carefully crafted wilderness escapades
FOR YOU AND YOUR FURRY BEST FRIEND. NOPAWDY GETS LEFT BEHIND.
Hi, I’m Hilda Castillo-landrum
I began leading group experiences (trips) as a travel hostess/planner back in 2012, right in my own “backyard’ . . . Yosemite! Technically, I began leading tours when I lived in Hawaii 20+ years ago, for a local tour company but that’s not where MY unique hosting vision was born and caught flame.
After leading a few “test” groups in and around Yosemite in 2012, I decided to dive in headfirst and take my next group to ICELAND! Since then, I have spent the past 12 years, globetrotting around the world with groups of strangers turned friends and let me tell you, it has been an incredibly expansive experience! Throughout this journey I have learned what works and what doesn’t work. I have now lead 40+ groups around the world, curated custom trips for private clients and even trained up other group trip/retreat leaders to lead their own trips! It has not been a gentle learning curve, especially after the pandemic hit but this journey has spurred growth and made me better at the end of the day.
After a lifetime of travel, I ultimately learned that nobody can show you around better than a local! Which is what inspired my desire to circle back around to focus on offering unique, local outings in my home state! A place that I know very well and am passionate about sharing with others. Every year, ITWE offers 4 FREE day hikes in California and ONE super special expedition within North America (this could be in Mexico, Canada or the USA)! This year we are heading to Canada in August! Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know when new experiences drop! Another thing that I learned after a lifetime of travel is that I miss my fur babies when I am gone and I want to bring them EVERYWHERE if possible. Bringing me here, curating and offering adventures that are geared towards traveling around North America WITH your fur family members! Of course, fur babies are NOT required on my trips, you can absolutely come sans pets.
Naturally, this shift has inspired me to dive deeper into animal health and wellness; a journey that I first embarked on a little over 2 years ago when one of my fur baby was diagnosed with heart cancer. This path has lead me to acquire numerous animal centered certifications and also expand my services beyond pet travel and adventures.
To be clear, North America = U.S.A., Canada & Mexico. Again, these “big” trips only happen once per year. People who have joined me on past adventures of any size, always have first dibs on spaces for future outings.
If you’re here, you’re probably a pretty awesome human, looking for unique outdoor adventures and deeper human connections aaaaand there’s a good chance you might even want to bring your dog/cat! I’m happy to tell you, that you have come to the right place!
Feel free to wander over to my blog for LOTS of tips and tricks on EVERYTHING outdoor related in the U.S.A. and an abundance of tips and tricks on how to travel with your pets safer and easier! KEEP WANDERING! 🌝
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:19
My goal:
PROTECT our planet, EXPLORE nature, ADVENTURE often, LOVE others and BE present. To create bespoke outdoor experiences and share them with wild & free souls (and their 4 legged best friends). To encourage people to travel deeper in their destinations & deeper into themselves.
to bless
My hope for Into the Wild guests is that each person who arrives into my care, leaves inspired, refreshed, excited, seen, & grateful to be alive.
to empower
One of my visions is to empower past group experience guests to host the same trips that they were originally inspired to sign up for! I want to give my bravest adventure buddies, the opportunity to take the reigns on their favorite experiences with me and lead them as Into the Wild hosts and ambassadors, under my guidance!! Yes, that means FREE Into the Wild trips for past group experience guests!
BECAUSE YOU ARE A TRAVELER, NOT A TOURIST . . .
Nature
God created nature (the earth & animals) before man. What is that saying? “Respect your elders”. Let’s put that saying into practice by nurturing what came before us with our actions. Let’s show up with open hearts and minds, ready to learn how to better love, appreciate and preserve God’s AMAZING creation; through sustainable and ethical travel practices. What a gift the great outdoors is.
Adventure
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all! As a self proclaimed “adventure junkie”, I am always looking for fun & unique activities that get my body moving, my heart racing and push me into new versions of myself! Experiences that make me shiver with nervousness and remind me that I am alive, that bring a smile to my face that warm me from the inside out; that make me laugh until I cry and just plain make for GREAT life experiences/stories to recall when life gets hard or that serve to inspire and uplift family, friends, & future generations.
connection
Connect with each other, connect with nature, connect with your purpose, connect with your pet(s), connect with God. These are ALL connections worthy of nurturing and I am here to help you cultivate all of them!
“See the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” - Isaiah 42:9