Explorer’s Corner: A Journey in Cochamo, Chile


Even the incredible pictures that I saw on Facebook and the great stories I heard from travelers had no chance at properly preparing me for the magnificence I was about to see and experience in the Cochamó Valley.  It is beyond description, the only way to really appreciate it is to go there.  It all began with a gray rocky beach where we plunged our kayaks into the emerald green waters of the Rio Cochamó.  We had a beautiful sunny day outside of Puerto Varas, Chile, which allowed us to see volcano and mountaintops outlining the landscape.  We paddled all day on the beautiful fjord de Reloncaví passing horses, lush green lands and towering mountains.  After a stop for lunch we paddled straight for the town of Cochamó accompanied by curious seals and porpoises swimming along side of us.

‘Tis the season for travel…

…and Knowmad founders Jordan and Tara can’t resist the bug…so we’ll be heading down to Chile this March. Don’t be surprised when one or both of us – alongside our charismatic and knowledgeable local guides – accompanies parts of the March 26th departure of the Countryside, Culture and Coast trip through central Chile, as well as the April 2nd Northern Patagonia Odyssey departure. These trips are nothing short of awesome and we hope to see you there! For more details on these and our other adventures visit the new website at www.KnowmadAdventures.com.

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If You Build It, They Will Come

A big thanks to everyone who helped make March 2010 an incredible month for Knowmad Adventures! After many months of making strong partnerships throughout Chile and Argentina and designing what we feel are incredible travel experiences, we had our first big wave of travelers come and test the waters. Knowmad Adventures will always remember the Ladies in a Lower Latitude, Bama & Co., the Bottani Mafia, the Harvey Marathoners, and Crew Kellenberger. Thanks for believing in us and being the first Knowmads.

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And the Earth Shook

The dogs barked around four a.m. Their persistence awoke me, gently. Quieting suddenly, the house began to shake. Not a hysterical shake or a seizing fit, but a deep and distant trepidation lasting for minutes. “It’s your first earthquake baby,” I said as we drifted back to sleep.

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The Fu

 
Next up was a trip further south to the world-famous Futaleufu river (a.k.a the Fu); home of hands down the best rafting in South America. With long stretches of rapid-filled, turquoise waters, it’s a natural paradise. Rafting is just the beginning; test your hand at fly-fishing, mountain bike through the temperate rainforest, gallop along the riverbank on horseback, and watch the stars from the riverside hot tub. The best part is you’ll share this wilderness playground with Patagonian cowboys, self-sustaining homesteaders, the birds, and very, very few other lucky souls. We’ve found the best guides on the river, luxury camping that will make you never want to leave, and a team of people that elevate a trip to Patagonia’s river country into a life-changing experience. Seriously people, who’s ready for the trip of a lifetime.

Chiloe

When one decides to start an adventure travel company it’s not because they envision spending sixty hours a week staring at a computer. Researching, calling, emailing, circling back, requesting quotes, revising, crunching numbers, crunching again, doing data analysis, until the day arrives that you realize you haven’t walked outside, left the desk or changed out of your pajamas and it’s ten o’clock…in the evening. And that’s when it’s time to hit the road.

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Making the Most out of the Patagonia Region: Combining Argentina + Chile

Patagonia Region Travel

Impressive mountaintops, pristine glaciers, and adventurous trekking draws travelers to Patagonia: 400,000 square miles that span the southern regions of both Chile and Argentina. This wild wilderness knows no man-made borders, and it can be difficult to decide between visiting Argentine Patagonia or Chilean Patagonia. The great news is that we can combine the highlights of both countries into one fabulous Patagonia region adventure!

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Renee’s Staff Itinerary Pick: A Luxury Machu Picchu, Peru, Trip

Luxury Machu Picchu Travel

Peru was the first country to steal my heart in South America, and I’m still in awe today by everything it has to offer. Combine stunning landscapes of the high Andes mountains, rolling hills, and lush green cloud forest with colonial cities, marvelous Incan ruins, a diverse culture, fascinating history, friendly people, mouthwatering food, and some of the most spectacular yet authentic accommodations around, and you have Peru. There’s not much more that I could ask for in a perfect destination.

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Thoughts From Dan’s Experience Abroad: Where To Go + What To Do In Chile

What to do in Chile

Knowmad Adventures is a company that specializes in crafting private, custom trips to South America. One of the perks of employment at Knowmad is getting to travel to and experience all of the wonders of the continent we love. Having meaningful adventures in the countries we sell travel to not only serves as personal enrichment, but also professional. Visiting the region allows us to test out the services we sell and use our up-to-date, first-hand knowledge to continue improving trips for our travelers.

In January, our wonderful Accountant Dan and his fiancé Kelsey decided to take advantage of this unique job benefit by working remotely, living and traveling in Chile. Since their arrival, they have lived in Santiago and the coastal town of La Serena. They have also traveled throughout the country, from the Lakes District and far south to Patagonia all the way to the Atacama Desert in the north. In addition to exploring much of the central region of Chile, they also visited Argentina’s wine country.

After more than 6 months of exploring, we asked Dan to sit down and tell us more about what he has discovered during his time in South America, and how his travels abroad have changed his perspective.

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