Shirley Metz
My greatest pleasure is taking people to parts of the world that they never could have imagined in the hopes that they will become inspired to protect them and the creatures that inhabit them.
Expedition Leader Shirley Metz
Shirley Metz’s careers and accomplishments have spanned the globe. Shirley became a certified diver at age 16 and while at the University of Hawaii did shark research earning her degrees in Oceanography and Communications. She met her first husband in Hawaii with whom she founded Hobie Sports. She also developed several active clothing lines and consulted to companies such as The North Face.
In 1988 Shirley visited Antarctica and became inspired to work in Antarctic conservation. To raise awareness, Shirley became a member of an international expedition that would attempt to ski 800 miles from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole. On January 17, 1989, the nine-member expedition arrived at world’s end; Shirley made history and her way into the Guinness Book of Records as the first woman to ski overland to the South Pole. A member of the Explorers Club and The Society of Woman Geographers, Shirley continues to raise awareness and support for environmental and cultural projects.
"Shirley is unlike any other guide we know of in the adventure travel industry. She has been a beloved companion in some of the greatest adventures of our lifetimes."
-Don T., New York
Shirley's Expeditions
Melanesia (April 25 – May 13, 2023) 
Active volcanoes, kaleidoscopic coral reefs, and rugged, forested islands form the backdrop for the indigenous cultures and WWII history of this fascinating region.
Sub-Antarctic Islands of New Zealand with Macquarie Island (December 5–21, 2023)
The remote southern islands visited on this voyage are home to some of the most spectacular aggregations of endangered wildlife on the planet.
Cape to Cape (March 1–24, 2024)
The ultimate South Atlantic Adventure! In addition to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, expedition highlights include Gough, Tristan da Cunha and Nightingale Islands.
Ask Shirley a question about her upcoming expeditions?
Get in Touch
One Guanaco; Two Guanacoes?
Lama guanicoe, or Guanacos (correct spelling for the plural of “guanaco”) are humpless camels of the arid and semi-arid habitats of southern South America. Found at elevations up to 14,500 feet, they are related to camels, as are Vicuñas, Llamas, and Alpacas. Standing between 3.5-4 feet high at the shoulder they weigh up to 300 pounds. Found in groups of up to ten females, the young, and a dominant male adult, guanacos are the largest native herbivore in Patagonia. Their soft, padded feet tread on soil and vegetation without damaging the environment and they conserve water like other camels.
