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

Read Full Post

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 

Read Full Post

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].

Read Full Post

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

Read Full Post

Parting Shots: Family Visits their Daughter Studying Abroad in South America

Lisa Kellenberger, both Tara’s sister and Knowmad’s Social Media Guru, spent a semester studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina last spring. Without a moment’s hesitation (not that anybody needs any real valid excuse in this family to go exploring) parents Greg and Dana started dreaming up a trip with Knowmad to get down there. Greg had been to Machu Picchu before when Tara spent her summer after college backpacking around South America and couldn’t wait to see it again, this time with his wife and third daughter. So after a couple of days exploring Argentina’s capital, they flew from  Buenos Aires to Lima and then to Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon for a stay at Inkaterra’s Reserva Amazonica. Next they flew to Cuzco to embark on a custom version of the Classic Machu Picchu itinerary. Thanks for sharing these wonderful shots Kellenbergers!

 
 
 

Best Peru Restaurants: Your Guide for Knowing Where to Eat from Lima to Machu Picchu

Best Peru Restaurants Sacred Valley

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.

Read Full Post

Travel + Leisure A-List Recognizes Jordan As a Top Trip Advisor for the 7th Year in a Row!

Knowmad Adventure Travel + Leisure A-List

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.

Read Full Post

Condé Nast Traveler Highlights Knowmad’s Off-The-Beaten-Path Specialty with Choquequirao Trek Mention

Conde Nast Traveler - Knowmad Adventures Choque Peru Trekking

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.

Read Full Post