In honor of Women’s Month, meet Katharina Bongaertz, PlanetaEXO’s top traveler, who has proved multiple times that adventure knows no gender nor age
In 2023, Katharina Bongaertz, a psychotherapist from the Netherlands, arrived in São Paulo during Carnival. She had originally planned to spend just one month in Brazil before continuing her five-month leave in Colombia and Peru.
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However, the country’s vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes completely captivated her. She decided to stay in Brazil for the remaining four months of her trip, sparking a deep love affair with Brazilian nature that has only grown stronger since then.
Today, at 60 years old, Katharina has embarked on a fair amount of PlanetaEXO’s adventure tours in Brazil, officially becoming the platform’s most frequent traveler. From the towering plateaus of Monte Roraima to the mesmerizing dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses and the deep jungles of the Amazon, she has explored some of the country’s most remote and magnificent destinations.
Connection with the Brazilian spirit
Katharina’s journey into ecotourism began when a cousin recommended she visit Chapada Diamantina, in the state of Bahia. Looking for a way to navigate this less-touristic region, she connected with Lucas Ribeiro from PlanetaEXO, a partnership that has now led to her upcoming seventh trip with the company—this time to the Pantanal to see jaguars!
Beyond the landscapes, it is the spirit of the locals that keeps her coming back. “I think Brazilian people are really welcoming, kind, and warm,” Katharina shares. “I love the music, and they have, in a way, music in their soul. It has always been a part of all the travels.”
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👉 Read more: Why Brazil’s remote outdoors are becoming a haven for foreign female travelers
The empowering force of nature
As a psychotherapist who spends her days in a city talking to patients, Katharina seeks out the wild to find contrast, freedom, and wisdom. She prefers vast, open environments without fences, where she can walk freely and take in the view from mountaintops or plateaus.
“To be in beautiful wild nature, I feel it as something really special,” she reflects. For Katharina, the magic lies in the quiet details. “Listening to nature, like the sounds of the birds, the animals, the trees… it’s something that gives a lot. It’s empowering, and I take it home with me every time.”
Out of all her incredible adventures in destinations like Lençóis Maranhenses and Monte Roraima, Chapada Diamantina holds the most special place in her heart. “If I could, I’d go every year,” she says with a smile.
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No age limit for adventure
Often mistaken for being much younger, Katharina is a living testament that ecotourism is not just for the youth. Having spent her 20s and 30s raising her three children and building a successful career, she feels that this current chapter of her life brings a newfound sense of liberty.
“I think I’m much more adventurous now than I was back then,” she notes and actively encourages other mature women to step out of their comfort zones. “It’s important to challenge yourself to find new borders and pass them. And I mean borders on every level, like finding new horizons and exploring.”
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👉 Read more: Women over 50 break stereotypes and prove that adventure knows no age
While it is important to know your physical limits and find your own walking pace, Katharina proves that the rewards of conquering a tough trail or swimming under a massive waterfall in Jalapão, in the Northeast of Brazil, are absolutely worth it.
One of her most remarkable adventures was the ascent of Pico da Neblina, Brazil’s highest peak, hidden in the northwest Amazon. “It was an incredible and deeply special experience, profoundly shaped by the connection with the Yanomami people,” she shares. “Trekking alongside about 30 indigenous guides who carried supplies up the mountain, I spent 10 days immersed in their daily routine, sleeping in hammocks along the way.”
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As Katharina prepares for her next adventure into the wilds of the Pantanal, her story serves as a beautiful reminder to us all: the world is vast, the wild is calling, and it is never too late to answer.
👉 Read more: Women in ecotourism: female presence that makes things happen
Traveling across Brazil’s wild nature with PlanetaEXO
Katharina understands the power of connecting with nature and living life to the fullest. With PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in adventure tours in Brazil, she was able to explore multiple destinations safely, responsibly, and authentically.
From bookings to transfers, our team provides everything you need for your trip while also supporting local communities and following guidelines to ensure environmental conservation. Contact us now!
