Custom Expeditions with Chulengo
Have a group you’d like to bring to Patagonia? Hoping to travel as a pod with your family or friends? We relish the chance to craft grounded, adventurous wilderness experiences for those looking for authentic Patagonia. Most of our trips, in fact, are custom programs we offer for families, friends, academic programs, companies, and NGOs.
Check out sample backpacking and horse-supported trekking itineraries (including approximate costs).
If you’re interested in organizing an expedition for an academic program (high school, university or graduate school), see our Academic Programs Overview.
Why organize a custom expedition with Chulengo?
We have extensive experience working with different groups to create transformative experiences. We’ve partnered with academic programs from high schools to graduate schools, conservation organizations, outdoor brands, journalists, and groups of family and friends. Our work extends beyond organizing logistics: we’ve developed curriculum, built a team of local experts, and supported local organizations.
We have deep roots in the Aysén Region: founder Nadine worked for years in Patagonia National Park as the Executive Director of Conservacion Patagonica / Tompkins Conservation team before moving to Puerto Guadal, Patagonia, and all our leaders live or have longtime ties to this region.
We prioritize risk management and sound judgment, with expedition leaders trained as Wilderness First Responders and decades of wilderness guiding experience within our team.
As a small organization, we take the time to get to know each group who travels with us to build a backcountry experience that will engage and challenge all participants. Our team manages everything from designing the itinerary to guiding in the field, instead of outsourcing to many different companies.
Are we a fit for your Patagonian journey?
The Aysén Region is remote, wild, and spectacular–and rewards the adventurous traveler. You won’t find tour buses, chain hotels, or cruise chips here. If you’re looking for a more polished and amenity-filled experience, looking north or south of here could make sense.
We know our way of travel isn’t for everyone–our specialty is bringing people into the Patagonian backcountry, in one form or another. We can design a range of experiences, from horse-supported trekking (with participants carrying just daypacks), to majority day-hike itineraries. If you’re looking for a lodge-based vacation, we may not be the best folks to work with.
Our style can shift to meet your group’s goals, from full outdoor-education mode (think: we teach, you do) to more supported guiding (think: we’ll cook the meals; you’ll set up your tent). That said, teaching and education is core to our mission, and we enjoy expeditions most when everyone brings a team spirit and sense of curiosity. If you’re looking for a more fully-catered experience, we can recommend other guiding outfits you might consider.
Nuts and Bolts
We generally ask that custom groups have four or more participants, and have run expeditions for groups of up to 40 participants, divided into self-sufficient pods of 8 – 11 hikers.
Our season begins November 15, and ends April 15. Spring (November & December) brings green hillsides, still-snowy peaks, long, sunny days mixed with blustery weather, and generally very few other travelers. Summer (January & February) is the warmest time of year, although also fairly windy, and high season for hiking. Fall (March & April) means red and orange foliage, the first snow dusting, fewer hikers, and shortening days. Each month here has its unique appeal.
We organize expeditions from five to fourteen days; below, you can get a taste of some of the places and itineraries we could put together for you.
Sounds interesting? Start a conversation by filling out the form above!
