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Patagonia, Easter Island, and Atacama: A Custom Trip to Chile’s Big 3

exploring-easter-island-patagonia-and-the-atacama-desert-with-knowmad-adventures

Combining Patagonia, Easter Island, and the Atacama Desert – or the Chile Big Three as we call it at Knowmad – is not for the traveler faint of heart as it requires many flights and sharply contrasting climates. But as with many things in life, with challenge comes reward, and the vast diversity of natural beauty and distinct cultures within a single country is quite possibly unmatched the world over.

To help other adventurers understand how best to plan their own custom private Chile trip and include the far-flung regions of Patagonia, Easter Island and the Atacama, we interviewed recently returned Knowmad travelers Chuck and Vicki to get their perspective.

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Just Back From An Amazing Galapagos & Ecuador Multi-Generation Family Adventure

A multi-generational family adventuring in the Galapagos

“At 71 and 73, we realized we were standing in a precious window of time. We were still healthy and active, our youngest grandchild was finally old enough to keep up, and our oldest was just about to head off to college. We knew we wanted an extended educational experience to share with our three children, their spouses, our six grandkids, and my sister—fifteen of us in total.

The question wasn’t just where to go, but how to do it while we still could. We chose the Galapagos and Ecuador, and looking back, it was a great decision. We love South America and have traveled with Knowmad multiple times previously. It’s a beautiful continent, the people are friendly, the history fascinating, the food great, and it’s close to our time zone! Loving the natural world and surprise, I knew we’d someday visit the Galapagos, and realized our extended family would love it too.

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Luxury Amazon River Cruise & Off-the-Beaten-Path Peru

Delfin III cruise on a Knowmad luxury Amazon river cruise

“The amount of birds in the Amazon was amazing — we were in the Flor de Castana to see the pink dolphins, and there were thousands of birds swirling, landing, and taking off all around us! The boat was great — the staff and food were wonderful, and each evening the dining room and tables were decorated differently. They accommodated my food restrictions perfectly. The guides (and drivers!) on our excursions were informative and had great stories to share. My room on the Delfin III was lovely.

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Just Back From Patagonia and Wine Country

“Stephanie and I love Knowmad’s attention to detail, that we never feel pushed in one direction or another during our decision-making process, and that the trips always are comfortable, authentic, and culturally immersive.

Our two-week itinerary was a great combination of exploring the culture of Buenos Aires; Los Glaciares National Park and nearby estancias; the beauty and adventure of Torres del Paine; the Chilean seaside port city of Valparaíso; and a wind-down at a luxury vineyard residence in the Apalta Valley. The trip had a great flow.

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Just Back From Brazil: Exploring the Pantanal, Iguazu Falls, and Rio de Janeiro

“The Pantanal in Brazil is the second-largest inland seasonal floodplain on Earth and largely unknown. Ever since reading about the Pantanal and its wildlife in National Geographic, I’ve dreamed of visiting this isolated part of South America.

The highlights on this trip are almost endless. A biologist at heart, experiencing the Pantanal’s wide array of birdlife, land creatures, plants, and trees including some rare, threatened, and exotic species, was deeply rewarding. The magnificent hyacinth macaws, jaguars, anacondas, giant anteaters, and caimans were just a few of our favorites. We logged 84 bird species in our short stay.

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Jordan Harvey & Renee Davies Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler

Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialists list

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Explora Rapa Nui: Easter Island’s (Comfy) Basecamp

Shutting down my inbox and hanging up my travel planner hat for a bit, once again I got to step into the role I help others live: the traveler, the adventurer. Chile offers no shortage of opportunities for exploration, but this year’s scouting mission to Rapa Nui was a true highlight of my trips with Knowmad. The island’s mystery, vast views, fascinating geography, and living culture pull you in from the first view out the plane window. Staying at Explora Rapa Nui felt like the perfect way to culminate this unique adventure.

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Where to See Pumas in Patagonia

Pumas, also known as mountain lions or cougars, are among the most widespread mammals in the world, with their habitat spanning from the Yukon in Canada through different ecosystems — such as lowlands, tropical rainforests, and mountainous regions — all the way down to the Strait of Magellan in southern Patagonia. This elusive feline is reclusive and solitary, so sightings tend to be few and far between. In Patagonia, however, thanks to protection laws and conservation efforts, the wild puma population has been rebounding in recent years, and the chances of seeing a mountain lion in its natural habitat are now significantly higher.

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Just Back From Bolivia and Chile

“WOW, we loved this trip. I was blown away by Bolivia, and the road trip from Atacama was an absolute adventure. Flamingo-filled lagoons, dramatic rock formations, steaming geysers. Herds of graceful vicuñas crossing the open roads, viscachas sunbathing on boulders like they owned the place, and a culpeo fox so curious it practically posed for photos. Combined with the windows down and great music, roadside lunches with local beer, and knowledgeable guides who brought every landscape to life, it was the kind of journey where the drive itself becomes part of the experience.

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KNOWMAD 2025 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

The results of the 2025 Knowmad Photo Contest are here. Over the past year, our travelers shared powerful moments from across South America, each image paired with a story that reminds us why we love what we do. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit photos and reflections.

Keep scrolling to see this year’s winning images and the stories behind them, from meaningful cultural connections to remarkable wildlife sightings, and get ideas for your next trip to South America.

Enter the Knowmad Photo Contest

If you’ve traveled with Knowmad, you’re eligible to participate in our annual photo contest. Below are the contest guidelines:

Send your photo by emailing it to your Knowmad Operations Specialist. Don’t forget to share the story behind the image.
You can also follow us on Instagram or Facebook and tag us in your photo. Be sure your profile is set to public so we can see your tag.

Enter your photos in one or more categories: Adventure, Cityscape, Culture, Fauna, Flora, Landscape, and Portrait.

All category winners will receive Knowmad gear, and the overall Knowmad Adventures Grand Prize Winner earns a 3-day stay at Hacienda Zuleta in Ecuador.

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