What Chimu Adventures does

Chimu Adventures is an Australian-headquartered, privately held travel agency and tour operator specializing in expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic, and curated Signature itineraries across South and Central America, including the Galapagos and Amazon. The company was founded in 2004 and operates from offices in Crows Nest (NSW), Mooloolaba (QLD), and Washington DC (under Chimu Adventures Inc, a Delaware corporation), serving customers primarily in Australia, the United States, and Canada. Its product surface spans small-ship polar cruises, fly-cruise Antarctica packages, luxury polar voyages, solo-traveller options, multi-country Signature South America circuits, and destination-specific tours to Machu Picchu, Patagonia, the Amazon, Galapagos, and Central American countries.

The business model is a hybrid of packaged tour sales and travel-agency intermediation. Chimu packages and prices its own Signature itineraries (e.g., Signature South America Circle at USD 10,275 for 20 nights, Signature Galapagos at USD 7,880 for 10 nights), acting as principal for those land arrangements while sourcing cruise berths, hotels, and local operators from third parties for everything else. Revenue is generated through one-time package purchases with deposits of 25% for cruises and land arrangements and full payment for airfares and restricted permits, with balances due 95-155 days before departure. Go-to-market relies on destination specialists reachable by phone, email, and video consultation, supplemented by a Zenith Specialist Agent network across all Australian states, plus a broader travel-agent reseller channel.

There is no proprietary technology platform; the company operates a content-and-enquiry website supported by third-party integrations including Google Analytics, REVIEWS.io, and PCI-DSS compliant payment processors. Competitive positioning is built on 20+ years of polar expertise, B Corporation certification, and membership in IAATO, GSTC, ATTA, ASTA, and ATAS.

Name

Chimu Adventures

Legal name

Chimu Adventures Inc

Website

https://chimuadventures.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Chimu Adventures is a privately held Australian travel agency and tour operator selling small-ship expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic, plus curated Signature itineraries across South and Central America, to consumers primarily in Australia, the United States, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Crows Nest

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tour Package Sales: Chimu Adventures generates revenue primarily by selling complete tour packages to Antarctica, the Arctic, South America, and Central America. Packages are priced as bundled itineraries combining accommodations, transportation, and activities. Pricing is published on the website for select products (e.g., Signature South America Circle from USD 10,275 for 20 nights; Antarctic Peninsula immersive odyssey from USD 10,396 for 12 nights). Customers pay a deposit (typically 25% of estimated total cost for cruises and land arrangements) upon booking and the balance 95 to 155 days before departure. The company acts as the principal supplier for its own Signature itinerary operations while sourcing cruise, hotel, and transport services from third-party suppliers.
2. Cruise Bookings and Agency Services: A significant portion of revenue is derived from booking customers onto third-party expedition cruise vessels (Antarctica, Arctic, Galapagos, Amazon). Chimu earns commissions or fees on these bookings as an intermediary. The company also sells travel services as an agent for third-party operators including cruise lines, hotels, airlines, and local tour operators, with booking terms and supplier conditions incorporated into customer contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Chimu Adventures is a specialist tour operator that designs and sells bundled expedition cruises and land tours to Antarctica, the Arctic, South America, Central America, and the Galapagos. The company both operates its own Signature itineraries (using local guides in South America) and acts as a travel agent booking customers on third-party small-ship expedition cruise lines, hotels, airlines, and local operators. Customers are supported before and during booking by an in-house team of destination specialists and a network of Zenith Specialist Agents across Australia.

Product overview

Chimu Adventures is a travel agency specializing in polar and Latin America expedition cruises and tours. The core offerings include Antarctica Cruises (ranging from standard expeditions to luxury experiences, including fly-cruises and solo traveler options), Arctic Cruises (Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Spitsbergen), South America Tours (Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Patagonia, Amazon), Central America Tours (Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Guatemala), and Galapagos Cruises. The company operates through a signature itinerary program offering curated South and Central American experiences with local guides and own operations, alongside special deal packages and ship information portals. The MAD Project is their non-for-profit foundation. The company acts as a travel agent intermediary, arranging third-party supplier services including cruises, accommodations, transfers, and activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Antarctica Cruises Expedition cruises to Antarctica on small ships, with destinations including the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctic Circle, East Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, Sub-Antarctic Islands, and fly-cruise itineraries; for adventure travellers seeking polar expeditions.
• Luxury Antarctica Cruises Premium expedition cruise experience to Antarctica featuring upgraded accommodations and enhanced services for travellers seeking a higher tier of comfort on polar expeditions.
• Arctic Cruises Expedition cruises to the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and Spitsbergen (Svalbard), with multiple itineraries and departure dates for adventurous travellers visiting the Northern polar regions.
• South America Tours Curated land tours across South America covering destinations including Machu Picchu, Peru, the Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Patagonia, and Galapagos; offered as independent or guided packages for leisure travellers.
• Central America Tours Tour packages to Central American countries including Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras, with both independent and guided options for leisure travellers.
• Galapagos Cruises Expedition cruises to the Galapagos Islands with multiple ship options, including island-hopping itineraries focused on wildlife viewing and national park compliance; for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.
• Amazon Tours Expedition tours to the Amazon basin using dedicated Amazon cruise ships and lodges, designed for nature-focused travellers seeking guided rainforest experiences.
• Signature South America Circle A 20-night Signature tour covering Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Chile operated by Chimu's own ground team with local guides, blending independent and guided travel components.
• Signature Galapagos A 10-night Signature itinerary exploring Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands via the Seaman Journey vessel, including time in Quito and Cotopaxi National Park.
• Antarctica Fly Cruise Combined flight and cruise package to Antarctica that bypasses the Drake Passage by flying travellers directly to the Antarctic, reducing sea-sickness risk and transit time.
• Solo Traveller Cruises Cruise packages dedicated to solo travellers to Antarctica and other destinations, including a same-gender room-share matching service that reduces single supplement fees by pairing solo travellers for twin-share accommodation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Listed as one of three key players in the polar travel market, which is projected to grow to $1.64 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 7.6%

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChimu Adventures is an associate member of IAATO, the industry body for Antarctica tour operators. IAATO promotes safe and environmentally responsible tourism to Antarctica, and membership requires adherence to guidelines on expedition operations, environmental protection, and emergency response protocols.
• MAD ProjectcoreOthersChimu operates a non-for-profit foundation called the MAD Project (www.madproject.org). The foundation engages in charitable activities related to travel, including fundraising campaigns linked to 'challenge trips' and donations for causes supported by Chimu travellers. This is an internal charitable initiative rather than an external partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Exodus Travels: Exodus Travels runs adventure tours including South America and Antarctica itineraries. Overlaps with Chimu on the South/Central America adventure customer, with broader global portfolio but less polar specialism.

Direct peers

• Adventure Canada: Adventure Canada operates small-ship expeditions to the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and other polar regions. It overlaps with Chimu's Arctic and Canadian Arctic itineraries.
• G Adventures: G Adventures operates small-group tours across South America, Central America, and Antarctica including Galapagos. It directly overlaps with Chimu's tour offerings in the same regions and price tier.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Abercrombie & Kent offers luxury guided tours across South America, Antarctica, and Galapagos. Comparable to Chimu's Signature South America and luxury Antarctica offerings at the upper-premium end.
• Aurora Expeditions: Australian-based Aurora Expeditions operates small-ship polar expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic. It is a head-to-head competitor for the same Australia-sourced polar customer that Chimu targets.
• Intrepid Travel: Intrepid Travel is a global adventure tour operator with strong South America, Central America, and Antarctica offerings. It competes with Chimu's South/Central America tours and Antarctica cruise products at a similar premium-adventure positioning.
• Quark Expeditions: Quark Expeditions is a polar expedition cruise specialist offering Antarctic and Arctic voyages on small ships. It directly competes with Chimu's Antarctica and Arctic cruise product portfolio.

Regional players

• World Expeditions: World Expeditions is an Australian adventure tour operator with Antarctica, South America, and Central America programs. Comparable to Chimu as an Australian-headquartered regional peer in adventure and expedition travel.

Broad incumbents

• Lindblad Expeditions: Lindblad Expeditions runs its own small-ship polar and Galapagos expeditions and is named alongside Chimu as one of three key players in the polar travel market. It is comparable as a direct competitor for the polar expedition customer, but with owned vessels versus Chimu's agent model.
• Hurtigruten Group: Hurtigruten Group operates expedition cruise vessels to Antarctica, the Arctic, and Galapagos, and is named alongside Chimu as one of three key players in the polar travel market. It competes with Chimu at the vessel/operator layer rather than at the agency layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chimuadventures
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChimuAdventures
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chimu-adventures

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chimu Adventures