My paddle slices through the water, which grows choppier by the second, propelling me forward, the nose of my Gatorade-orange kayak gliding toward the distant mountain range that hugs the far rim of the lake. The deep blue water splashes over my legs, but the rain pants layered over my wetsuit keep me cozy and mostly dry.
Around me, a surging flotilla of kayaks moves in rhythm, each stroke drawing us closer to a cathedral of rock rising from General Carrera Lake—the second-largest lake in South America—stretching nearly 2,000 kilometers across Chilean Patagonia’s Aysén region.
Our destination: the Marble Caves. After several rain-soaked days, we’re basking in sunlight spilling from a flawless sky, drinking in the kaleidoscope of colour before us. The rock face shimmers in swirls of luminous blue, glinting silver and soft cream, a natural masterpiece carved over thousands of years as the lake’s waves patiently sculpted calcium carbonate into smooth, rippling patterns.
This living canvas embodies the reason I’ve travelled three days from my home in Calgary, Alberta to reach this place. The soul of the water and the spirit of the land are present here. They pulse through the movement of the lake, flicker in the changing colours of the caves and reflect in the faces around me: adventure travellers bound by a shared, profound connection that can only be found in moments like these.
In a time when the world feels increasingly divided, travel offers a rare kind of clarity, a chance to rediscover what unites us. Adventure travel, in particular, nurtures a sense of strength and connection that often feels out of reach amid the noise of today’s fast-paced world.
Yet here, I haven’t slowed down at all. Still, nothing at home compares to the rush of surfing a Class III rapid on the Baker River, skidding down the gravel roads of the Carretera Austral on a mountain bike, or standing before a waterfall so powerful its spray soaks me in seconds. Perhaps the only thing that rivals these moments is sharing a cold maqui beer with new friends, forging bonds through the warmth and hospitality of Pared Sur Camp.
Later, ensconced in a cozy cabin overlooking the vast expanse of the lake below, I do finally relax. I draw comfort from the crackling fire in the wood stove behind me, its warmth warding off the early spring chill that drifts through the camp. It’s my first time in Patagonia, and I can’t quite wrap my head around how rugged and remote the Aysen region feels. A sense of complete solitude engulfs me, padding in softly, like the puma I’m hoping to get a glimpse of on an early morning hunt.
It's a sharp contrast to the bustle that greets me when I arrive in Puerto Natales for the Adventure Travel World Summit, where I hear tales of puma sightings, of cocktails garnished with ice chipped directly from the icebergs floating near Grey Glacier and the wild winds that Patagonia is known for whipping down the famous Base Torres hiking trail.
The energetic hum of hundreds of like-minded adventure travellers fills the Polideportivo Municipal, where the opening plenary and welcome orientation is taking place, the buzz of buyers, suppliers and media creating a hive of activity where connection is found through the cosplay of water and air, and continues to grow through the opening keynote, focusing on the future outlook of the travel industry, and a variety of sessions that range from the bridging of sustainability, parks and tourism and how AI is impacting the travel industry.
In the afternoon a convoy of busses winds its way to the Las Torres Hotel where the opening reception unfolds over an interactive pathway from the Welcome Center of Torres del Paine National Park to the hotel itself. I watch traditional Chilean dancers stomp and leap across a wooden stage while sipping a Calafate sour, and my feet tap an unfamiliar beat to the folk music that flows amidst the raised tents of the mid-way campground.
In true Patagonian fashion, the mountains are veiled in a light mist, yet the glow of a bonfire and the scent of roasting lamb wrap us in a warm welcome. Then, the thunder of hooves cuts through the hum of celebration. A herd of horses, ridden with effortless skill by the hotel’s baqueanos, charges past. They carry blazing torches that ignite letters and numbers in fire, spelling out ATWS 2025. With that, the summit has officially begun.
The next day, I find myself on a boat slicing through the unusually calm waters of Lago Grey, marveling at a towering iceberg that floats precariously close to the shore where the Grey III docks. Along with a dozen other intrepid travelers, I’m dropped off a few kilometers from the immense wall of the Grey Glacier—part of the Southern Patagonian Icefield—its jagged face rising 30 meters high and stretching six kilometers wide.
Today’s day of adventure is twofold: half of us will squeeze into wetsuits and paddle sea kayaks to within two kilometers of the tumbling ice, weaving through floating ‘bergs and choppy whitecaps. The rest will strap on crampons and explore the glacier’s frozen surface on foot.
BigFoot Patagonia, the only company authorized to run ice-trekking and kayaking tours in the Grey Glacier and Lake Sector of Torres del Paine National Park, has perfected the experience. The kayaks are sturdy, the gear watertight, and the guides friendly, funny, and impressively knowledgeable.
We glide past ice formations of all shapes and sizes, their hues shifting from pearly white to deep, wintry blue. Waterfalls tumble from the rugged peaks that frame the lake, and when the Patagonian wind picks up, waves surge over the bow of my kayak, buffeting the sides with the fierce energy this wild land is famous for.
The sea kayaks glide with a steadiness I don’t always feel in the travel media landscape these days. If I’m honest, I arrived on this trip with a quiet sense of unease, a hesitation. Is the tide shifting when it comes to the value of earned media? As a traditional freelancer writing for various magazines and newspapers, it’s becoming harder to find my footing, to feel secure in what I do.
My experiences in Chile have been deeply moving, yet I can’t help but wonder: do they still hold weight in a world increasingly defined by instant gratification, guarantees and the growing presence of AI in storytelling?
Then, during the Content Creation & Storytelling: The Great Debate in Adventure Travel session, I find myself breathing easier. In a spirited discussion, it becomes clear that earned media still matters, that authentic storytelling remains essential to sharing the message of sustainable adventure tourism. Evergreen content, I’m reminded, continues to hold power, even in an age obsessed with the next new thing.
That evening, the power of storytelling takes center stage with the premiere of GLP’s Chile film series. Three films unfold, each highlighting a distinct region: Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos. Through them, we’re invited into the heart of Chile’s Indigenous traditions and communities, its local culture and cuisine, its wild landscapes and extraordinary biodiversity, all woven together by stories of adventure and community-led conservation.
“Community was that constant theme between all three,” says Rob Holmes, Founder and Chief Strategist of GLP Films. “Our stories come down to the people, they always do.”
Holmes’ goal was to share the message of sustainable tourism in Chile by highlighting emerging destinations and ensuring regional diversity. As these places gain international attention, he aims to help protect and preserve them, promoting responsible travel while continuing to celebrate Chile as a world-class destination.
However, the event also serves to foster further connection between attendees. “The [other] purpose is to get people together,” says Holmes. “To take a break, kick back, relax and appreciate the industry we all love.”
The love for the industry shines brightest on the final day of ATWS during Media Connect, where stories are shared with the people who value them most. It’s there when I learn about La Ruta de los Parques— “the most beautiful scenic route in the world”—a 2,800-kilometer journey linking 17 Chilean national parks and 60 communities from Puerto Montt to Cape Horn. It’s reflected in South Expeditions of Ecuador, the only company offering kayaking and camping in the Galápagos, whose dedication to sustainability runs deep. And it’s alive in Epic Patagonia Trips, which leads road adventures along the remote and rugged Carretera Austral, strengthening the local communities that give this wild land its spirit.
In the final keynote, Elizabeth Becker, a renowned American journalist and author, told a darker story of a country divided and “an unsettled world,” where tourism is deeply affected by “war, climate catastrophe and political unrest.” Ultimately, however, her message was clear: “Everything is tourism,” and then quoting astronomer Carl Sagan, “The passion to explore is at the heart of being human.”
And it’s this humanity we can cling to. And it’s this sense of community we must hold onto in times of uncertainty, in moments when we can feel so lucky to be part of something like this.
First-time ATWS attendee Ashlea Halpern, a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist, echoes this sentiment. “Colleagues and friends had been telling me for years how special the Adventure Travel World Summit is, but until you experience it yourself, it’s hard to wrap your head around,” she says. “Then suddenly here we are, at the bottom of the world, surrounded by some of the most compelling people working in adventure tourism.”
She valued the diverse blend of buyers, suppliers and media that are present, and admired the way the group united to fully embrace their thrilling pre-summit adventures and the excitement of the action-packed day of adventures: “I befriended folks I’d never otherwise have the chance to meet and left with at least a dozen solid story ideas. I can’t wait to do it again in 2026.”
Halpern isn’t alone in her enthusiasm. The energy and warmth of the host country left a lasting impression on many attendees. As Holmes put it, “There’s no more enthusiastic destination than Chile…hats off for putting on a great event.” His words captured the collective spirit of gratitude and awe that permeated the summit, a fitting tribute to a place that brought such a strong community together.
In the end, this is also what lingers most from my time in Patagonia. Not the marble cathedrals sculpted by waves, the glaciers glowing blue under a restless sky, or the endless wind that whips through the land, but the people drawn together by those very forces.
From the guides steering us safely through icy channels to the storytellers and visionaries gathered at the summit, every encounter reaffirmed a simple truth: adventure is, at its core, a collective journey. We come seeking nature’s raw beauty, but we stay for the connections forged in its presence: the shared laughter after a long paddle, the unspoken camaraderie of early-morning hikes, the common hope that travel, done thoughtfully, can help protect the places that move us most.
In Patagonia, surrounded by water, rock, and sky, I found that community isn’t built by proximity, it’s carved, like the Marble Caves themselves, through time, trust and the shared pursuit of adventure.