Seán Villanueva O'Driscoll: It was just five of us on a small ten-metre boat for three months
Sean Villenueva O'Driscoll wx120425
Born in Belgium to an Irish mother from Cork and a Spanish father, professional climber Seán Villanueva O'Driscoll is no stranger to far-flung expeditions. From the sandstone towers of Luxembourg to polar bear territory in Greenland, Seán’s idea of travel is less about comfort and more about raw exploration. When he’s not on a remote rock face, the record-setting dare devil is giving climbing talks, at film premieres, or joining impromptu music sessions with a tin whistle in hand.
There are two. The Burren in County Clare when I was about six years old. [My family] borrowed this old Panda car from my aunt, and we were driving around the Burren, visiting. I was just mind-blown by the landscape — the endless limestone. I remember trying to climb up these hills — at the time, I thought they were mountains — and these limestone cracks were on the ground.
My foot got stuck in one, and I thought I was going to die! I thought I was never going to get my foot out. My mother had to pull it out.
The other one is going for hikes with the family in Luxembourg, in this area called Berdorf. There’s all these sandstone towers and labyrinths in between them. As a small child, it’s a huge adventure. It felt like something out of Lord of the Rings.
Sailing and climbing in Greenland. I’ve done it a few times now, but that landscape in the Arctic feels like you’re on another planet. You’re sailing through sea ice, the sun never sets in summer, so you’re sailing at midnight with the sun on the horizon.
The light is incredible. It’s so wild — no people, just five of us on a small ten-metre boat for three months. We see the odd hunter or go into a tiny village; otherwise, we’re alone. We go off on huge adventures, climbing rock faces that humans have never touched. There are whales, birds, seals, polar bears, and you have to carry a rifle in case you bump into one. It’s real exploration, very raw. A special kind of adventure.
La Paz in Bolivia. It’s so steep, so colourful. It’s just completely different, and culturally, really interesting. It’s not somewhere you expect to be a favourite, but it struck me. There’s something about the steepness of the streets and the vibe that’s so intense and unique.
I’m not great with cities. I don’t mind going for a day or two, but I’m not a city person. I like the outdoors and being in nature. I think I feel a bit out of my element in cities — maybe I haven’t spent enough time in them. The one where I’ve spent the most time is Brussels — I went to school and university there, so I know it well. But if I had to pick, Amsterdam’s quite nice. I like that everyone gets around by bike — the bicycle is king there.
The vibe is funky. It’s as far away from the mountains as you can be, but I still enjoy short trips there. And then something totally different would be La Paz again because it’s steep, vibrant, and so unusual.
Patagonia, specifically the southern tip of South America, spread across Argentina and Chile. It’s so wild. The wind is ferocious, the weather’s unpredictable, and the mountains are world class. I’ve gone back more than 10 times.
The people are warm and sharing. There’s this legend about calafate berries — if you eat one, you’ll be drawn to the land for life. I had one on my first visit, and I’ve been going back ever since. I was there two weeks ago, drinking maté, the local drink. I’ve had huge climbing adventures there, but the one that stands out most is The Fitz Roy Traverse. I did it solo, and it was just a magical experience.
I received the Piolet d’Or for it — the golden ice axe, which is the highest recognition in alpinism.
Rock climbing. That’s really how I travel — it’s my way of seeing the world.
Even if I land in a city, I’ll find the local climbing gym, start talking to people, ask where the nearest rocks are, and head out. I don’t always need the climb to be hard, even easy routes are great, but I love seeing new landscapes and connecting through climbing. That’s always my first move when I go somewhere new.
Antarctica. It’s the only continent I haven’t been to and the most isolated and wild.
The cold is very hard there, and it’s not easy to get to.
Flying is expensive and sailing would be extremely difficult, but I’d love to go. It’s been on my list for a long time.
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