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About Connect Patagonia
Local expert knowledge. Direct support. Safer adventures.
Connect Patagonia Is a Tour company based in El Chalten located near the Laguna Torre trailhead. We help people find Guides, Porters, and Photographers to help guide them, carry their weight or photograph them. We have over 30+ years of Combined experience guiding and exploring these mountains.
Connect Patagonia at a glance
Based in El Chaltén since 2017
Operating as Connect Patagonia since September 2024
More than 4,000 travelers advised through local weather information, hiking guidance and trip planning
5.0 rating from more than 130 Google reviews
Direct planning and support from Ben and Milena
Connect Patagonia was created by Benjamin Starkel and Milena Gómez Escudero to give travelers direct access to reliable local knowledge in El Chaltén, Argentina. Milena is a certified mountain guide with more than 20 years of experience. She has summited Fitz Roy three times and was part of the second all-women team to reach its summit. Ben has lived in El Chaltén since 2017, working in photography, portering, mountain logistics and trip planning. Together, they help visitors make better decisions about routes, weather, timing and local support.
Meet Milena Gómez
Milena is a fully certified mountain guide with more than 20 years of experience in El Chaltén. She has summited Fitz Roy three times, via the Supercanaleta, La Californiana and Northwest Ridge (Afanassieff) and was part of the second all-women team to reach its summit. Having climbed every mountain in the Fitz Roy massif and supported local rescues for many years, she brings exceptional technical experience, responsible decision-making and a deep connection to the place she calls home.
Meet Benjamin Starkel
Ben has been based in El Chaltén since 2017, working in professional photography, portering, mountain logistics, weather guidance and trip planning. He also volunteered with the Comisión de Auxilio de El Chaltén (CAX) for seven years, participating in more than 10 major rescues and numerous smaller incidents throughout Parque Nacional Los Glaciares.
This first-hand experience brings local knowledge of weather, terrain and mountain safety together with a photographer’s understanding of light, timing and location.
What we can help you with
Ben and Milena work directly with clients from the first conversation. When an experience requires additional specialists, they connect travelers with trusted local guides, porters, drivers and photographers appropriate for the activity.
Connect Patagonia brings the practical parts of a trip together in one place. Depending on the experience, we can help coordinate:
We work with certified guides who know El Chaltén’s trails and mountains firsthand. We’ll help match the right guide to your route and group.
Need help carrying gear? Local porters can lighten your pack, help around camp and support anything from an overnight trek to a full expedition.
From surprise proposals to full-day hikes and elopements, we help choose the right place, light and weather window, and photograph it naturally.
Patagonia rarely follows a fixed schedule. We use local forecasts and trail knowledge to help put the right hike on the right day.
We can help arrange rental gear, camping equipment, transfers and the small logistical details that are easy to miss before a trek.
Bringing a private group or running an agency trip? We coordinate the local guides, transportation, equipment and day-to-day logistics in El Chaltén.
Plan your Patagonia experience with us
Tell us your travel dates, group size, hiking experience and what you hope to do. Ben and Milena will help you understand your options and determine what kind of local support makes sense for your trip.
Frequently asked questions about Connect Patagonia
Find answers to frequently asked questions about Connect Patagonia and our lives in El Chalten.
How did you meet each other?
We met in 2017 at a hostel in California. I was Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and Milena was Climbing in Yosemite. Love at first sight.
How long have you lived in El Chalten?
Ben has lived in El Chalten since 2018 and Milena has lived here since 2007.
What is your favorite hike?
My favorite hike is Loma de los Pizarras. Milenas is Laguna Torre.
How long have you been a photographer?
Ive been a photographer sense High school. I really picked it up again about 7 years ago when I moved here.
How long has Milena been a guide?
Milena has been a guide for 24 years. She is a mountain guide which is a 2 year course. Allowing her to hike on glaciers and go on multi day hikes.
