
Although we always knew Carley Rosen would be leaving us to move Chicago this June, she is still going to be sorely missed. We celebrated her new beginnings with brunch at one of our favorite South Minneapolis eateries, Blackbird Café. The food was great and the company better.
Jerry and Maureen Pearo, Russ and Mary Horsch, and Damon and Becky Farber packed their bags this past February and headed south, to Santiago, Chile for an incredible Chile and Easter Island travel experience. Their custom trip included stops at the La Vega and Mercado Central (two of Chile’s most famous markets), Chiloe island, the Cochamo Valley, vineyards in Valparaiso and Easter Island.
As of this year, Chile has lifted their reciprocity fee for the United States. This means that any U.S. Citizen traveling to Chile will no longer have to pay an entrance fee (historically this fee has been upwards of $140 USD).
Being the fourth largest continent and unknown to many travelers, South America is big and mysterious. So here at Knowmad we have compiled a list of some of the best places to visit in South America to get you “lost in the right direction.”
I’ve found motherhood to be beautiful. The whole mess of it. The sheer joy I feel when Trey has a laugh attack. The waves of grief that pass from time to time from a loss of freedom I once had. Yet, really, it’s just a certain type of freedom that’s gone – from silly things, like being able to take a shower when I please, to bigger things like my old identity as a traveling, designing career-driven woman. I’ve discovered that the freedom gained is far more pure and visceral…the kind of freedom that’s found in love.
For professional travel planners a special interest group trip is exactly that – special. Whether it’s a student trip to Peru so young people can study Spanish or archeology and anthropology, a university alumni group with varied interests, or a yoga studio seeking wellness and renewal, trips seaming a unique focus with well-rounded travel experiences are a chance for the travel specialist to flex their planning muscles, expand their knowledge, and create entirely unique itineraries they never would have imagined otherwise.
Not far from the tip of South America sits an incredibly vast wilderness. A continent uninhabited by humans and only visited by a handful of the most adventurous individuals. Indescribably intricate and colossal ice formations rest among the dramatic Southern Ocean where scores of untamed wildlife find their home. Antarctica. One of the grandest and most stunning locations on Earth.
Get to know Amanda Bjorge, one of Knowmad’s Operations Specialists! She loves to experience new cultures and has a passion for South America. Find out which travel memories are Amanda’s favorite, her must-have travel item, and more.
Mark your calendars for the 67th Bi-Annual Outdoor Adventure Expo! Hosted by Midwest Mountaineering, “The Expo” has over 60 exhibitors and more than 100 presentations by experts in a multitude of fields: parks and trails, high-adrenaline adventure, nature conservation, and of course, travel. Chat with fellow adventure travel and outdoor enthusiasts, learn about new gear, and find great deals.
One of my favorite types of trips to plan is what we at Knowmad affectionately call a “combo trip”, where we pair two countries together so that our travelers can get the most out of their adventure to South America. I specialize in travel in both Peru and Ecuador, and pairing these countries together makes for such a wonderful combo trip, not just because they are neighbors, but because of how they compliment each other. In one trip you can walk along paths taken by Incans, dine with local community members as they teach you about their traditions, see the famed Machu Picchu, snorkel with sea lions, stand amongst the giant Galapagos tortoises, and so much more. Joining both the beautiful culture and majesty of the Incas of Peru with the stunning architecture of Quito and surreal closeness to the wildlife in the Galapagos Islands is most certainly a recipe for an awe-inspiring adventure to South America.