We are so excited to introduce the newest member of the Knowmad Adventures team – welcome Molly Stern! Molly is a Minnesota native who has always been curious about other countries and cultures. After living in Costa Rica for a semester in college she was inspired to make travel a big part of her life and traveled to Venezuela, Peru and more. Today she aims to “take [her] passion for adventures and create meaningful international experiences” for others.
Nestled in the Ecuadorian Andes at around 9,600 feet above sea level lies a property little known to the world at large. A place where long standing traditions continue to be practiced and weaved into the pattern of daily life. A place where they are less concerned about the latest Apple product and more concerned with preserving the unique aspects of their community and the environment around them.
***Grand Prize Winners of the 2024 Annual Knowmad Photo Contest receive a free stay at Hacienda Zuleta. Subscribe to our newsletter for more details.***
“Should I take a cruise, or should I do a land-based Galapagos Islands itinerary?” We get this question a lot and our answer really comes down to you and your travel preferences, as both options really have some great advantages.
A common question at the early stages of planning a trip to this far-flung and stunning region of the world is “What’s the best way to get down to Patagonia, South America?” The answer of course is by flying, however there are different routes, airports of access, land transfer logistics, and timing considerations to take into account to assure your travels are as smooth, efficient, and cost effective as possible. Patagonia, or the southernmost region of South America, spans both Chile and Argentina and is accessed via either countries capital city.
Is Machu Picchu or the Inca Trail on your bucket list? Now is the time to make this dream a reality! It’s the perfect time to book a trip to Peru for April, May, June or July – especially as Inca Trail permits are limited and the season in starting to fill up. Planning your trip now will also ensure your stay at some of the world’s best hand-picked, boutique hotels that have limited availability. Read on to learn about the Inca Trail and discover what makes Knowmad’s Inca Trail philosophy different.
Preparing for a trip of any kind is met with all sorts of excitement and nerves, but preparing for an international trip can be especially challenging. Getting organized well before you depart can help you keep your pre-trip jitters at bay and allow you to spend your time thinking about the fun stuff.
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.
This has been and will continue to be a challenging time for us all – one that calls for unity, understanding, love, and hope.
As the world was reeling in response to the escalating coronavirus, with little to no warning, border after border of several South American countries began closing. The Knowmad team worked around the clock to get our travelers home safely.
We appreciate and thank you all for your caring support and positivity, and we send our heartfelt empathy to every person and industry affected. It is our privilege and honor to be a part of and serve this travel community.
Read the inspiring messages from Knowmad travelers who were in South America as the coronavirus accelerated.
Which is the best of the Peruvian Amazon River cruises? There are many cruise options out there, and navigating the differences can be a bit of a daunting task. Plus, what’s best for one person may not be the best for another, which is why Knowmad Adventures specializes in custom trips that are unique to each traveler. Our detailed Amazon cruise comparison below keeps that in mind, dives into the best Amazon River cruises, and details the most notable differences between them.
“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.
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.
Thanks for the organization, the trip was excellent! Everything went well and I had a great time. The areas you suggested are beautiful. My guides were very knowledgeable. I’m traveling to Bolivia and Peru next year and I will surely plan it with you.
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.
