Vaya Adventures and Exito Travel Host Patagonia Fundraiser Supporting the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund

Looking back at 2025, one partnership that Vaya Adventures is particularly proud of is our collaboration with Exito Travel, our long-term flight consolidator partner, who hosted a Patagonian pop-up fundraising event for the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund (TDP Legacy Fund). The pop-up took place during the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) World Summit in October 2025 in Puerto Natales, Chile.

Vaya has long been passionate about supporting the TDP Legacy Fund’s work as a nonprofit initiative that aims to turn tourism into a catalyst for positive change in Patagonia. Working in partnership with Torres del Paine National Park and surrounding communities, the fund supports land conservation and local development projects designed to reduce pressure on natural resources and address economic disparities across the region.

I had the opportunity to chat with Jim Kane, Director of Sustainability at Exito Travel, about how he came up with the idea of hosting a pop-up fundraising event centered around local food and drinks—and why he wanted to include Vaya in raising funds and awareness for the TDP Legacy Fund. From the start, Jim was immediately engaging, and his passion for sustainable travel and bringing people together for meaningful global impact was palpable.

Jim Kane speaking at the Vaya/Exito event in Puerto Natales, Chile

In addition to his role at Exito, Jim is the founder of Culture Xplorers, a boutique travel company similar to Vaya that focuses on “meaningful connection and mind-expanding travel experiences.” He’s also the creator of the PBS documentary The Food Principle, available on PBS and YouTube. The docuseries reminds me of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, but with a bit less rock-and-roll and a lot more activism.

“I went down a rabbit hole with food,” Jim said, describing it as both a cultural connector and a way to better understand some of the big, complex global challenges we face. As he dug deeper, he realized that food offered a practical entry point for conversations about meaningful change—an accessible way for people to engage with issues that often feel overwhelming. “It’s about using food as a lens of understanding and a guide for change.”

The idea of combining his love for food with a desire to help people “taste the landscape” during pop-ups and partner events began a few years ago at a summit in Hokkaido, Japan, where something unexpected happened. An artisan cheesemaker—who had never presented outside his own farm—set up a simple tasting paired with local Hokkaido sparkling wine. Since cheese isn’t typically associated with Japan, the experience surprised attendees and made a strong impression. Hokkaido, after all, is Japan’s dairy capital, so why not showcase local flavors with intention?

Jim explained, “My team and I started asking ourselves why sustainability and positive impact existed in some parts of our business, but not in our pop-ups and partner events. That question set us on a new path.” Exito wanted to add a twist, challenge expectations, and create moments that felt genuinely fun during global travel industry gatherings.

Local flavors on offer at the Puerto Natales event

The concept truly took root in Asheville, North Carolina, during an Adventure Elevate event in 2024. While planning a dinner, Jim discovered Equal Plates Project, a local organization that connects farmers with excess produce to people in need—welfare recipients, homebound individuals, and communities lacking access to fresh food. The organization acts as a bridge, turning surplus into nutritious, farm-fresh meals at little or no cost.

Exito decided to host an alfresco, farm-to-table dinner with partners, with a clear purpose: to support Equal Plates Project. Raising funds that evening solidified the idea and set the foundation for future impact-driven events.

When planning for the ATTA Adventure Travel World Summit 2025, Jim reflected on Exito’s first fundraising campaign for the TDP Legacy Fund, which had gained momentum across the adventure travel industry. To celebrate the fund’s 10-year anniversary, Exito invited Vaya to collaborate, knowing we are longtime advocates of the Legacy Fund as well. While Exito spearheaded the fundraiser, Vaya matched all contributions, totaling $4,000, helping advance the fund’s conservation efforts into the future.

The event was hosted at Last Hope, Chile’s first gin distillery. Crafted among Patagonian glaciers, Last Hope produces crisp, elegant gin and has helped put Chile on the map as a world-class producer of this beloved spirit. Local chef Karen Quirós of El Taller Cocina Saludable went to great lengths to forage ingredients from the region’s extreme terrain, creating unique and delicious tapas. As guests enjoyed locally inspired bites and cocktails, they listened attentively to Fiorella Repetto Giavelli, the locally based Director of the TDP Legacy Fund, as she spoke about the organization’s vital work in this stunning yet fragile landscape.

Fiorella Repetto Giavelli and Jim Kane

Jim Kane also expressed deep gratitude to Jim Lutz, Founder and President of Vaya Adventures.

“It was frankly incredibly generous—and a wonderful leap of faith in our partnership,” Jim said. “He decided to support this event and match the funds Exito was raising for the Legacy Fund, even though he couldn’t be there in person due to a scheduling conflict. We were truly grateful and impressed by that commitment.”

As a self-proclaimed foodie and wine enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Jim Kane’s perspective and his drive to bring people together through food and drink. His philosophy of connecting to places through what local communities bring to the table—the stories, flavors, and shared experiences—perfectly reflects what I’ve been striving to do throughout my career. As I plan future travels, I know his words will stay with me as I continue searching for the best ways to truly “taste the landscape.”