Starting their first morning early, Mitch and Shannon were met at their hotel well before the sun lit the sky. Yet rising was no challenging task for the two adventurers, as they were anxiously awaiting their first glimpse of the famous Galapagos Islands.
I was beyond impressed with the submissions this year. Each traveler was successful in telling a story with their photos, whether that story be one of wild adventure, family reunion or a coming together of friends. Each conveyed a curiosity, vigor and excitement for life. With over 500 traveler photos to sort through it was a tough job, but the results are incredible.
Pictured above: Our favorite Bogart’s Doughnuts | Paddle boarding and enjoying a beach day at Lake Harriet | Starting the year off right cooking Quinoa pancakes with Trey – thanks to Inkaterra for the lovely apron present! | A blue-footed booby in the Galapagos Islands | Sipping from a fresh coconut in Brazil
I don’t remember when Jordan and I started making “fun lists,” but somewhere in there it evolved from an amusing pastime into an Official Tradition. It takes the pressure off a list of New Year’s resolutions just with its name because they’re all fun, right? It’s better than a bucket list, which somehow always lends itself to the connotation that I have to accomplish all those things before I kick the bucket – and who likes to think about that? And it is way better than a to-do list…no explanation necessary.
Inca Trail permits for 2016 are officially on sale! Dates for the month of May are almost completely booked and other months are filling up fast. Knowmad’s favorite accommodations in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu Pueblo are also filling up fast. Don’t miss your chance to discover the lost land of the Incas; click the following link to get started on building your custom Peru trip and learn what sets Knowmad apart as an Inca Trail outfitter below.
In 2015 we helped a record number of travelers do everything from visit the southernmost city in the world to tread lightly on paths first forged in 1438 AD and everything in-between. We grew this past year, not only in size but in perspective as well. This year more than ever, we continue to learn from and are unbelievably grateful for each and every Knowmad traveler.
The memories you make on a trip will last a lifetime and travel is a great way to get people together that don’t otherwise see each other often. Sharing new experiences with your family is one of the best ways to spend time together. Take a look at our top five best family vacations in South America below. We share South America trip ideas for all types of budgets, travel styles and interests.
Last September Irit and Josh embarked on what they claim was, “the BEST holiday ever.” Their trip started in Peru, where they crisscrossed the country exploring Cusco, the Sacred Valley, the Pisac ruins, Kenko, Machu Picchu and more. Highlights included mountain biking through the Andes, meeting people from the Amaru community, and experiencing the famed Machu Picchu ruins. After some down time in Cusco they hopped on a flight and began their journey to southern Patagonia. Here they stayed at Tierra Patagonia, a one of a kind lodge in the Torres del Paine National Park area.
They call us The Experience Makers; a compilation of travel experts from all across the world organized into four glossy pages of Condé Nast Traveler’s December issue. We help you immerse yourself in the local culture, escape the crowds and create smooth, worry-free itineraries.
Being awarded this accolade is an honor for our entire team. Saying we were “excited” when we found out would be an understatement – we’ve worked really hard to create unforgettable trips for our travelers and it feels phenomenal to be recognized by one of the biggest names in the travel industry.
This year Knowmad Adventures grew from the passion project of a few, to something altogether larger than ourselves – a movement of independent-minded explorers, a sum much greater than its parts. It’s been an absolute whirlwind full of joys and, at times, seemingly unconquerable challenges.
Song by Sam Cooke
The holiday season encourages us to pause and think about those we are grateful for. Giving a gift can be a great way to say thank you or share in a friend’s passion and interests.
“As I drank my morning coffee at Hacienda Bambusa, listening to hummingbirds and soaking in the serenity, I knew this small boutique hotel was an oasis I needed to share with others.” See why Knowmad Operations Specialist, Elizabeth, loves this dreamy, boutique hotel in Colombia.
From Antarctica to Brazil, Ecuador to Argentina, and Chile to Peru, this year’s Knowmad adventurers criss-crossed South America; pushing boundaries, exploring new frontiers, and bringing back the inspiring photos + stories to prove it. Find out which image wins the Knowmad Adventures Annual Photo Contest Grand Prize…
Allow our Trip Specialists to take out the stress so you can enjoy the adventure of a lifetime: They’ll navigate the challenging weather and planning logistics of combining Machu Picchu and Patagonia, and you’ll experience one extraordinary 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 and your team did such a wonderful job and I can’t thank you enough. Our guide, Celinda, was incredible, extremely knowledgable and passionate about the Andean people and the Incan culture/ruins. We learned more than I could’ve imagined to. We loved the picnic, the climb up Waynapicchu, Machu Picchu and the ruins tours, the cooking class and the trip to the Amaru community!
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.
