About three months ago the Macalester College Alumni Association embarked on an incredible adventure to Ecuador. This twelve-day trip highlighted incredible Andean landscapes and fascinating indigenous cultures in mainland Ecuador and included a luxurious six-day small ship cruise around Darwin’s Galapagos Islands which are full of fascinating endemic species and beautiful volcanic landscapes.
Nothing quite captures a moment like an image, but too often my photos sit buried in my computer’s enclaves never to see the light of day. In this time of digital this and digital that, I have the hardest time sitting at my computer, sifting through the memories and actually printing anything. Not to mention matting, framing it and then actually hanging it on my wall! That was until I connected with a wonderful small company called Instantly Framed. They make preserving travel memories easy. It starts with an app, a couple clicks, and three days later a gorgeous, hand-crafted dark walnut frame shows up on your doorstep with your travel memory printed in archival inks onto professional photo luster paper.
I remember sitting in the waiting room for one of the many doctor appointments you go to when you’re pregnant and flipping through Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine. It must have been during one of the early visits that the “5 Fascinating Moms” feature caught my eye. As an expectant mother I was nervous, naturally. How was I going to do this? Was I going to be nurturing enough? Patient enough? The stories of those five women filled me with wonder. How were they pulling it off? Not only were they tackling the daily challenges of meeting every need of a little human being, but they were doing it with style and gusto! Pursuing their own dreams, juggling careers and me-time. It seemed impossible.
Hi Knowmaders! I just got back from an incredible 18-day trip to Peru. It was a phenomenal adventure filled with many of the activities you, our travelers, experience, as well as hotel inspections and meeting with our local team. I was constantly expanding my knowledge of these incredible destinations and excursions. To be honest the whole trip was a little bit of a pinch me moment and it was really difficult to choose just a few to share with you. Read on for the top six highlights from my trip to Peru.
I was delighted when Erynn at Tropic of Candycorn, a wonderful family travel blog, asked me to write a destination post. Of course, I was then faced with the hard decision of picking a place to write about. Having crisscrossed the globe in a number of ways – through study abroad programs, on a shoestring in college, and on Knowmad exploratory trips with Jordan to name a few – I felt like I was venturing into the future writing about a destination through the lens of family travel.
Instead of exploring the Galapagos Islands exclusively via land or sea, Knowmad travelers Rion and Shelly’s trip is an example of incorporating both a land-based accommodation and a catamaran cruise. The two enjoyed snorkeling, spotting wildlife, relaxing on their Galapagos Safari Camp porch, and experiencing life at sea onboard the Anahi. Learn about this unique Galapagos Islands trip here.
“I’ve done quite a bit of research on trips in Chile and Argentina and I am just getting overwhelmed; where do I start?” This is the first thing I hear from many prospective travelers trying to plan their perfect South American adventure. If you’re having similar feelings, don’t worry you’re not alone.
It doesn’t take much to recognize that Argentina is famous for their steak. We’ve heard the locals boast about it, the magazines talk about, and the travelers rave about it. One of the reasons their steak is so uniquely delicious is because often times they pair it with a very fresh and robust chimichurri sauce. Below I share the best Argentine chimichurri recipe I’ve ever had (taste-tested and approved)!
“We had the most amazing trip [to South America]; thank you! We are so appreciative of your guidance and expertise. It was so memorable and we sincerely loved every moment. Getting back to reality today is particularly challenging!” – Loren and Heath
Don’t miss Canada’s largest showcase of outdoor gear and adventure travel experiences this weekend, February 20, 21 & 22, 2015.
A story told an infinite amount of times, crossing centuries, cultures and borders. Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. Love. Marriage. Kids. And, if you’re especially blessed, growing old together. And yet, there is always a sense of awe, gratitude, and sheer luck when one’s found it. Love, actual love.
Unless stated otherwise, the images or videos used in this blog post belong to Explora
The Sacred Valley is often overlooked; sometimes folded into itineraries as a region to traverse on your way to the infamous Machu Picchu or merely a place to acclimatize before a trek on the Inca Trail. Truly the cultural and natural heart of Andean Peru, the valley has so much more to offer. Discover why a stay at Explora’s newest luxury lodge may be just the reason you needed to jump start planning your trip.
Starting a business takes courage and leadership, tireless dedication and a steady vision even when faced with challenges, and a team devoted to the same values and ideals. Receiving the Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist We Trust award gives us the opportunity and reminder to slow down and congratulate each other on all of the goals – big and small – that we accomplish each day. We are so grateful Jordan has been recognized on this list for the 5th year in a row, thank you!
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.
