OCEAN GIANTS
Wildlife Photography Workshop
NEXT GROUP DATE:
7 to 10 August 2025
The Extraordinary Marine Life of the Argentine Coast
The Chubut area is one of the most outstanding destinations of the Patagonian coast. Long cliffs, and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, home to an abundance of marine life: whales, dolphins, sea lions, elephant seals, and much more.
Accompanied by a Professional Wildlife Photographer and Biologist, you will be able to know the behaviors of the Patagonian fauna and discover hidden places in the area, while realizing breathtaking images.
In search of the great whales, but not only: you’ll have opportunities to photograph many other animals. You’ll find yourself in the right places during the Best Daylight Moments.
An extraordinary Wildlife Photography Workshop in one of Argentina’s most beautiful places: the Valdes Peninsula. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
ITINERARIES
To book flights, please contact us before, we will help you coordinate schedules and transportation to get there. The nearest city is Puerto Madryn.
Transportation to Puerto Madryn is not included in the trip, and we will not be responsible for any delays or disruptions that are beyond our control. In any case, we will do what we can, given the circumstances, to help you.
AUGUST
Once arrived in Puerto Madryn we will meet with the group in the hotel (the transfer to and from the airport to the hotel is not included).
After settling in, the Lead Photographer will give an introductory speech to the workshop.
In the afternoon, we will spot sea lions at Punta Loma and enjoy a beautiful sunset view from Cerro Avanzado.
Night in Puerto Madryn.
We will dedicate the whole day to discover and photograph the extraordinary fauna and landscape of the peninsula.
Visiting the protected area of San Pablo de Valdés, Caleta Valdés and Puerto Pirámides. Whale watching at sunset.
The last outing of the day with the sun coloring the cliffs will amaze you!
Night in Puerto Madryn.
Early in the morning we will leave for Punta Ninfas, where we will be able to see elephant seals, whales, birds and other terrestrial fauna.
Around 11 am we will go to Doradillo Beach, with a brief stop for lunch.
We will arrive at Doradillo at high tide, which will allow us to photograph whales from the shore.
Night in Puerto Madryn.
After breakfast we will say goodbye until the next adventure!
OCTOBER
Once arrived in Puerto Madryn we will meet with the group in the hotel (the transfer to and from the airport to the hotel is not included).
After settling in, the Lead Photographer will give an introductory speech to the workshop.
In the afternoon, we will spot sea lions at Punta Loma and enjoy a beautiful sunset view from Cerro Avanzado.
Option 2: Whale Watching from the Doradillo Beach (if conditions allows).
Night in Puerto Madryn.
We will dedicate the whole day to discover and photograph the extraordinary fauna and landscape of the peninsula.
Morning visit to the Puerto Pirámides Sea Lion’s Colony, with lunch at the Caleta Valdés.
Whale Watching in a shared boat in the afternoon.
Night in Puerto Madryn.
During the third day of the workshop we will explore Punta Tombo and the beach of Isla Escondida.
The Punta Tombo Protected Area is known worldwide for having the largest continental colony of Magellanic Penguins, with almost half a million individuals. These birds choose this site to nest and raise their babies and then return to the sea until next year.
On the beach of Isla Escondida we will have the opportunity to see and photograph Elephant Seals, which form reproductive groups in the area. In October we may even see some very small pups.
We will also have the opportunity to see terrestrial fauna, such as Maras, Guanacos, Foxes, Choiques and several species of seabirds.
Night in Puerto Madryn.
After breakfast we will say goodbye until the next adventure!
IMPORTANT
The itinerary published on this page and on our PDFs/brochures is indicative. The guide reserves the right to make changes without prior notice, which may depend on various factors/events such as weather, geography, protests, medical emergencies, etc.
Changes are aimed at ensuring the safety of travelers and the success of the trip, always trying to maintain the proposed activities.
The wildlife that can be spotted during the trip depends on when you visit, which is why we offer an itinerary in August and one in October.
What's included?
- Professional Photographer and Biologist
- Small Group Size
- Analysis of the Work Done
- Accommodation for 3 Nights
- All Excursions and Photography Activities
- All Breakfasts
- 1 Lunch + 1 Meal
What's not!
- Transport from your origin point to Puerto Madryn
- Transfer to and from the airport to the hotel
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Travel & Medical Insurance (optional, but recommended)
- Personal Expenses
- Tips
Bookings
To book a workshop we ask for a 30% deposit of the total.
Workshop balance due 45 days prior to start date.
Cancellations & Refunds
If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply to this workshop:
Applies for cancellations made more than 90 days before the workshop start date.
Applies for cancellations made 60 – 90 days before the workshop start date.
Applies for cancellations made less than 60 days before the workshop start date.
In case you have already paid the total amount and need to cancel less than 60 days in advance of the start date, the following policies apply:
• If we find another person to take your place you will be refunded the total minus the deposit
• If we do not find a person to take your place there will be no refund
In case the workshop is cancelled by Argentina Photo Workshops due to reasons of force majeure:
• There will be a complete refund of the amount deposited.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
Check out our guide on “How to Prepare for a Photography Workshop”, as well as information on equipment and FAQs below.
Near the date of the workshop, we will be in touch through a WhatsApp group, an ideal space to answer all kinds of questions before the trip and organize every detail. If necessary (upon request) we will also arrange a group video call via Google Meet for this purpose.
Although you can participate with any type of photographic device, we recommend a reflex or mirrorless camera, which allow much more freedom and creativity.
Considering the wide variety of photographic situations this workshop presents, it is advisable to have available focal lengths ranging from wide-angle (shorter distances) to telephoto (longer distances).
For those who like to photograph landscapes, a 17-40mm zoom lens or similar might work well.
For boat trips, a 70-200 mm, 100-400 mm zoom or similar would be ideal.
For terrestrial wildlife, a 300mm or longer telephoto lens is the best choice.
Consider also buying a tele converter to increase the focal length of the lens: 1.4x or 2x. Even if with loss of luminosity.
Finally, choosing the right set of lenses is not easy. If you encounter difficulties and need some suggestions do not hesitate to contact us.
The most important feature of a tripod is its stability. Since every journey includes some trekking, we must also take into account the weight.
We suggest a good carbon tripod that maintains a good balance between weight and stability, that can easily change from one height to another and that locks in little space.
Aluminum is also fine, as carbon is generally much more expensive. We know that choosing a tripod is not easy and we are available to help you choose the right model for you.
A Polarizing filter will be very useful on boat trips to neutralize water reflections.
For those who love Landscape Photography, ND filters with 6 or 8 steps will be also very useful.
It is recommended to carry UV or Skylight filters, useful to protect the lenses from dust and splashes.
Finding the right photo backpack can be a difficult challenge. We recommend you to rely on a brand with quality and experience in the market.
The type of backpack clearly depends on your equipment. But what really matters is that you feel comfortable with it and possibly fitted with a rain cover.
You can’t miss in your backpack: a cleaning kit for the lenses, a remote control to shoot without touching the camera, hood for the lenses (to avoid flare) and a robust / comfortable camera strap.
It is also important to take spare batteries and memory cards with you. In this workshop, we won’t have a chance to recharge our batteries every day.
For those interested in POST-PRODUCTION we suggest bringing your laptop with some editing software already installed. The Lead Photographer, at the end of the day, will answer your questions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Of course, accompanying non-photographers are welcome. The price is the same.
Usually in a Photo Tour the Leading Photographers accompany to locations only, while in a Workshop you are also expected to receive technical notions to improve your photography. Both options, often confusing, are good. It depends on what one is looking for. Our activities are developed in both modes, depending on the trip.
Observable species depend on the period of travel (read the next question for more information).
The Valdés Peninsula is a unique conservation area, home to an abundant marine life, terrestrial mammals, and birds.
Among them: the Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis), the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca), the Dusky Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus), the Commerson’s Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii), the Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina), the South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens), the Guanaco (Lama guanicoe), the Patagonian Mara (Dolichotis Patagonum), the South American Gray Fox (Lycalopex griseus), the Big Hairy Armadillo (Cheatophractus villosus), the Darwin’s Rhea (Rhea Pennata), the Rock Shag (Phalacrocorax magellanicus), the Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps), the Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus), the Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), etc.
In August the weather is usually colder than in October, although, in general, less windy.
In winter the activity and visibility of wildlife is lower than in spring and summer.
Some species are not present at all or their sightings are very occasional. This is the case of Magellanic Penguins and Elephant Seals, for example.
The greatest advantage of opting for the winter date is that generally there are more whales and calves are born mostly between July and August, so it is the best time for sightings from the coast since the females with their calves remain very close to the beach.
It is also possible to visit other places on the Peninsula or near Puerto Madryn, which will not be visited during the spring trip.
In October the activity of many species increases and Penguins and Elephant Seals arrive to our coasts to reproduce.
The density of whales continues to be good, especially in whale watching from a boat.
We recommend wearing heavy clothing and a waterproof or windbreaker jacket.
Hat, neck cover, gloves and sunglasses.
Sturdy, comfortable footwear (hiking type) for walking.
Comfortable and robust backpack to carry your gear and protect it from dust, water and bumps.
Sunscreen.
The round trip between your city of origin and Puerto Madryn is not included in the price.
However, we can coordinate it.
No, the transfer to and from the airport to the hotel is not included.
However, we can coordinate it.
These activities require a lot of organization and are prepared well in advance. Weather is a factor we can’t predict, so the workshop/photo tour is not cancelled.
In any case, we will always be attentive to weather conditions to optimize the program and try to provide the best light conditions for photography.
Get more information about the Photo Tour, such as the cost of the next group workshop or a quote for a private adventure, just for you / your group.
GET MORE INFO
Join this Adventure!
RELATED ARTICLES
Mar Chiquita Lake: an oasis for flamingos in Argentina
The Mar Chiquita Lake is one of the largest saline wetlands...
Read More
Interview with Darío Podestá, Nature Photographer
In this interview we will get to know a member...
Read More