Though many travelers are only aware of the Inca Trail, there is a multitude of things to do in Peru to take advantage of the natural beauty and history of the country. Working along with their Trip Specialist, the Gagners crafted an active traveler’s dream trip to Peru which, in addition to the full Inca Trail hike, included biking, whitewater rafting, and even paragliding over the city of Lima.
A couples of the most common and important questions when planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands are“What is the best way to see the Galapagos Islands and should I do an expedition-style cruise or a land-based Galapagos trip?” The answer really depends on your own personal travel style and what you most want to experience during your trip to the Galapagos. Knowmad Adventures Galapagos Trip Specialists are experts on all the possibilities, advantages, and disadvantages that come with each option. Take a look at the guide we’ve created below to help you easily decide which option is the best way for you to see the Galapagos Islands!
Tara talks with Gabrielle Blair about the challenges and triumphs of raising a family and entrepreneurship in the Design Mom home tour column “Living With Kids.” Click the following link to read the full article and gush at the Harvey family home tour.
On this one-of-a-kind, personalized trip to South America, the Schaffers experienced four dynamic regions of Ecuador including Quito, the Cloud Forest, Otavalo and the Galapagos Islands. Read on to discover the magic of Ecuador through their lens. View photos and read a day-by-day breakdown of their trip itinerary below.
Big news on the Knowmad Adventures front: we’re closing on a new office this week! Remembering our baby beginnings, with Jordan and I sitting across from each other at the same table in a 400-square-foot former chicken coop, it seemed unimaginable that Knowmad would ever need a whole building to house its team. Yet the time has come and we’ll be moving to our new South Minneapolis location on 36th & Bryant (directly across from a Bogart’s Donuts – dangerous!) come September. More to come on that later…
What’s actually been pestering me all month, as I gather bank statements, tax statements, read over the inspection addendum, the closing disclosure, sign this, scan that, etc., is that something that should be so exciting gets so bogged down by plain old paperwork. Although it’s hard to escape one’s nemesis, I have to laugh at myself and my insignificant groveling when I think of the trámite we went through in purchasing a car in Chile.
A common question I hear from people planning a trip to Torres del Paine and a stay at one of the handful of excellent adventure lodges in this massive national park is, “what are the best excursions and hikes to do in Torres del Paine?” Of course the response to what would seem a straightforward question varies greatly on who you are and your preferences (Do you really like to hike? How long of a hike is too long? Do you also like to horseback ride? etc). But with that being said, there are some general suggestions that can help you make the most of your five or so days in Torres del Paine.
On a recent Knowmad Adventures research trip in Ecuador Tara and Renee wandered the ancient cobblestone streets of Quito, chased butterflies in the cloud forest, cantered through the pastoral grounds of a former president’s hacienda in the Andes, and danced with blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. Their adventures included stays at the regal Casa Gangotena in Quito, the modern and experiential Mashpi Lodge in the cloud forest, the historic Hacienda Zuleta in the Andes, and the tented, yet appropriately luxurious, Galapagos Safari Camp. It was definitely a challenge to know what to pack for a trip that incorporated such varied climates! Read on for stories they share from their adventures and, because we know you’re curious, what they wore…
This is a once-in-a-lifetime offer at three phenomenal luxury lodges! Enjoy an incredible culinary experience at three (of only four) of Chile’s Relais & Châteaux properties at a greatly discounted rate. Details below.
A photo can take an ordinary moment and make it an extraordinary piece of your personal story. It’s not that undocumented memories are any less important, but life has a way of moving from one event to another without pausing to stop, therefore just the action of standing still and taking a photo reminds us to appreciate our experiences no matter how simple they may be.
Known for their rustic asado (traditional barbeque) and world-renowned wine, Chile and Argentina are favorites for travelers looking to explore the world through their taste buds.
“Getting vaccines in February and March made it possible for us to travel now! We are so happy that we went ahead with the trip this year because so few people were there.
…Safari Camp was wonderful. They gave us a cooking lesson. Food fantastic! Blue Paradise was perfect, only 12 people and an incredible guide! Peter made our trip interesting. A wealth of knowledge! We were the only boat for 5 1/2 days!!
Paradise to ourselves. I would suggest for others to go now before the rest of the world opens up!” – Norma & Jim
While everyone has different comfort levels and will begin traveling as they’re ready, we can’t help being ecstatic to be emerging from the fog of 2020/21 and hitting the road. Certainly, there remain additional challenges to traveling abroad that have us at Knowmad on our toes, like juggling testing and requirements for travelers, reviewing partner properties’ latest covid measures, and executing newly implemented operational protocols for guides and team members. However, the trip reports form our returning travelers and our own team members who’ve travelled recently are highlighting many incredible advantages, tangible and otherwise.
“In a post-covid world, we’ll be seeking purpose and growth and connection more than ever, and travel is about connection at a basic human level,” says Knowmad co-founder, Jordan. Read on for his conversation with Kerri Westenberg of the Star Tribune about today’s changing landscape, and how travel inspires hope for the future.
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.
Everything went perfectly and all 8 of us enjoyed every element of the trip. The guides were all excellent, everyone was always on-time and the hotels were exactly what we wanted. The Estancia turned out to be exceptional and I would say a highlight – the real thing, and right in the park. We ate the trout we caught one day for dinner and everyone loved the horse riding. I would say the unanimous judgement was one of the best trips we have ever taken.
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.
