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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
Pregnancy + Newborn posed this question about travel with kids to Knowmad’s Tara Harvey, “we’re hoping to take advantage of my lengthy maternity leave and go on a family vacation when our little one hits the 4-month mark. We’re open to both domestic and international travel but would love some tips on picking a destination that’s baby-friendly. (We’re new to this!)” Read her full answer in Pregnancy + Newborn’s Ask the Experts column.
Calling all adventurers, explorers and outdoor-lovers! The annual Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo is here! Come visit the Knowmad Team (and other adventure enthusiasts) from November 18th – 20th, 2016 at one of the best outdoor events in Minneapolis.
We want to introduce you to Krista, Knowmad’s newest Operations Specialist! She joined our team a few months ago and, after traveling to many places throughout the world – including South America – she is excited to be living in her home state of Minnesota again. She is ready to help you plan a trip of a lifetime to South America and hopes that others can experience what she loves about travel – getting out of your comfort zone, discovering new things, and exploring the unknown.
Find out what she considers the world’s best “hidden gem,” her favorite place in South America and more below…
Iguazú (also known as Iguassu or Iguaçu) is the largest system of waterfalls in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. With 275 individual drops, the Iguazú Falls and national parks are located on the Iguazú river, on the border between Argentina and Brazil.
Because the system is so large and it is divided between the two countries, many travelers find themselves wondering about the logistics of how to make the most of a trip to Iguazú Falls. Below I go over the similarities and differences between the Brazilian and Argentinian sides, including how to get there, when to go, and I highlight a few trip itineraries that pair well with an Iguazú Falls adventure.
Every year Travel + Leisure magazine assembles their Travel Advisory Board / A-List, a select group of travel company owners and operators “of the country’s most important agencies.” We are proud to share that Knowmad founder Jordan Harvey has been recognized by Travel + Leisure as the best Chile and Argentina travel advisor for the fourth year in a row!
Below, Jordan chats with us about some of South America’s new hotels, a few new excursions he’s excited about at Knowmad, and why working with a travel advisor can help you get the most authentic experience abroad.
“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.
The era of covid has been brutal for the travel industry and many others. It can be hard, but even for us adventure lovers there are silver linings. Check out these incredible deals for future travel that allow you to get a trip on the calendar with unbeatable values and flexible conditions while supporting some of these Knowmad favorite unique, locally-owned property partners. These are unprecedented Knowmad exclusive promotions and they won’t last!
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).
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.
