Arita cone at sunset
Puna Photo Tour

3 PUNA PHOTO TOUR ADVENTURE

IMPORTANT

People over 60 years of age need to present a medical certificate.

Due to the altitude in the Atacama Puna (in Argentina the average elevation is 3800 MSL) there is a lower diffusion of oxygen. For this reason the age limit to participate is 65 years old.

By booking this Puna Photo Tour you are helping the Puna Argentina Foundation. An NGO dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment and wildlife of the Puna.

Genre

Landscape, Wildlife

Best travel period

October to December / March to May

Difficulty

Moderate (No trekkings, high altitude)

Group

Min 1 - Max 6

A Journey to another Planet: the Argentine Puna

To start a journey to the Argentine Puna of Atacama is to embark on a voyage to other planets. As you move forward, along the way, the sensation is of entering another dimension. Land of salt flats and volcanoes in the Argentine Andes. A foreign, remote territory, where the Kollas, condors, llamas and vicuñas are the true owners.

A Dream Journey for the Landscape Photographer. As the days and kilometers go by, photographic opportunities increase: the colors of the land, the waters, the texture, the skies and the light are constantly changing. Slowly, we completely disconnect from our daily routine and reconnect with nature, accompanied by the sound of the wind.

We will explore during 7 days the 3 punas of Salta, Catamarca and Jujuy in an exclusive Puna Photo Tour Adventure. From the Pumice stone field, to the Arita Cone and the Cusi Cusi’s Moon Valley, just some of the amazing places we will visit during this expedition.

Cusi Cusi, Jujuy

Salinas Grandes, Salta & Jujuy

Tolar Grande, Salta

Pomice Field, Catamarca

ITINERARY

To book flights, please consult schedules! We suggest flights arriving in Salta before 1 pm and returning after 10 am.

For flights out of this time range, we cannot be responsible for missed services. The suggested schedule is indicative, it is always preferable to check the schedule with us before booking flights.

We will meet with the group in the afternoon in front of our hotel. The Tour Leader will give an introductory speech to the Puna Photo Tour. Altitude: 1200 m / 3937 ft. * Transfer to and from the airport to the hotel is not included.

We will leave Salta early in the morning and cross the famous “Quebrada de las Conchas” in Cafayate, a canyon full of colors and textures. We will ascend slowly to acclimatize to the altitude. Around sunset we will arrive at the oasis town of Antofagasta de la Sierra, passing through El Peñón and the black volcanoes. Altitude: from 1200 m / 3937 ft (Salta) to 3500 m / 11482 ft (Antofagasta de la Sierra).

Early in the morning we will take pictures of the volcanoes close to the village. At noon we will return for lunch and rest. In the afternoon we will leave for the pumice field, where we will wait for the sunset in one of the most beautiful places of Argentina. Altitude: 3400 m / 11155 ft.

We will head north, through the “Quebrada de Calalaste”, where a large number of vicuñas live. After arriving at the town of Antofalla, we will have a picnic at “Laguna Verde” to photograph this incredible salt lake on the edge of the Antofalla salt flat. In the afternoon we will follow the road to reach the Arita Cone at sunset. We will finish the day traveling the last 60 kilometers to reach Tolar Grande. Altitude: 3500 m / 11482 ft.

Photography in the “Ojos del Mar” at sunrise. Then we will head north, to the Puna of Jujuy. We will pass through the “Salar de Pocitos” until reaching the “Salinas Grandes”. We will sleep in a village very close to the salt flats. We will photograph the salt flats with their characteristic long pools accompanied by local guides, waiting for the light of the sunset. Altitude: 3400 m / 11155 ft.

Following our northern path, we will visit a region full of textures and colors, the Cusi Cusi’s Moon Valley in Jujuy, one of the most incredible hidden places of the Argentine Puna. The red and white sandstone that dominates the landscape literally makes you feel like you are on another planet! Altitude: 3800 m / 12467 ft.

On the morning of the seventh day we will start our return trip, heading south. Passing Abra Pampa, we will enter the “Quebrada de Humahuaca”, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A mystical place, land of ancestral indigenous peoples, full of colors, customs and traditions. We will arrive near sunset to the city of Salta. Altitude: from 3800 m / 12467 ft (Cusi Cusi) to 1200 m / 3937 ft (Salta).

After breakfast we will say goodbye until the next adventure!

What's included?

What's not!

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

Please note that these are only suggestions given by our experience. It is not necessary to have all the equipment reported, everyone prepares for the journey according to their needs.

For example, some people may only want to take pictures with a smartphone while others will want to take a drone with them. But it is our duty to guide you to a better choice.

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 Landscape Photography, we suggest a wide focal lenght: ideally around 15 – 50 mm. You can also get a good landscape with a longer focal length by using a stable tripod.

For night photos (Astrophotography) the shorter the focal length, the better. This makes it possible to include more elements in the frame.

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 to neutralize water reflections in the lagoons.

For those who love Landscape Photography, ND filters with 6 or 8 steps will be also very useful to play with the movement of water and clouds.

It is recommended to carry UV or Skylight filters, useful to protect the lenses from Ultraviolet rays (even more important in these altitudes), 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.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The most characteristic fauna includes vicuñas, guanacos, and llamas.

Most common species of birds are the Suri (Small Rhea), the Andean condor, and the flamingo.

There is also a great diversity of lizards.

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 Salta is not included in the price.

However, we can coordinate it with the Tour Operator.

In general, you can travel from March to December.

The best months are March to May and October to December.

During June, July and August the weather is very cold. While August and September are usually very windy months.

BOOKINGS, CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS

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:

100% Deposit Refund

Applies for cancellations made more than 90 days before the workshop start date.

50% Deposit Refund

Applies for cancellations made 60 – 90 days before the workshop start date.

No Refund

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.

Do you travel alone or with your private group?

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