Reflecting On A Year of South America Travel: Travelers’ Reviews + Stories From Their South American Adventures

Travelers' Reviews

From the white sand beaches and wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, to the ancient Incan ruins of Peru, stunning mountain peaks of Patagonia, and the vibrant culture of Buenos Aires, Knowmad Travelers experienced a lot in 2016.

They snorkeled with sea lions and kayaked next glaciers. They hiked the Inca Trail, and camped under the stars at nearly unknown ruins. They shared stories with gauchos and savored a meal with indigenous leaders. They connected with different cultures, communities and people throughout South America.

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Knowmad is Featured in the Wall Street Journal!

Wall Street Journal - Knowmad Adventures

We’re excited to share Amy Tara Koch’s Wall Street Journal article, “Holiday Getaways for Picky Procrastinators,” with you! Koch cites Knowmad’s expertise about Patagonia and suggests that travelers looking, “for better deals and last-minute finagling, book through a travel [company], such as Knowmad Adventures.”

Click the link above for the full article and give one of our Trip Specialists a call at 612-315-2894 to start planning your trip to South America today!

New Year’s Eve Traditions in South America

New Years Eve

Left photo via WikiHow.

This New Year’s Eve, citizens across the United States will be watching the ball drop in Times Square, singing a round of Auld Lang Syne, and ooh-ing and ahh-ing as fireworks light up the sky. Meanwhile, New Year traditions around South America will also take place, some very similar to our own and some unique to each region or country.

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Parting Shots: Custom Atacama Desert + Patagonia Chile Trip

Patagonia Chile

At the southernmost and northernmost boundaries of Chile lie two vastly different regions: Patagonia and the Atacama Desert. On their Custom Atacama Desert + Patagonia Chile Trip, Patrick and Becca explored the jagged peaks and turquoise lakes of Torres del Paine National Park before venturing north to the seemingly infinite and otherworldly vistas of the Atacama Desert.

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We did it! Knowmad Adventures wins Condé Nast Traveler Experience Makers + Top Travel Specialist Award for the Second Year in a Row

Conde Nast Traveler Award

I’ve been the Media Manager for Knowmad Adventures for over three years and I have been tasked with writing about our accolades and press several times. It has always been challenging, because it is really difficult to accurately describe what an accolade like the Condé Nast Traveler Experience Makers + Top Travel Specialist Award means to our company.

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The Relais & Châteaux Difference

Relais Chateaux - Knowmad Adventures

Imagine yourself in an idyllic setting, enjoying fresh air and a new sense of wonderment. Now, pair that with renowned cuisine that combines flavors rich in cultural influences, local ingredients, and trend-setting techniques. This experience is what the Relais & Châteaux‎ fellowship calls the “Art of Living.”

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Knowmad’s South America Small Business Micro Lending Tradition

kiva post

As we come closer to the end of the year and the holiday season appears on the horizon, we at Knowmad are excited to continue our annual holiday tradition of supporting small, local businesses in South America. Through Kiva, anyone can lend money to low-income entrepreneurs throughout the world, and “connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.”

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Argentina Weather, When To Go, What To Pack + More by Region

Argentina Weather Travel Information

High peaks of the Andes give way to awe-inspiring glacial lakes, acclaimed vineyards, endless vistas of Pampas grasslands, and iconic Patagonian wilderness; this is Argentina. The thunderous Perito Moreno Glacier in the south to the immense Iguazú Falls in the north continue Argentina’s extensive list of natural wonders. A place where gaucho cowboys preserve the traditions of the estancias, and Argentine barbecue asados are prepared with pride and devoured in bliss. Soccer fans shout and the bold flavors of Argentine wine mix with the European-influenced stately buildings and culinary delights of the bustling streets of Buenos Aires.

Here we’ve compiled a list of essential information about Argentina, divided into 6 distinct regions. Read about Argentina weather, points of interest, when to go, travel tips and what to pack.

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Parting Shots: Comprehensive South America Vacation to Argentina, Chile + Peru

South America Vacation

With so many spectacular countries in South America to explore, how do you pick just one? Dave and Barb’s solution: they created their dream trip to three; Argentina, Chile and Peru. With the help of Knowmad’s travel experts, they were able to craft a custom 26-day itinerary including time in Patagonia, the Sacred Valley, Valparaiso and more. Read on to see photos and a day-by-day breakdown of their incredible adventure.

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Travel + Leisure A-List Award: Bright Future Award

We’re extremely proud to announce that Knowmad and Co-Founder Jordan Harvey have earned the Travel + Leisure A-list honor for being the top Patagonia, Chile, and Argentina specialist. Our 7th year running taking home the hardware, you may think as time goes on our excitement would begin to fade but rather it builds, striking a different chord each year. This year it feels especially significant. It’s a simple, yet profound symbol of Knowmad’s bright future.

We are proud to be one of the only companies in the world to receive both the Condé Nast Top Specialists and Travel + Leisure A-List awards, and also have two award-winning Specialists (Renee Davies is Condé Nast’s top Ecuador & Galapagos Specialist).

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6 Blow-Your-Mind Colombian Stays

Casa Zahmar - Best Hotels in Colombia
Casa Zahmar

It feels extra special to have a luxurious, private space to relax and unwind at the end of the day, especially if you’ve spent that day exploring and having new experiences in Colombia! Keep reading to find out why these boutique properties and private villas are the perfect Colombian basecamps to explore all that the country has to offer.

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