself. I had learned the value of asking for help when needed but it still frustrated me that I wasn’t as self-sufficient as I had once been. Indeed, other blind friends of mine reported the same thing. We were losing the joy of travel.
I love everything about travel. When I was young, I wanted to either be a mail carrier or a pilot. For fun, I used to go to airports to people-watch. Jet fuel is one of the most exciting smells to me. Airplanes endlessly fascinate me. So, why shouldn’t I and other blind people follow our adventure spirit? Yes, things are more complicated but there’s a big world out there to explore.
Enter Blind Pilots. Many of us want to continue with the independence and freedom that travel offers. We want to do what we want to do. If our family or friends travel with us, we want them to know we will return safe and sound from a day out, and it isn’t their responsibility to guide us around. We all want different things from our travels. As blind people, we should get to do the things we want to do in the places we go. And our family members, friends, or partners should get to do what they want to do, whether that is hanging out with us or spending some time doing the things they want to do but may feel are inaccessible to the blind.
Blind Pilots is the kind of program I would want to sign up for myself. Whether on a multi-day hike or buzzing around a new city, I yearn for the independence that I once had. I want Alejandra, my family, and my friends to feel the same freedom that I have been seeking out. And, if they want to come on the itinerary, they are welcome to join us. Either way, we are creating the memories that enrich our lives and the stories that we look back on with a smile.