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Charles Trimmier
Charles Trimmier

Charles Trimmier

Redwood City, CA Travel Agent

Ultraeum, Inc. d/b/a Trailspect

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Years of Experience
Additional Languages
English

Travel That Moves You Forward

Why Wild Places Matter:

I’ve always believed that wild places teach us more than any classroom. They invite us to slow down, to listen, to adapt, and to connect. Sometimes that means connecting with nature. Sometimes it means connecting with others. And sometimes, it means reconnecting with something deeper within ourselves.

A Different Kind of Travel Advisor

That belief is at the heart of my work. I help people explore wild places with confidence. My approach blends experienced guidance, curated itineraries, and real human connection to make travel more meaningful, accessible, and rewarding.

Whether your goal is an epic adventure or a quiet retreat, your trip should reflect your spirit. It shouldn’t feel like a pre-set checklist. I’m here to listen, understand what matters most to you, and help you craft a travel experience that honors it.

For the Journey That Fits Your Spirit

Maybe you’re chasing mountaintop moments. Maybe you’re seeking stillness. Either way, I’ll help you plan a journey that matches your pace, your goals, and your values.

Travel should feel like discovery, not like managing logistics. My role is to support that discovery with trusted tools, cultural insight, and the kind of local knowledge that can turn a trip into a transformation.

From your first idea to your return home, you’ll have thoughtful support every step of the way.

Clients I Work With

I work with solo travelers, couples, families, friend groups, and outdoor clubs. Most of my clients are looking for something more than a booking engine. They want purpose-filled travel with experiences that are designed with care, supported by real insight, and tailored to their needs.

Some travelers want to push their limits. Others want to slow down and reconnect. Many are hoping for a bit of both. My job is to help you find the right balance of challenge and comfort, structure and freedom.

Experience You Can Trust

I’ve spent my life exploring the outdoors. I’m a trail runner, backpacker, mountain biker, climber, paddler, sailor, and ultramarathoner. These are not just hobbies. They are how I experience the world and how I’ve learned to plan for it.

I understand the mindset of adventurers because I am one. I know how to chart the right path, adjust when conditions change, and make space for wonder even in the busiest itinerary.

Planning with Purpose

Before becoming a travel advisor, I worked in other industries helping people solve complex problems, stay focused, and make thoughtful decisions. That experience taught me how to guide others and manage the details without losing sight of the big picture.

Still, my strongest sense of purpose has always come from the trail, the water, and the wilderness. I’ve run 100 miles in a day. I’ve biked across Alaska, sailed in open water, and explored remote landscapes by foot, by canoe, and as a certified diver beneath the surface.

Those journeys taught me how to respect the unknown, prepare for surprises, and stay open to what’s possible when you let go of the ordinary.

What I Plan

I create custom itineraries for adventure travelers who are looking for more than a standard vacation. Whether you're planning a guided hiking trip in the Rockies, a solo trekking experience in Patagonia, or a small-group cultural journey through East Africa, each trip is designed to reflect your goals and travel style.

Some of the experiences I help plan include:

  • Trail-based travel and hut-to-hut hiking
  • Off-the-beaten-path safaris and wildlife trips
  • Paddling expeditions and multisport adventures
  • Small-group outdoor getaways and club retreats
  • Active honeymoons that balance challenge and comfort
  • Cultural experiences combined with nature-based exploration

If you value authenticity, flexibility, and thoughtful support from someone who understands the needs of active travelers, I can help you build a journey that moves you both physically and emotionally.

The Path Forward

Everything I have learned in the wild informs how I support travelers today. I understand both the emotional and practical sides of adventure. My goal is to walk alongside you in building a trip that is intentional, exciting, and deeply personal.

Whether you're planning your first big trek or returning to a place that already lives in your heart, I’m here to help create something that fits your style and fuels your spirit.

Let’s Get Started

If you’re ready to go somewhere that moves you, I would be honored to help guide the way. Let’s create something meaningful together, one journey at a time.

Areas of Expertise

Destinations:

Kenya
Costa Rica
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Kenya, Lake Nakuru National Park
Costa Rica, Monteverde
Virgin Islands
Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve
Costa Rica, Guanacaste
Bahamas
Kenya, Nairobi
Costa Rica, Fortuna
Puerto Rico
Alaska
Kenya, Kisumu
Costa Rica, Arenal

Interests:

Adventure
Safari
Yacht Charter
Animals & Wildlife
Global Travel
Outdoor Activities & Sports
Bird Watching
Sailing & Boating
Ballooning
Groups
Photography
Scuba
Nature

Suppliers:

My Travel Specialties

Back to All Specialties
Costa Rica, Beneath the Surface

Costa Rica, Beneath the Surface

<p><strong><em>Volcanic earth. Cloud forest silence. Wild water and warm stone. Let’s go deeper than the brochure.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>Costa Rica has changed since I first arrived.</strong></p>
<p>When I came here decades ago, I wasn’t looking for luxury. I was looking for something real. That meant moving slowly, traveling by instinct, and trusting the land to show me what mattered. I hitchhiked when buses weren’t running. I slept in rooms built from plywood and corrugated tin. I bathed in cold water and walked for hours into places few travelers knew existed.</p>
<p>Back then, the region still felt undiscovered. Trails wound through young rainforest and across lava fields scarred by past eruptions. I watched hummingbirds dive at me through the mist. I hiked knife-like ridgelines where I had to cling to tree trunks to pass. I stood on a viewing platform overlooking a hidden river valley in land I had leased, watching layers of green roll away in every direction. The only sound was the breath of the forest. The air felt ancient. So did the quiet.</p>
<p><strong>Time passed. The world found this place.</strong></p>
<p>Now there are shuttle buses, resort spas, and packed crowds in the high season. The infrastructure has grown. The amenities are better. For many travelers, that’s enough.</p>
<p><strong>But beneath the surface, the wild heart of this region still pulses.</strong></p>
<p>You can still hike through mist that clings to the canopy. You can still soak in mineral-rich hot springs that rise from deep inside the earth. You can still find waterfalls that reward the effort it takes to reach them. And you can still feel, even briefly, that the modern world has let go of you.</p>
<p><strong>That is what I help people find.</strong></p>
<p>I’ve spent years in and out of this region, watching it evolve while staying connected to the land, the people, and the rhythms that make it special. I’ve seen where it’s changed, and where it hasn’t. That experience allows me to filter out the noise and design trips that feel grounded, meaningful, and completely yours.</p>
<p><strong>Some landscapes change your pace the moment you arrive.</strong></p>
<p>Here, the trails lead you through cloud forest and jungle, over lava rock and rich volcanic soil. Ceiba trees rise like monuments. The air carries the sound of howler monkeys in the distance. Waterfalls fall hard into still, jade-colored pools that invite you to stay awhile and feel what you’ve been missing.</p>
<p><strong>This is a place shaped by contrast.</strong></p>
<p>By day, you might hike through rainforest mist, take a cold plunge under a jungle waterfall, or paddle across a crater lake. You might visit a private reserve with panoramic views, or walk a quiet trail where orchids bloom and coatis dart through the underbrush.</p>
<p>By evening, you return to comfort. Natural hot springs feed riverside pools and jungle-fed spas. Some are rustic and open to the air. Others are refined, candlelit, and serene. You might stay in a simple cabina with a view of the forest, or a private suite with an open-air soaking tub. Meals are prepared from local harvests. Wellness treatments ease the body back into stillness.</p>
<p>The right kind of comfort doesn’t separate you from the wild. It restores you so you can meet it fully, with presence, energy, and peace of mind.</p>
<p><strong>This trip is for people who want more than a highlight reel.</strong></p>
<p>It is for those who value stillness between the hikes.</p>
<p>Room to breathe after the climbs.</p>
<p>Depth, not just distance.</p>
<p>If you’re drawn to experiences that feel personal, grounded, and real, this place still has everything you need.</p>
<p>You might spend one day hiking a lesser-known reserve with a local naturalist, and the next in a riverside spa where the only schedule is your breath. You may want solitude, or reconnection. To mark a transition, or simply rest in something true. Whatever calls you here, we’ll shape each moment around what you need most.</p>
<p>We’ll design your trip around what matters to you. No pre-packaged itineraries. No schedule built for the masses. Just the right pace, the right places, and space for the moments that linger.</p>
<p>Whether it’s sitting quietly in nature, paddling whitewater, or kitesurfing in the shadow of a volcano, I’ve got you.</p>
<p><strong>Let’s Talk About What’s Possible</strong></p>
<p>I’ll help you explore ideas, uncover options, and answer your questions honestly. Just a grounded conversation about what matters to you, and how to turn that into a trip worth taking.</p>

Other Specialties

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A Journey Few Will Ever Know

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Reviews

0 Reviews
"Big thanks to my agent who booked a once in a lifetime trip! Great to work with from beginning to end."
Verified Customer

Certifications & Awards

Certifications

  • Travel Expert

My Places

Abercrombie & Kent
AmaWaterways Cruises
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Avalon Waterways
Azamara Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Celestyal Cruises
Crystal Cruise Line
Cunard Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line
GLOBUS Tours
Holland America Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Oceania Cruises
Princess Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Riviera Travel
Royal Caribbean Cruises
Seabourn Cruises
Silversea Cruises
Viking Ocean Cruises
Virgin Voyages
Windstar