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.
Impressive mountaintops, pristine glaciers, and adventurous trekking draws travelers to Patagonia: 400,000 square miles that span the southern regions of both Chile and Argentina. This wild wilderness knows no man-made borders, and it can be difficult to decide between visiting Argentine Patagonia or Chilean Patagonia. The great news is that we can combine the highlights of both countries into one fabulous Patagonia region adventure!
Peru was the first country to steal my heart in South America, and I’m still in awe today by everything it has to offer. Combine stunning landscapes of the high Andes mountains, rolling hills, and lush green cloud forest with colonial cities, marvelous Incan ruins, a diverse culture, fascinating history, friendly people, mouthwatering food, and some of the most spectacular yet authentic accommodations around, and you have Peru. There’s not much more that I could ask for in a perfect destination.
Knowmad Adventures is a company that specializes in crafting private, custom trips to South America. One of the perks of employment at Knowmad is getting to travel to and experience all of the wonders of the continent we love. Having meaningful adventures in the countries we sell travel to not only serves as personal enrichment, but also professional. Visiting the region allows us to test out the services we sell and use our up-to-date, first-hand knowledge to continue improving trips for our travelers.
In January, our wonderful Accountant Dan and his fiancé Kelsey decided to take advantage of this unique job benefit by working remotely, living and traveling in Chile. Since their arrival, they have lived in Santiago and the coastal town of La Serena. They have also traveled throughout the country, from the Lakes District and far south to Patagonia all the way to the Atacama Desert in the north. In addition to exploring much of the central region of Chile, they also visited Argentina’s wine country.
After more than 6 months of exploring, we asked Dan to sit down and tell us more about what he has discovered during his time in South America, and how his travels abroad have changed his perspective.
To celebrate her birthday, Joy and her travel companion Randi flew to South America for a custom Galapagos Islands and Ecuador trip with visits on the mainland to the Amazon and the Highlands.
When asking the question “Where’s the best place to stay in Buenos Aires?,” the answer is not always straightforward. Every area of the city has its benefits, whether it is closer to certain attractions, has the vibe or character you’re looking for, or offers the services you desire. We help you cut through the clutter and find the best barrio in the city for you.
On their 17-day Chile trip, sisters Sue and Barbara made the most of their time in Patagonia by trying out two different lodges near Torres del Paine before continuing on to the Lakes District in northern Patagonia. Read on to see how they spent two weeks in Patagonia.
Floreana is well known for snorkeling at Devil’s Crown, wildlife viewing at Punta Cormorant, and its mysterious history. We chat with Claudio, the owner of Lava Lodge and a Floreana native, about the island’s storied past.
Of my many travel goals, and there are many, the top one has been to visit every continent. And while I still have yet to complete this goal, when presented with the opportunity to travel to Antarctica, I jumped at the chance. The journey was everything I expected and more, and along the way I was surprised by my experiences and the lessons the White Continent had to teach me.
For their anniversary, Dan and Kim chose to celebrate by discovering the natural beauty of Ecuador. They spent time in Quito, the Cloud Forest and the Galapagos Islands. Their itinerary offered excellent wildlife viewing, adventurous excursions, and even a kiss at the center of the Earth!
Jordan Harvey (with specialities in Chile and Argentina) and Renee Davies (with specialities in Ecuador & The Galapagos and Peru) have earned spots on the Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Travel Specialist 2021 list for the 7th and 2nd year running, respectively. It’s the perfect time to collaborate with our award-winning specialists to create the trip you’ve been dreaming about. Catch up with Jordan and Renee and find out what sets Knowmad apart.
Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands are open for travel and they’re seeing high demand for last minute summer or fall getaways, and also those looking further ahead to 2022. Ecuador is one of the few countries that is accepting proof of vaccination to enter the country (or, if not vaccinated you can also take a Covid test).
Working with some of our favorite Galapagos cruises, we’re excited to offer these incredible wildlife experiences at spectacular values (only until May 31st).
Are you eager to explore and ready to plan your next adventure? With Ecuador open to vaccinated travelers (or those with a negative covid test), and Chile emerging as a global leader in vaccination rates, there is reason for optimism! We share updates on the current situations and entry requirements throughout South America.
Please note that since this post was published, all of our South American destinations borders have opened. Please see our South American Current Covid Regulations and Info page for details.
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.
Quite simply the best trip we’ve ever taken. Destinations astounded, logistics and planning flawless, and your intimate knowledge and relationships made for a trip that was personal every inch of the way.
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.
