What’s the best time to travel to Chile & the Patagonia?

patagonia

One of the first questions we’re asked regarding travel to any particular place is, “When is the best time to travel there?” The short answer is that the best summer weather in Patagonia and Chile is during the U.S. winter, making December, January, February and March ideal times for travel. This means the best time to plan a trip to Patagonia is now, during August and September.

Whether you’re looking to stay in one of the world’s finest adventure lodges such as Explora Salto Chico or if you’re more into the idea of a multi-sport trip with camping, Patagonia’s crown jewel known as Torres del Paine National Park is in high demand during these months. Availability is already problematic during the holidays and is starting to fill up for January and February.

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What’s the best Galapagos cruise for me?

Best Galapagos Cruises

You may not be able to pioneer the theory of evolution, but you can visit the Galapagos Islands as Darwin did centuries ago. Cruising the Galapagos Islands far out in the Pacific off the coast of Ecuador is a wildlife experience and luxurious adventure rolled into one. Having inspected over fifty Galapagos small-ship cruises over the last couple years, the new Ecuador and Galapagos section on our website will help you answer the question we often get; “What’s the best Galapagos cruise for me?”

Family Couple Honeymoon Galapagos Trips

 

Chile and Argentina Father-Daughter Trip

father daugher trip chile

Thanks so much for the great images Mike! Mike visited his daughter Katie who was studying in Chile and they biked through wine country, stayed at the incredible Explora Lodge in Patagonia, crossed the border and saw a massive active glacier in Argentina, and ended with great times in Buenos Aires.

And thanks for the kind words about your Chile and Argentina vacation! 

Jordan,

I wanted to thank you for organizing this trip.  It was fantastic. Every part came off without a problem. The guides were great, the drivers were always on time and the itinerary was incredible. I would be happy to recommend your organization to anyone.  Hope you enjoy a few more pictures and some time maybe next year we have to talk about the Fu river trip – it looks amazing as well.

Take care,

Michel Gelinas

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Parting Shots: Standa Family Trip to Machu Picchu

Thanks so much to our dear friends and fellow adventurers, the Standa Family, for sending us a few of the pics from their incredible adventure in Peru. In not more than a week, they explored deep into the Sacred Valley of the Inca, Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Amazon Jungle! And thanks for the kind words as well.

“Jordan,

What can I say; many, many kudos to you. Our trip could not have been better. You attended to every detail, no matter how small. Being met at every airport, hot tea and water in the van, all the charming hotels. How special you made Tripp’s birthday 3 times during the day! All our guides and drivers. The experience in Amaru and Inkaterra. And of course our guide, Harry, who really is the best!”

Irene, Wayzata, MN – Custom Amazon to Andes Odyssey Trip 

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Destination in Focus: Ski the Andes

 
South America Ski Vacation

Did winter end a little too soon for you this year and you’re finding yourself a couple ski runs short of satisfaction? Don’t stress! The Southern Hemisphere luckily has opposite seasons than us and July, August, and September are perfect months to shred the pow in the Chilean Andes.

SKI THE ANDES From $1,935 for 7 days you can ski some of the best South American resorts, as well as access SnowCat only terrain (not including airfare).

Call 1-877-616-8747 today to talk to your Knowmad travel specialist or shoot us an email at [email protected].

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2012 Photo Contest Results

Of thousands of great images from Knowmad travelers, check out the winning shots in the categories of Action & Adventure, Landscape & Scenery, Culture, Wildlife, and Portrait. Thanks so much to you all for your keen photography and for a fantastic year!
 

ACTION & ADVENTURE

1st Prize: Big Views in a Big World by Brianna Bromstad
Brianna snapped this photo while summiting Huayna Picchu Mountain. Climbing this peak sacred to the Inca allows for incredible views over the Machu Picchu Citadel and isn’t for the faint of heart!
 

Tierra Patagonia in Travel + Leisure

Travel and Leisure recently named Tierra Patagonia, a lodge located on the edge of Chile’s Torres Del Paine National Park, Best Resort in the T + L 2013 Design Awards. Being a design junkie myself, I wholeheartedly agree with T + L’s perspective that good design makes better travel (and better everything really). Knowmad, upon its creation, has been sending happy travelers to Tierra Patagonia’s sister lodge in the northern Chilean Desert, Tierra Atacama, and was thrilled to hear of plans to build a lodge that would no doubt just as seamlessly live and blend into its natural surroundings.

We were so excited, in fact, that we’ve decided to hop a flight down to Chile in a couple weeks to check it out. Stay tuned for the next issue of the Knowmad Travel Journal for our thoughts on this and other lodges in both Patagonia and the Atacama Desert.

Un Beso, Tara

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Top Sacred Valley Hotels: Find Your Perfect Place to Stay in Peru’s Sacred Valley

Top Sacred Valley Hotels

With all the possible places to stay when traveling, it can be difficult to know which one is the best one for you and your fellow travelers. Your accommodations can be such a big piece of your trip; letting you relax that much more during your vacation, or immersing you further into the culture. We know it can be difficult to know all of the features of each hotel option, so we wanted to highlight a few of Knowmad’s favorite hotels in Peru’s Sacred Valley, and share the characteristics that make each one a top Sacred Valley hotel on our list.

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