Fellow adventurers, sightseers, and wanderlusters, the time has come again for the best gear and travel event in the Twin Cities, the Outdoor Adventure Expo! Hosted by Midwest Mountaineering, the Outdoor Adventure Expo has over 60 exhibitors and more than 100 presentations by experts in a multitude of fields: parks and trails, high-adrenaline adventure, nature conservation, and of course, travel.
Just 10 years ago, the Atacama Desert was almost completely unknown to the North American traveler. Accessible only to backpackers and the savviest of travelers, this unique area—which reminds me of Yellowstone, the American Southwest, and Mars all rolled into one—was a hidden gem.
Today, the gorgeous landscapes combined with the fascinating pre-Columbian indigenous cultures have turned the region into one of Chile’s top attractions alongside Patagonia and Easter Island. Its rising popularity among discerning adventurers is thanks in part to a blossoming of luxury lodges in the area that offer a tantalizing combination of world-class comfort and active adventure.
Four friends took to the trails with Knowmad for a journey through Peru unlike any other. In ten days, they visited the Huchuy Qosqo ancient ruins, kayaked beautiful lakes, and camped at one-of-a-kind sites to experience spectacular Peru a wide variety of ways!
Are you wondering where to stay at Machu Picchu or which places are the best Machu Picchu hotels? Staying in Aguas Calientes, the town in the shadow of Machu Picchu, lets you maximize your visit at what is undoubtedly one of the most majestic and inspiring sites in the world. Knowmad Trip Specialist Renee compares the best Machu Picchu hotels for different budgets and travel styles below.
Covering the southern-most areas of both Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is an incredible, out-of-this-world experience whenever you’re able to visit, and a region where you’ll be privy to some truly special features unique to each season. Patagonian springtime brings about the beautiful wildflower blooms and milder winds; their summers are full of warmer weather and longer days to spend out on the trails; and the fall brings with it striking color transformations and a quiet from fewer travelers. With each season having its own distinct benefits, your trip to Patagonia can be personalized to either shoulder season or high season to make it your own custom-crafted South American adventure.
Before experiencing the Galapagos Islands for myself, I was a bit of a skeptic. Wildlife and nature shows rave about the place and play spectacular footage of the archipelago all the time, but photographers have so many tricks, and I’ve been to plenty of places that didn’t live up to the hype. However, my week-long cruise in the Galapagos turned me into a true believer – not only did it live up to the hype, it became one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to and goes down as an unforgettable adventure.
Inca Trail permits for 2018 are going on sale this year earlier than ever. Unlike past years when permit sales have opened in January, permits will go on sale this October, a full three months earlier than past years.
Kayli, an Operations Specialist at Knowmad Adventures, and her partner Evan followed the path of one of our favorite Chile and Argentina combination itineraries. They began in Argentina’s colorful capital city, Buenos Aires, traveled south to the glaciers and mountains on both the Argentine and Chilean side of expansive Patagonia, and topped it off with a quick stop in the Lakes District before departing via Santiago in Chile. Read on for their best-loved moments, dramatic photographs, what they learned, and more.
The results are in and Knowmad’s Co-Founder, Jordan Harvey, has won the 2017 Travel + Leisure’s A-List Best Trip Planner for Argentina + Chile! The A-List is Travel + Leisure’s annual selection of the world’s best travel agents and destination specialists, and we’re honored to be recognized on this list for the 5th year in a row.
Last March, Mary and six of her friends embarked on a twelve-day trip in Peru. They mountain biked, hiked, saw ancient sites, cooked local meals, and soaked in the wonders and adventures of Peru.
Whether you want to reunite with family, escape your routine and recharge on a wellness trip, or celebrate a milestone birthday, South America has something for everyone. Discover our top trip picks for every occasion.
On top of offering a Knowmad exclusive deal to healthcare professionals around the world, we’ve rounded up some of the best South America travel promotions going on right now. Check out the hot deals below that allow you to get something on the calendar to look forward to while also taking advantage of incredible values and flexible conditions. These won’t last long, reach out to a Knowmad Trip Specialist today to start planning your trip of a lifetime!
“The ability to more fully understand one’s own culture and place in the world by experiencing other cultures” – Stephan, Knowmad Traveler
“It means soaring into new adventures while grounding me within my roots” – Joy, Knowmad Traveler
I asked our Knowmad Adventures past traveler community what travel means to them and a common thread emerged in their answers.
Journey through the rugged and otherworldly terrain of Southern Bolivia, exploring lagoons, volcanoes and Uyuni salt flats before ending in the capital of La Paz, perched atop the Andes Mountains, stopping at the historical rich communities of Potosi and Sucre along the way. Ideal connection with Chile’s Atacama Desert or start and finish in La Paz.
We got back last night and I must say that the organization of the entire trip was AMAZING. We all loved Peru and thanks to Knowmad we even enjoyed it a lot more. Thanks a lot Jordan for everything as we had sooooo much fun. I’ll definitely recommend you to anybody that wants to experience Peru.
By traveling alongside Knowmad you will be taking part in culturally and environmentally sustainable travel. You will be spreading the love, and the wealth. You will be doing Good Works. Learn more about Knowmad’s eco-travel efforts.
The Knowmad team put together the trip of a life time for us. Everything was perfect, from the guides to the accommodations to the activities, and your extensive knowledge of the area and personal relationships with the people we met in Chile were invaluable. We can’t recommend Knowmad highly enough.
After traveling to Chile two years ago with Knowmad Adventures there was no question as to who was going to help plan my trip to Peru! Thank you so much to Knowmad Adventures. The places they recommended, connections, and knowledge of these regions were impeccable. I highly recommend using Knowmad Adventures to plan your next trip to Peru or Chile!
Our trip was everything we dreamed it would be and more. Your group did a great job everywhere we went. We especially loved our guide Paula, and Explora was top notch too. All perfect.
Please don’t ever change the way you operate. You fulfill lifelong dreams and provide people with the chance to live what they thought could only be read about.
You put together a one-of-a-kind vacation for my group that I’ll long remember and enthusiastically recommend. I thank you and look forward, with much anticipation, to my next adventure with you.
We got back last night and I must say that the organization of the entire trip was AMAZING. We all loved Peru and thanks to Knowmad we even enjoyed it a lot more. Thanks a lot Jordan for everything as we had sooooo much fun. I’ll definitely recommend you to anybody that wants to experience Peru.
Journey through the rugged and otherworldly terrain of Southern Bolivia, exploring lagoons, volcanoes and Uyuni salt flats before ending in the capital of La Paz, perched atop the Andes Mountains, stopping at the historical rich communities of Potosi and Sucre along the way. Ideal connection with Chile’s Atacama Desert or start and finish in La Paz.
