Arboretum Director Peter Olin, Knowmad Co-Founder Jordan Harvey and our amazing Peruvian guides Delia and Wilfredo led 23 adventurous Arboretum members on a whirlwind 2-week Peru odyssey. Discovering Machu Picchu, piranha fishing in the Amazon, and sharing the day with the Amaru indigenous community were just a few of the memorable moments on this amazing trip.
Photo by Ezra Raez
Active South America travel fans, get excited, because we have some news for you! In the September issue of Travel + Leisure magazine, Jordan Harvey, South America trip specialist and Knowmad co-founder, was named for the second year in a row, the best travel specialist for Argentina & Chile vacations, with additional praise for Peru trips.
These are all great questions! A common mistake people make when traveling to Machu Picchu is cutting their trip too short, and rushing through the Sacred Valley on their way to Machu Picchu. Although not as well known as Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley has incredible hidden gems of its own, and often times ends up being our travelers’ most memorable and authentic part of their trip.
Back by popular demand, we’re offering last year’s pricing for 2015 Inca Trail Trail & Beyond trip again. The Inca Trail is a fantastic way to experience Peru active travel. This offer helps us get you signed up before it’s too late, as permits are selling out as much as six months in advance, and it helps you get a great deal on the best Inca Trail trip out there! Deal valid now through October 1st and will not be extended or offered again.
Christina Nguyen and Birk Stefan Grudem are the proud creators and owners of Hola Arepa, the Minneapolis born food truck and brand new Latin American cuisine restaurant on 35th and Nicolette in South Minneapolis. Tara and I were lucky enough to enjoy a quick bite and drinks there a few weeks ago and, after having such a good experience, we’re excited to get to know Christina, Birk and Hola Arepa a little better!
Tara was featured in Design Mom’s Growing a Family column on July 23, 2014! The interview touches on work/life balance, working with your spouse and the joys of welcoming Tara and Jordan’s little bebito, Trey, into the world.
Meet our new South America trip planners – Renee Davies and Jackson Mann. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these adventurous souls to the Knowmad team!
Created in 2013, Awasi Patagonia is the new kid in town and their unconventional approach to Patagonia lodges seems to be winning guests over 12 villas at a time with unique design, location and services. Following in the footsteps of its sister lodge, Awasi Atacama, it was given the stamp of approval by Relais & Chateaux, an association of the world’s finest hoteliers.
Most people conjure up images of gliding across the ocean in a small ship cruise when they hear the words “Galapagos Islands.” What they don’t know is that, to compliment all of the incredible expeditions boats, the Galapagos Islands are also home to some of the most innovative, watch-your-jaw-hit-the-floor, unique, and sustainable properties in the world. Join Tara as she explores Galapagos Safari Camp with the owners, Stephanie and Michael.
Here at Knowmad Adventures, a company dedicated to creating custom travel experiences in South America, one of our greatest joys is hearing stories and seeing photos from our travelers upon their return. Although breathtaking on their own, what makes a photo of Machu Picchu, Torres del Paine or any of the spectacular sight in South America unforgettable is the unique journey each traveler takes to get there. Whether it be a bucket list goal that you’ve finally realized, a trip to celebrate a special occasion, or an intentional way to be with family and friends – each adventure has its own unique story.
Having been to Chile and Argentina previously, Rick and Carol came to Knowmad looking to dive deeper into these countries. Working together with their Knowmad Trip Specialist, Rick and Carol landed on an off-the-beaten path itinerary that combined active travel and incredible landscapes, all while staying at some of the regions’ top luxury hotels.
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.
