Jordan Harvey Wins Travel + Leisure Best Chile + Argentina Travel Advisor for the 4th Year in a Row!

Best Travel Advisor Chile and Argentina

Every year Travel + Leisure magazine assembles their Travel Advisory Board / A-List, a select group of travel company owners and operators “of the country’s most important agencies.” We are proud to share that Knowmad founder Jordan Harvey has been recognized by Travel + Leisure as the best Chile and Argentina travel advisor for the fourth year in a row!

Below, Jordan chats with us about some of South America’s new hotels, a few new excursions he’s excited about at Knowmad, and why working with a travel advisor can help you get the most authentic experience abroad.

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Parting Shots: Things To Do in Peru – Biking, Hiking, Paragliding, Whitewater Rafting + More

Things to do in Peru, Trip to Peru

Though many travelers are only aware of the Inca Trail, there is a multitude of things to do in Peru to take advantage of the natural beauty and history of the country. Working along with their Trip Specialist, the Gagners crafted an active traveler’s dream trip to Peru which, in addition to the full Inca Trail hike, included biking, whitewater rafting, and even paragliding over the city of Lima.

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The Best Way to See the Galapagos Islands: Cruise or Land-Based?

Best Way to See the Galapagos - Knowmad Adventures

A couples of the most common and important questions when planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands are“What is the best way to see the Galapagos Islands and should I do an expedition-style cruise or a land-based Galapagos trip?”  The answer really depends on your own personal travel style and what you most want to experience during your trip to the Galapagos. Knowmad Adventures Galapagos Trip Specialists are experts on all the possibilities, advantages, and disadvantages that come with each option. Take a look at the guide we’ve created below to help you easily decide which option is the best way for you to see the Galapagos Islands!

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Parting Shots: A Trip to Ecuador + The Galapagos Islands

Cotacachi Cayapas Crater Lake

On this one-of-a-kind, personalized trip to South America, the Schaffers experienced four dynamic regions of Ecuador including Quito, the Cloud Forest, Otavalo and the Galapagos Islands. Read on to discover the magic of Ecuador through their lens. View photos and read a day-by-day breakdown of their trip itinerary below.

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Starting a Company: The Challenges + Triumphs of Starting a Travel Company

Starting a Company Travel

Big news on the Knowmad Adventures front: we’re closing on a new office this week! Remembering our baby beginnings, with Jordan and I sitting across from each other at the same table in a 400-square-foot former chicken coop, it seemed unimaginable that Knowmad would ever need a whole building to house its team. Yet the time has come and we’ll be moving to our new South Minneapolis location on 36th & Bryant (directly across from a Bogart’s Donuts – dangerous!) come September. More to come on that later…

What’s actually been pestering me all month, as I gather bank statements, tax statements, read over the inspection addendum, the closing disclosure, sign this, scan that, etc., is that something that should be so exciting gets so bogged down by plain old paperwork. Although it’s hard to escape one’s nemesis, I have to laugh at myself and my insignificant groveling when I think of the trámite we went through in purchasing a car in Chile.

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How To Make The Most Out of Your Trip To Torres Del Paine, Patagonia: Including The Best Excursions For You

Torres del Paine Knowmad Adventures

A common question I hear from people planning a trip to Torres del Paine and a stay at one of the handful of excellent adventure lodges in this massive national park is, “what are the best excursions and hikes to do in Torres del Paine?” Of course the response to what would seem a straightforward question varies greatly on who you are and your preferences (Do you really like to hike? How long of a hike is too long? Do you also like to horseback ride? etc). But with that being said, there are some general suggestions that can help you make the most of your five or so days in Torres del Paine.

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4 Unique Experiences + What to Pack For A Trip to Ecuador

Knowmad Adventures Travel South America

On a recent Knowmad Adventures research trip in Ecuador Tara and Renee wandered the ancient cobblestone streets of Quito, chased butterflies in the cloud forest, cantered through the pastoral grounds of a former president’s hacienda in the Andes, and danced with blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos Islands. Their adventures included stays at the regal Casa Gangotena in Quito, the modern and experiential Mashpi Lodge in the cloud forest, the historic Hacienda Zuleta in the Andes, and the tented, yet appropriately luxurious, Galapagos Safari Camp. It was definitely a challenge to know what to pack for a trip that incorporated such varied climates! Read on for stories they share from their adventures and, because we know you’re curious, what they wore…

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Picture Perfect: The Photojojo Phone Lens for Travel

Knowmad Adventures + Photo Jojo Iris Lense

A photo can take an ordinary moment and make it an extraordinary piece of your personal story. It’s not that undocumented memories are any less important, but life has a way of moving from one event to another without pausing to stop, therefore just the action of standing still and taking a photo reminds us to appreciate our experiences no matter how simple they may be.

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Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists + Knowmad Adventures

Knowmad Adventures Top Travel Specialists

What is the Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist award, and what does it mean to earn a spot on this prestigious list? Join us as we extend a hearty congratulations to two of our Trip Specialists, Jordan Harvey and Renee Davies, for each earning this extraordinary award – their knowledge of South America travel is absolutely unmatched!

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Welcome Home

Knowmad Adventures South America Travel

This has been and will continue to be a challenging time for us all – one that calls for unity, understanding, love, and hope.

As the world was reeling in response to the escalating coronavirus, with little to no warning, border after border of several South American countries began closing. The Knowmad team worked around the clock to get our travelers home safely.

We appreciate and thank you all for your caring support and positivity, and we send our heartfelt empathy to every person and industry affected. It is our privilege and honor to be a part of and serve this travel community.

Read the inspiring messages from Knowmad travelers who were in South America as the coronavirus accelerated.

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