Parting Shots: Atacama Desert, Chile

 
 
A big thank you to Ed & Suzette for these breathtaking shots from the Atacama Desert , Chile. Their itinerary included excursions to salt flats, geysers, petroglyphs, volcanoes and traditional altiplano villages. Returning to the lodge in the evening, poolside relaxation, gourmet cuisine with Chilean wine, and the world’s most vivid night sky were just what the doctor ordered.

Peru Unveiled

Enshrouded in cloud forest and perched amongst Andean peaks sits a vast ancient city lost to civilization until only the last century. After Spanish conquest drove the Incans from their capital Cusco and the surrounding areas, it didn’t take the jungle long to reclaim Machu Picchu, concealing it from mankind for hundreds of years.

Gastronomy: Mate

Mate is a tea infusion made from the leaves of the coca plant as well as other plants. Slightly bitter in taste, it’s drunk throughout many South American countries including Chile, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. The culture of mate, which differs from region to region, is steeped in tradition. In the high Andean cultures, what used to be the Incan empire, it’s tied closely to religion and often used in ceremonies thanking the earth for its fruitfulness.

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Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Crosses the Andes and Patagonia

 
 
Knowmad Adventures in conjunction with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is proud to announce an incredible group trip “Crossing the Andes: An Exploration of Chile and Argentina”. The trip is open to Arboretum members as well as non-members – this includes you! This 13-day trip from January 16th to the 28th, 2012 will highlight the incredible landscapes of Chile and Argentina as well as the varied cultures throughout these regions while going from Santiago, Chile south to the Patagonia and across the Andes by way of fjords and glaciers into Argentina.

Knowmad News: Exploring Machu Picchu

Dear Traveler,

Knowmad Adventures proudly provides active, authentic and sustainable travel experiences for independent-minded adventurers and small groups to Chile and Argentina. However there is still more adventure to be had and in order to grow, we’ve got to go.

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Advice for New Moms With Wanderlust

Advice for New Moms - Knowmad Adventures

We welcomed Belén Scot Harvey into the world just under three months ago on July 27th. It had been a hot and humid month in the land of lakes, and I had spent many afternoons with our son Trey, now three and a half, in the backyard: him, up to his toddler antics and me, soaking my swollen ankles in the kiddy pool thinking how much better life would be if I didn’t have to pee every ten minutes, or could tie my own shoes, or better yet, had a gin and tonic in hand. Needless to say, by the end of my pregnancy I was miserable and over it and I was so ready to meet the little one in my belly.

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Join Us This November for The Midwest Mountaineering Twin Cities Outdoor Adventure Expo

Twin Cities Outdoor Adventure Expo

Fellow adventurers, sightseers, and wanderlusters, the time has come again for the best gear and travel event in the Twin Cities, the Outdoor Adventure Expo! Hosted by Midwest Mountaineering, the Outdoor Adventure 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.

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Best Atacama Luxury Lodges: A Review of San Pedro de Atacama’s Top Hotels

Best Atacama Luxury Lodges

Just 10 years ago, the Atacama Desert was almost completely unknown to the North American traveler. Accessible only to backpackers and the savviest of travelers, this unique area—which reminds me of Yellowstone, the American Southwest, and Mars all rolled into one—was a hidden gem.

Today, the gorgeous landscapes combined with the fascinating pre-Columbian indigenous cultures have turned the region into one of Chile’s top attractions alongside Patagonia and Easter Island. Its rising popularity among discerning adventurers is thanks in part to a blossoming of luxury lodges in the area that offer a tantalizing combination of world-class comfort and active adventure.

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