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.
The Fu

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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Thank you. By taking the time to share your travel experiences with Knowmad you are not only helping us and supporting our company, but you are being a voice for adventure and enabling us to continue to build active, authentic and sustainable travel in South America.
We truly appreciate your help in this ever-evolving technological world.
Hasta Pronto, Knowmad Adventurers!
Knowmad Adventures works closely with independent-minded travelers creating innovative trips to South America. Our specialists in Patagonia, Chile, Machu Picchu, Peru, Argentina, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and Antarctica are eager to collaborate and create a trip as unique and authentic as you are, and our experienced South American operations team guarantees you get an insider’s perspective, superior values, and a flawlessly-operated trip.
Tara Harvey – Knowmad Adventures

“Having been born with a substantial wanderlust tick, I’ve been perpetually focused on the next great adventure. Hopping a flight to some far-flung destination doesn’t have me skipping a beat – I’m endlessly inspired by the cultures, food, colors, and idiosyncrasies I discover. Ironically though, part of what I take away from travel is a deeper sense and appreciation of home. Gaining new perspectives abroad gives me a fresh outlook on my day to day. Here in Minneapolis, I strive to live locally, while thinking globally. I feel so lucky that Knowmad has enabled me to be a part of people’s life journeys.”
– Tara Harvey, Co-Founder & Operations
Lisa Kellenberger – Knowmad Adventures

“I am an outdoor-loving, food-enthusing Minnesotan. Attracted to the culture, language and mystery of South America, I chose to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2012. After living with a family and traveling in my spare time, I can safely say I feel a sense of home in South America. I am a graduate of University of Colorado – Boulder with a degree in Anthropology and certificates in Technology, Arts, & Media, and Entrepreneurial Business. I believe that life is a rhythm and development, and travel has encouraged me to expand my perspective and grow. My passion for culture and exploration was only strengthened while living abroad and today I continue to live my next adventure.”
– Lisa Kellenberger, Media Manager
A dynamic photographer, Lisa focuses on food, lifestyle, outdoor experiences and landscape photography. Her passion for the visual world has encouraged her to explore places all over the globe in search of new experiences. For her, photography serves as a way of organizing her thoughts, preserving memories and sharing stories. Lisa currently lives in Bend, Oregon where she works remotely for Knowmad Adventures managing the blog, newsletter and social media platforms among other marketing initiatives. Her work is primarily featured on the Knowmad blog and has also been in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Design Mom and more. See a sample of her work below:





Photographs also published in:
- Growing a Family: Trading Adventures for Design Mom
- Adventure Business Owner Shares what Business and Motherhood Have in Common for Women’s Adventure Magazine
- 5 Fascinating Moms for Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine
- The Mamuye Tote Travels to South America for Fashionable
If you’re interested in collaborating with Lisa and Knowmad please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can e-mail Lisa at [email protected].
*To Note: Lisa will be traveling to Chile in March, if you’d like to work with her in conjunction with her trip, please contact her before February 29th.
EXPLORE THE KNOWMAD BLOG
![]() ARGENTINE CHIMICHURRI RECIPE |
. | ![]() CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER EXPERIENCE MAKERS AWARDThey call us The Experience Makers; a compilation of travel experts from all across the world organized into four glossy pages of Condé Nast Traveler’s December issue. We’re honored to be a part of this list, named for “custom trips to Patagonia’s most far-flung corners.” Find out why here… |
![]() 24 HOURS IN PATAGONIA 6:30am – “We awoke to a red glow seeping through our cabaña’s windows and rolled over to a sunrise like no other…” Knowmad founders Tara and Jordan Harvey give an in-depth account of 24 hours in Patagonia for Artful Living Magazine from their latest trip to the Southern Hemisphere. |
![]() GIFT GUIDE FOR THE EXPLORERAn inspirational gift guide for the explorer in your life, whether they are globe trotting the world or forging new paths around town, we’ve got gift ideas for the ones in your life that motivate you to push the boundaries… |
La Navidad – Christmas in Chile
On Christmas Eve watched little Thomas open his imported Legos. I couldn’t help but draw comparisons; our customs different in that Chileans for the most part exchange gifts on the eve, but similar in that men feign mild excitement over new underwear while boys beam over their new toys.
We missed all our family and friends greatly and are reminded, both by the weight of their absence and the sincere care of others, what a powerful holiday Christmas can be.
El Cliente: South America Travel
We recently said goodbye to our first client. Christopher hails from the sweltering bayous of Alabama, proudly wielding the moniker ‘Bama’, but he will forever go down in the halls of Knowmad Adventures as ‘el cliente’. His journey was an unforgettable one for him and monumental for us. After trying his hardest to miss a bus or plane, he’s already planning the return.
Valley of the Gods – Chile

It’s not dumb luck or simple coincidence that we live in this precise point of Chile, with her supermodel measurements. Glacial lakes are warmed by towering, crotchety volcanoes and feed raging rivers—offering a plethora of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. An almost overwhelming array of options really. And after what seems like months of getting “settled” we’re faced with the not-so-little task of choosing the best of the best, and then linking them together. We set up meeting after meeting, we scour the internet, leaf through the guidebooks. The brochures pile up along with our nerves.
Here we are: Chile, South America
Chile, South America!

The Best Machu Picchu Hotels: Where to Stay in Aguas Calientes, Peru
Are you wondering where to stay at Machu Picchu or which places are the best Machu Picchu hotels? Staying in Aguas Calientes, the town in the shadow of Machu Picchu, lets you maximize your visit at what is undoubtedly one of the most majestic and inspiring sites in the world. Knowmad Trip Specialist Renee compares the best Machu Picchu hotels for different budgets and travel styles below.
Shoulder Season or High Season: When is the Best Time of Year for Your Trip to Patagonia?

Covering the southern-most areas of both Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is an incredible, out-of-this-world experience whenever you’re able to visit, and a region where you’ll be privy to some truly special features unique to each season. Patagonian springtime brings about the beautiful wildflower blooms and milder winds; their summers are full of warmer weather and longer days to spend out on the trails; and the fall brings with it striking color transformations and a quiet from fewer travelers. With each season having its own distinct benefits, your trip to Patagonia can be personalized to either shoulder season or high season to make it your own custom-crafted South American adventure.
A Personal Take on Galapagos Animals, Unique Experiences + More

Before experiencing the Galapagos Islands for myself, I was a bit of a skeptic. Wildlife and nature shows rave about the place and play spectacular footage of the archipelago all the time, but photographers have so many tricks, and I’ve been to plenty of places that didn’t live up to the hype. However, my week-long cruise in the Galapagos turned me into a true believer – not only did it live up to the hype, it became one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to and goes down as an unforgettable adventure.