Wheel the World Cochamó
An alliance between Wheel the World and Puelo Patagonia that helps advance accessibility in the territory.
Exploring the La Junta trail and other corners of Cochamó by wheelchair is now a reality. Wheel the World and the NGO Puelo Patagonia joined forces to make possible a project that opens high-value natural and tourist destinations to people with disabilities.
Through adaptive sports, this alliance has funded trekking and kayaking equipment that now allows more people to enjoy accessible experiences in the heart of the Los Lagos mountain range.
In Chile, 35% of households have at least one member with a disability, yet only 31% of protected areas offer minimum accessibility conditions. The United Nations has recognized access to sports, recreational, and tourism programs as a right for people with disabilities, on equal terms with everyone else.
That premise inspired the work of Álvaro Silberstein, founder of the Wheel the World program and a wheelchair user, who aims to donate specialized wheelchairs to natural destinations across Chile. His first expedition took place in Torres del Paine, where he completed the W Circuit in a wheelchair. The equipment used was donated to the park, allowing more people to enjoy the experience in the months that followed.
To fund these initiatives, Wheel the World runs fundraising campaigns that invite individuals and companies to get involved. The goal is to acquire Joëlette trekking wheelchairs and adapted kayaking equipment, which are then donated to local operators in areas such as Puerto Varas and the Cochamó Valley.
