explora
Explora is a privately held Chilean luxury expedition hospitality company operating nine all-inclusive lodges across Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia, plus small-group expeditions to Iceland, Tierra del Fuego, and the Sacred Mountains, serving high-net-worth adventure travelers, couples, corporate groups, and special-interest travelers through direct booking, travel agents, and MICE channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSantiago, Chile
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What explora does
Explora is a privately held Chilean luxury expedition hospitality company founded in 1993 (firmographics also reference 1989) and headquartered in Santiago. It owns and operates nine all-inclusive lodges across Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia — including Explora Torres del Paine (the only hotel inside the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), Explora Atacama, Explora Patagonia National Park, Explora Valle Sagrado in Peru, Explora El Chaltén in Argentina, Explora Rapa Nui on Easter Island, and the Travesía Atacama–Uyuni overland journey — plus small-group expeditions to Iceland, Tierra del Fuego, and the Sacred Mountains of Peru. The platform serves high-net-worth luxury adventure travelers, couples and honeymooners, corporate groups (MICE), and special-interest travelers (notably photography enthusiasts) with bundled stays that include accommodation, meals, beverages, guided explorations, spa facilities, national park fees, and transfers.
The underlying operational technology is centered on a custom reservation and booking platform at reservations.explora.com, supported by toll-free numbers in the US, UK, and Peru, and a WhatsApp AI assistant for inquiries. A proprietary School of Guides produces bilingual expert guides trained in geology, ecology, wildlife, local culture, and safety — a human capital layer rather than a software layer. The company also stewards two private conservation reserves: the 15,000-acre Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve and the Puritama Conservation Reserve (6,000 hectares), with a new Conservation Reserve lodge opening in 2026. The customer-facing digital surface is multi-language (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German) and complemented by the ECHO Society loyalty program for repeat guests.
Revenue is generated through all-inclusive lodge stays (the dominant stream), expedition packages with deposits and balance payment terms (e.g., 30% deposit, balance 120 days before check-in for expeditions), corporate/MICE programs, and ancillary upsells such as Machu Picchu exploration add-ons. Pricing is premium and varies by lodge, season, and room type. Distribution combines direct online booking, travel agent networks, and a corporate travel program targeting MICE buyers. The company is a certified B Corporation, employs 251–500 people, and was named World's Leading Expedition Company by the World Travel Awards for six consecutive years through 2025.
explora firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- explora
- Legal name
- Explora Chile S.A.
- Website
- https://explora.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Explora is a privately held Chilean luxury expedition hospitality company operating nine all-inclusive lodges across Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia, plus small-group expeditions to Iceland, Tierra del Fuego, and the Sacred Mountains, serving high-net-worth adventure travelers, couples, corporate groups, and special-interest travelers through direct booking, travel agents, and MICE channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
explora industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Expedition Travel and Lodge Hospitality
- NAICS
- Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Tour Operators (561520)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mountain & Adventure All-Inclusive Resorts (THAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts (THAGAKAC), Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE)
Keywords
Where explora is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santiago
- HQ country
- Chile
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices9 records
Markets served
explora business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- All-Inclusive Lodge Stays: Luxury accommodation at 9 lodges across South America (Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia) with all meals, beverages, explorations, spa facilities, national park fees, and airport transfers included. Pricing varies by lodge, season, and room type.
- Expedition Packages: Small-group expeditions (max 8 travelers) to Tierra del Fuego, Sacred Mountains of Peru, and Iceland including accommodation, meals, and expert-guided exploration. Expeditions require 30% deposit and full payment 120 days before check-in. Non-refundable reservation fees: USD 500/person for Tierra del Fuego and Sacred Mountain, USD 1,000/person for Iceland.
- Special Programs: Photography programs, corporate travel programs, and customized group experiences. Includes MICE capabilities for corporate events, team building, and incentive travel.
- Third-Party Services Integration: Upsells including Machu Picchu exploration (USD 430 adults, USD 380 children for stays over 2 nights), private transfers, and extended experiences.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Standard Lodge Booking |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Expedition Packages |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Holiday Season Bookings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Machu Picchu Exploration Add-on |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
explora product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Explora owns and operates a network of nine all-inclusive luxury lodges and nomadic overland journeys across seven remote destinations in South America (Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia), plus small-group expedition journeys to Iceland, Tierra del Fuego, and Peru's Sacred Mountains. The all-inclusive model bundles accommodation, meals, beverages, 30+ curated guided explorations per lodge, spa access, national park fees, and airport transfers. Each lodge is supported by an in-house School of Guides trained bilingual staff and sits within or adjacent to UNESCO sites or private conservation reserves.
Product overview
Explora is a luxury expedition travel company operating a unified hospitality platform consisting of nine all-inclusive lodges across Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, combined with curated expedition journeys to remote destinations including Iceland, Tierra del Fuego, and Sacred Mountains. The portfolio includes core offerings: Explora Lodges (accommodations with all meals, explorations, and spa access), Explora Expeditions (small-group journeys limited to eight travelers), and Conservation Reserves (private protected areas). Individual lodge sub-brands cover key destinations: Explora Valle Sagrado (Peru), Explora Atacama (Chile), Explora Torres del Paine, Explora Patagonia National Park, Explora El Chaltén, Explora El Calafate, Explora Rapa Nui, and Travesía Atacama-Uyuni. Expedition sub-brands include Iceland Expedition, Iceland Winter Expedition, Sacred Mountains Expedition, and Tierra del Fuego Expedition. Additional offerings include specialty programs (Photography, Corporate Travel), the ECHO Society loyalty program, and a School of Guides training program.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Explora Atacama Luxury all-inclusive lodge in Chile's Atacama Desert offering exploration of volcanic landscapes, salt flats, and geysers. Includes accommodation, meals, beverages, guided explorations, spa, national park fees, and transfers for individual luxury travelers.
- Explora Torres del Paine Luxury all-inclusive lodge within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia, offering views of the iconic granite peaks. Founded as Explora's first property.
- Explora Patagonia National Park
Quantifiable outcome
- 6 consecutive years World's Leading Expedition Company (World Travel Awards)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use explora
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
explora technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
explora partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
explora competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Singita: Singita operates ultra-luxury safari lodges and conservation reserves across Africa with a similar all-inclusive, expert-guided, small-group, conservation-driven model. Both companies sell premium immersive wilderness experiences to HNW travelers in remote, protected destinations with proprietary guide programs.
- andBeyond: andBeyond runs a global portfolio of luxury lodges and safari camps in Africa, South America, and Asia, with conservation at its core. Like Explora, it combines remote luxury accommodation with curated guided experiences for affluent experiential travelers.
- Wilderness Safaris: Wilderness Safaris operates luxury camps and safaris across Africa with a strong conservation ethos and small-group guided experiences. Closely comparable to Explora's remote-lodge plus expert-guided expedition model.
- EcoCamp Patagonia: EcoCamp Patagonia operates sustainable dome-based accommodation inside Torres del Paine National Park, directly competing with Explora's Torres del Paine lodge. Comparable target customer, destination, and guided-experience model.
- Quasar Expeditions: Quasar runs luxury small-group expeditions in Patagonia and the Galapagos, including 4x4 overland journeys. Comparable as a small-group luxury expedition operator in the same South American remote destinations.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Butterfield & Robinson designs luxury guided small-group expeditions and walking journeys worldwide for affluent experiential travelers. Comparable on small-group guided expedition philosophy and premium HNW positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Belmond (LVMH): Belmond operates luxury hotels, trains, and river cruises in iconic destinations worldwide (including Andean properties). Comparable as a luxury experiential travel brand focused on remote and culturally rich locations, though at much larger scale and as part of LVMH.
- Aman: Aman operates ultra-luxury resorts in remote, scenically significant destinations globally with strong wellness and exclusivity positioning. Comparable as a remote-destination luxury lodging operator targeting the same HNW clientele.
- Six Senses: Six Senses (now part of IHG) operates luxury wellness-focused resorts in remote and natural settings worldwide. Comparable on premium pricing, remote destination strategy, and sustainability positioning, though with a broader global footprint.
Emerging players
- Remote Lands: Remote Lands is a luxury tour operator specializing in custom Asia-focused experiential itineraries. Comparable as a high-end custom experiential travel brand serving HNW clients with off-the-beaten-path itineraries, though Asia-focused.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
explora social profiles
Digital presenceexplora compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
explora financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
explora leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
explora funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
explora M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about explora
What does explora do?
Explora owns and operates a network of nine all-inclusive luxury lodges and nomadic overland journeys across seven remote destinations in South America (Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia), plus small-group expedition journeys to Iceland, Tierra del Fuego, and Peru's Sacred Mountains. The all-inclusive model bundles accommodation, meals, beverages, 30+ curated guided explorations per lodge, spa access, national park fees, and airport transfers. Each lodge is supported by an in-house School of Guides trained bilingual staff and sits within or adjacent to UNESCO sites or private conservation reserves.
Is explora a public or private company?
explora is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was explora founded?
explora was founded in 1993. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is explora based?
explora is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, in the Latin America region.
How does explora make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. All-Inclusive Lodge Stays are the primary driver. The others are expedition Packages, special Programs and third-Party Services Integration.
Who are explora's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Singita, andBeyond, Wilderness Safaris, EcoCamp Patagonia, Quasar Expeditions and Butterfield & Robinson. Broad incumbents are Belmond (LVMH), Aman and Six Senses. Remote Lands is listed as an emerging player.
Does explora have an API?
No public API is recorded for explora.
What industry is explora in?
explora's product category is Luxury Expedition Travel and Lodge Hospitality. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGAKAH, Mountain & Adventure All-Inclusive Resorts, with a secondary code of THAGAKAC, Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts. Its NAICS code is 72111 and its SIC code is 7000.