Wild Women Wander

In this edition of Wild Women Wander, we unpack the latest trip news from Greenland and Labrador, learn about the bite-sized history of protein bars and check out some cool Wild Women hiking destinations. Women’s Adventure Travel at it’s best!

Wild Women are on the move this month in Baja California Sur, Mexico; Peru, Costa Rica and Patagonia! Where do you want to go? If you’re looking for a good excuse to buy new trail runners, we have three hiking-centric journeys to tempt you.

Pumas + Penguins: Patagonia

We’re excited that Jenny Martindale, our Director of Programs and an all-in expert in women’s adventure travel, is experiencing Patagonia right now! And while Patagonia is famous for its unpredictable weather, it’s very predictable. You will experience everything in a day’s hike. The iconic W Trek through Torres del Paine National Park is all about layering, especially in November. As soon as you peel down to a dri-fit t-shirt and feel the warm sun on your arms, the rain will move in sideways. As you pull on your waterproof pants, be sure to cinch your daypack cover tight and be mindful of your sunglasses because the Patagonian wind is fierce! “Water devils” will spin across the surface of the glacier lakes and at full momentum, drenching unexpected hikers who are several feet from the water’s edge! And yes, then the sun comes out again, and you can repeat all of the above!

Our 9-day Patagonia Adventure has been recently revamped to include penguins and pumas! On Magdalena Island, Wild Women can now walk in the webbed footprints of the knee-high Magellanic penguin rookery. We also spend a day tracking pumas and visit a working sheep station for an authentic Patagonian BBQ, sheep-shearing lesson and sheepdog demonstration.

Faulhorn + Fondue: Switzerland

For seasoned hikers, Switzerland offers dynamic days and the unique experience of staying at hike-in accommodations like Berghotel Faulhorn and Gemmi Lodge 2350. There’s nothing quite like kicking off on a hike after a steep gondola ride up to the trailhead in the Bernese Alps! The car-free villages, cheese-making lesson, the mighty Matterhorn and laughter around the fondue pot with fellow Wild Women hikers are all part of the awesome alpine high. 

Camping in the City Above the Clouds: Peru

Seeking some spiritual enlightenment? Machu Picchu is a magnet for dreamers, and the Inca Trail Trek is the ideal way to reset. In Quechua, Phuyopatamarka means the “City above the Clouds”  and camping at 13,779 feet (4,200 m) elevation is the best city camping experience you’ll ever have. Here’s the deal: Inca trail permits sell out FAST, making this destination one that you can’t procrastinate about! You can procrastinate and pack the night before your trip, but you gotta say yes to confirm your spot, as permits go on sale in November and sell out faster than Taylor Swift! So, be swiftee!

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Field Notes from our Wild Team and Wild Women Community

Raakhe, our newest team member and Adventure Specialist, just returned from a small ship expedition and reflected on her first Wild Women trip with us in September on our Greenland and Wild Labrador.

“Do you know how we often hear people talk about diversity and inclusion? Well, this trip showed me what true inclusion looks like. I saw people from all sorts of backgrounds in leadership positions. It wasn’t just talk—it was a real, lived experience.

As a Canadian, it meant the world to me to travel alongside Inuit people, to hear their stories firsthand, to indulge in meaningful conversations, and to express my gratitude. As an Indian woman, seeing a captain from Mumbai at the helm… warmed my heart in ways I can’t even describe.

This journey taught me that when we open our hearts and truly listen to each other’s stories, amazing things happen. We break down barriers, build bridges, and create a world where everyone’s voice matters.”

Make sure to check out our Facebook Group this month to see shares and behind-the-scenes everything from our Wild Women team, who are on the move in Patagonia, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, and getting wild on the water in Antarctica!

Let us know where you live and what destination you’re thinking of next on Facebook—you may connect with a fellow Wild Woman who lives near you! 

Let us guide you…

We’ve had several women ask us how they can begin training for their upcoming adventures. Whether it’s kayaking in Loreto, riding horses in Iceland or walking the Kumano Kodo in Japan, we can help! Did you know that we have a four-part series on getting fit? Refill your water bottle, grab a protein bar and let’s go! Check out our Getting Fit series below—your perfect prep for the women’s adventure travel we know you love.

Part 1: Getting Fit: How to Design a Pre-Trip Fitness Program

Part 2: Getting Fit: Be Flexible – Tips on Self-Care, Stretching and Therabands

Part 3: Getting Fit: Walk the Walk – Endurance, the Elements and Virtual Trainers

Part 4:  Getting Fit: For a Horseback Riding Trip

Fun Fact: The Link Between Protein Bars and Astronauts

Protein bars can help ward off the dreaded hiker’s bonk. If you’ve felt that sudden crash on the trail, you know how life-saving a bar can be. There are so many flavors and brands to taste test from birthday cake to red velvet to cinnamon roll and cookie dough. The history of protein bars is actually out of this world. Pillsbury’s Space Food Sticks were eaten by astronauts in the 1960s. The thin chocolate, caramel and peanut butter bars were advertised as “an energy snack that gives you the balanced nutrition of a miniature meal.” 

If there’s something in particular that you’d like to see in this space, send us an email! We love questions, hearing stories, and seeing photos from your travels with us! Whether it’s an awesome book, documentary, protein bar recipe or cool trail runners you’ve found, let us know!