Lifelong Friends Take the Trip of a Lifetime – Galapagos to Machu Picchu

south america custom travel

Having known each other for decades, this group of four already knew any adventure they planned together would be a ball. They came to Knowmad to handle the details and craft experiences that would invite a deeper connection with the landscapes, wildlife, and locals. Little could they have imagined sharing a glass of vino with Margarita, the charming owner of 17th-century Hacienda Zuleta nestled in the Ecuadorian Andes, or exchanging stories with their guide Miguel at Machu Picchu as they walked through mazes of dry-stone walls built over 500 years ago.

Join this lively group of friends as they travel throughout western South America and see why they said, “Our trip was absolutely amazing! An unforgettable experience full of adventure and unexpected beauty”

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Knowmad Wins Condé Nast’s Top Honor for Galapagos, Peru, Patagonia, Argentina, & Chile

Four Knowmad Adventures team members in Knowmad hats walking and laughing together with a Condé Nast Traveler 2022 seal on the lower left.

Knowmad is proud and humbled to once again be one of the few operator/agencies in the world to have not one but two of our specialists awarded with the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Experts accolade. Knowmad General Manager Renee Davies is recognized as the top expert of Galapagos, Ecuador & Peru; while Co–Founder Jordan Harvey for Patagonia, Argentina and Chile.

Travel + Leisure A-List Winner for the 10th Year in a Row!

This is a big one folks!! Knowmad Co-Founder Jordan Harvey won a spot on the Travel + Leisure A-list for the 10th year in a row. 

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Jordan “almost fainted right there in the Dallas / Ft. Worth customs,” after finding out he had won the T+L A-List award for the very first time in 2013. A lot has happened in the last 10 years, we’ve grown, expanded into new territories, helped more and more travelers and at the same time, not much has changed. Our commitment to unparalleled levels of knowledge and operating capabilities in our regions has only strengthened and we continue to work hard to build innovative and unique travel experiences for our travelers. 

We asked our past travelers to help us in congratulating Jordan by sharing some of their favorite travel moments, keep reading to take a trip down memory lane with us.

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Travel + Leisure Spotlights Knowmad’s Peru Epic 9-Day Active Adventure & Inca Trail

Photo of Machu Picchu in Peru with the Travel + Leisure logo overlayed in the lower left corner

Open for travel, sharply declining covid numbers, and a dearth of crowds has us pumped for Peru travel. We were honored when Travel + Leisure recently featured one of Knowmad Co-Founder Jordan’s favored Peru trips, which packs in big adventure in a short period of time. Are you ready to craft your own Peru experience?

Book Now and Save – A Collection of South America’s Best Adventures at Unheard of Values

travel right now south america

With travelers rushing to get plans on the books, these limited-time deals won’t last. This is a collection of incredible saving opportunities on some of South America’s greatest adventures.

  • Up to 38% off on some of the best guided expedition vessels in the Galapagos – La Pinta, Santa Cruz, and Isabela – for sailings through August. Free Galapagos airfare ($500 per person value) for expeditions from September to December. Book by July 15th.
  • $500 off per person on select Galapagos land-based adventures of 7 days or more.
  • 50% off for travel companion on the Amazon’s premier small ship expedition cruises Delfin I and Delfin III. Book by July 15th.
  • Up to 35% off on Luxury Class Evolution and Grace sailings through August, and $650 off per person on September – December sailings.
  • $300 off per person for custom Peru trips. Book by July 15th.

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Recently Returning Travelers: Galapagos Marvels All To Yourself

“Getting vaccines in February and March made it possible for us to travel now! We are so happy that we went ahead with the trip this year because so few people were there.

…Safari Camp was wonderful. They gave us a cooking lesson. Food fantastic! Blue Paradise was perfect, only 12 people and an incredible guide! Peter made our trip interesting. A wealth of knowledge! We were the only boat for 5 1/2 days!!

Paradise to ourselves. I would suggest for others to go now before the rest of the world opens up!” – Norma & Jim

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Clos Apalta Residence: Hidden Gem of Chilean Vineyards

Clos Apalta Residence in Chilean Wine Country

A relaxing, enjoyable stay in Chilean vineyards can turn an excellent trip into something extraordinary. In my 20 years in Chile – many spent working in the travel industry – I’ve had the opportunity to explore vineyards from north to south, and one winery hotel truly stands apart: The Clos Apalta Residence.

What makes Apalta’s Residence stand out is how it combines the beauty of the Chilean countryside with excellence in winemaking and cuisine as well as its spacious, comfortable, and well-thought-out accommodations, which, altogether, make for an unforgettable experience. It’s not the first result that Google pulls up, but if you are coming to Chile and love great food and wine, you have to consider it.

At Knowmad, we’ve been including stays in the original casitas at this winery hotel for years. But with the addition of six spacious villas to build on its offer, on my recent visit, I set out with the mission to experience these new spaces and to update our understanding of how to work this into our custom trips to Chile.

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Where To Go In Colombia

Colorful buildings on a street in Bogotá, Colombia.

WHY VISIT COLOMBIA?

An up-and-coming destination in South America, Colombia is still relatively unknown and unexplored by international travelers. That being said, it has so much to offer visitors:

  • A huge variety of landscapes and wildlife that make Colombia one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.
  • An incredibly rich history and melting pot of cultures, with different indigenous groups in the mountains & jungles contrasting the African diaspora on the coast, and the remnants of the Spanish colonial period in towns across the country.
  • Opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and more which make it a destination for adventurers.
  • Destinations that are little-visited by international travelers and off the beaten path.
  • One of the fastest-growing tourism regions in South America, which has helped to shed its image of instability and complex social issues.

Connect here with a Knowmad Adventures Trip Specialist to help you create a custom travel experience throughout Colombia that is as unique and authentic as you are.

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KNOWMAD 2024 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

Knowmad Adventures 2024 Contest Winners

 

The Knowmad 2024 Photo Contest Winners are in! This past year was full of incredible stories and images from our Knowmad travelers. The pictures and comments that were sent in inspire us to keep exploring. Thanks to all who shared their impressive pictures throughout the last year.

To give you a little taste of it all, the winners have been broken down into 7 different categories; adventure, culture, landscape, cityscape, portrait, flora, and fauna. All category winners will receive Knowmad gear, and the overall Knowmad Adventures Grand Prize Winner gets a 2-night/ 3-day stay at Hacienda Zuleta in Ecuador. Scroll down to see inspiring Knowmad traveler stories, from connecting with locals to jaw-dropping wildlife encounters, and find inspiration for your next South American adventure below.

 

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