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!
Celebrate spring with this refreshing pisco sour recipe. I share the simple cocktail recipe, a bit of history, and how you can incorporate learning how to make an authentic pisco sour in Chile or Peru on your next South American adventure.
Are you an adventure enthusiast? The annual Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo is here! Come visit the Knowmad Team (along with other outdoor-loving adventurers) from April 28th – 30th, 2017 at one of the best outdoor events in Minneapolis. 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.
Knowmad has packed their bags and moved into a new office space! Michelle Bruch from the Southwest Journal, writes about our move, exciting off-the-beaten-path trips we offer and more. Click the following link to read the full article about Knowmad, a growing Minneapolis based travel company.
Sometimes I feel there are but a few moments, a few exact moments, that really shape our fate in life. They’re those moments that, when we talk about them, we end by saying things like “And from there I never turned back.” Sure other things fall in place and contribute, but ultimately it’s that one moment, or small collection of moments, where a course of events or direction became not a matter of choice or chance, but something destined to happen.
Photos by Knowmad traveler Katie Henly
In this multi-generational custom family trip, a group of 7 travelers visited Peru on a bucket list-worthy adventure. Read on to see how they combined the Sacred Valley, the Inca Trail, and Lake Titicaca in a fun, active way.
“Sitting on a beach with a tropical cocktail is all well and good, but a lot of us get bored with that after about ten minutes. We’d rather do something that makes us feel alive. Testing our limits is (sometimes scary) fun, and as travel has come to be less about architecture and more about experiences, a great trip is one that sparks a personal transformation.
Everyone knows the Galapagos are a phenomenal destination for wildlife. You can walk alongside giant Galapagos tortoises lumbering around in the highlands, blue-footed boobies doing their mating dance, marine & land iguanas soaking in the sun, and more. Then, jump into the water to snorkel or swim with an array of colorful fish, sea turtles, sea lions, penguins, rays and even (friendly) sharks. It truly is a destination unlike anywhere else in the world. The wildlife is abundant and has little to no fear of humans. However, what often gets overlooked is that the Galapagos can also be a wonderful trip for culture, history and hiking.
South America is an immense and diverse continent with a myriad of options for every interest. Because of this, diving in to the initial planning stages of a trip to South America and deciding where to go can be incredibly daunting – with so many places to see and things to do, it’s easy to find yourself asking the question, “What is the best place to visit in South America?”
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.
Returning travelers can’t stop raving about the Galapagos Islands! They’re reporting more wildlife than ever and getting to experience the marvels all to themselves. Award-winning specialist, Renee, shares why she recommends the Ultimate Galapagos Island Hopping itinerary for your next trip.
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.
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.
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.
