Knowmad Adventures in conjunction with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is proud to announce an incredible group tour to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador. “Darwin’s Galapagos Islands and the Flora and Fauna of Ecuador” is a two week journey that will highlight the incredible landscapes and diverse ecosystems of mainland Ecuador, and includes a luxurious 6-day small ship cruise around Darwin’s Galapagos Islands which are full of fascinating endemic species and beautiful volcanic landscapes. Join Director Emeritus Peter Olin and Knowmad Co-Founder Jordan Harvey along with excellent local guides. In addition to cruising the Galapagos, on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, you will have unique cultural interactions, explore the cloud forest’s plants, orchids, and over 132 hummingbird species, visit a rose plantation, and much more!
Patagonia Vacation Packing List
Packing for a trip can be an overwhelming task, especially when you’re headed out of the country – on a Patagonia vacation perhaps. Most people advocate for packing light but if you’re anything like me, this concept is merely inconceivable. Instead, I like to focus on packing appropriately. This means including all the necessary items on my packing list, and throwing in a few extras, just incase.
Find Comfort in a Good Book: Books by Isabel Allende

Knowmad Co-Founder, Tara, picked up her first Isabel Allende book as she was navigating an uncertain future 11 years ago – moving across the world with her husband and Knowmad Co-Founder, Jordan, and starting a business together – and she found solace in the pages as she dove deeper into the story. She hopes that as you navigate today’s changing landscape, you can also find comfort in a good book.
Patagonia – Hiking with Friends
Thanks to Jamie and friends for sharing some great photos from one of our favorite lodge partners in Patagonia, The Singular. To find out which Patagonian lodge is perfect for you contact Knowmad today!
The New KnowmadAdventures.com

We are proud to announce that the all new Knowmad Adventures website is live! The new site, which was completely redesigned by Knowmad co-Founder Tara, has greatly expanded content including more in-depth bios of the growing Knowmad team, more suggested trip ideas including exclusive Galapagos yacht cruises, and a traveler review section. We’re also jumping out of our seats excited about improved functionality letting travelers design their very own trip as well as searching by travel style such as family, luxury, active and more (kudos to super programmer Josh and nose-to-the-grindstone Media Manager Lisa!).
It is with as much relief as joy that we make this announcement. As a small company building a site this expansive had us all wearing the proverbial many hats, and for that or otherwise it’s safe to say we’re all left with a lower thread count atop the cabeza, if you know what I mean! But hopefully what didn’t kill us made us stronger and we proudly invite you to explore the new face of Knowmad Adventures today.
My Conversation with Carolina in the Atacama Desert
What’s the best time to travel to Chile & the 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.
What’s the best Galapagos cruise for me?

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?”

Chile and Argentina Father-Daughter Trip
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,
Parting Shots: Standa Family Trip to Machu Picchu
“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
Best Peru Restaurants: Your Guide for Knowing Where to Eat from Lima to Machu Picchu

Peru has been a favorite in the world of cuisine for some time now, and its food only continues to impress and attract patrons from near and far. Part of its charm is that Peru’s culture is so well represented in its cuisine, making each dish a celebration; from fusion blends like Italian-Peruvian and Japanese-Peruvian, to unique incorporations of the fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains harvested locally. Peru’s restaurants and chefs are creating inventive new dishes all the time for fans of food everywhere to enjoy.
Because of the attention surrounding Peru’s food scene, its restaurants are growing in both quantity and popularity: many of them have been favorites for years, some of them are newer and spearheaded by beloved chefs, and there are also the gems that are known only by the locals. As some of the best restaurants in Peru are also the top restaurants in the world, we wanted to create a list of some of Knowmad’s favorites to help you navigate the delectable world of Peruvian dining!
As you read on below, if you are interested in making a reservation for your trip to Peru at any of the restaurant featured here, you can either use the links within each restaurants’ details to reach their website, or you can let your Trip or Operations Specialist know if you would like help, and we would be happy to assist in making those reservations for you.
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Travel + Leisure A-List Recognizes Jordan As a Top Trip Advisor for the 7th Year in a Row!

It’s a series of moments that have lead Jordan to his 7th Travel + Leisure A-List win. It all started with a big dream in a small cabin nestled in the Patagonian countryside. Here, Tara and Jordan spent many hours, days, and weeks developing their travel company. And today we take a moment to reflect on some of the triumphs and challenges that ultimately make Knowmad, Knowmad.
Condé Nast Traveler Highlights Knowmad’s Off-The-Beaten-Path Specialty with Choquequirao Trek Mention


We’re so thrilled that Knowmad was mentioned as the company to call for your Choquequirao trekking plans by Condé Nasts’s Traveler magazine! Traveler explains how the multi-day trek to the the lesser-travelled but equally magnificent Choquequirao indeed stands up to comparisons to Machu Picchu. Our founders, Tara and Jordan Harvey, have journeyed to the archaeological site themselves – affectionately called “Choque” – and came out of it more impassioned than ever, affirming that it makes trekkers feel about as much like Indiana Jones as possible.