By booking this Patagonia Photo Tour you contribute to environmental conservation in Patagonia through the association Amigos Parque Nacional Los Glaciares ZN
Genre
Landscape, Wildlife
Dates
2 to 8 November 2023 (Camp Trek) - 10 to 15 November 2023 (Light Trek)
Price
Difficulty
Easy (Light Trek) / Moderate (Camp Trek)
Group
Min 6 - Max 9
The Best of Patagonia in Springtime
Patagonia is a dreamy destination for every Landscape Photographer. In spring the forest shines with the intense green of Lengas and Ñires (native trees of the Andes), and the vivid color of the countless species of flowers that bloom after the winter.
With the guidance of the Photo Tour Leader, you will be able to discover and photograph incredible places in Los Glaciares National Park during the best light hours of the day, obtaining breathtaking images. It will be a great opportunity to improve your technique, from shooting to post-production and live an unforgettable travel experience.
We offer 2 versions of our exclusive Spring in Patagonia Photo Tour:
The Light Trek – This version includes light and easy treks with no camping nights, ideal for people with less mobility or the possibility of facing considerable physical effort. We will stay around the town of El Chaltén (nearby viewpoints, Laguna Capri, Lago del Desierto, Bosque Quemado) with many opportunities to get great photos.
The Camp Trek – This version connects the iconic glacial lakes at the foot of Fitz Roy / Chaltén and Cerro Torre. It includes moderate treks requiring more physical effort and 2 nights of camping. The particular condition of spring temperature and the accumulation of crystalline water generates icy mirrors in the lagoons where the mountains are reflected. An ideal scenario for our sunrise photography session and the best gift after a long trek.
During this season, the frost on the flowers transform the landscape into an enchanted garden, which gives us the opportunity to get extraordinary images.
Take a look at the itineraries of the journey and find out more details about our Patagonia Photo Tour.
Join us on this Unique Adventure!
ITINERARY
LIGHT TREK - 10 to 15 November 2023
To book flights, please consult schedules! We suggest flights arriving in Calafate before 3 pm and returning after 9 pm.
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 you at the designed hotel in Chaltén around 2 PM.
After lodging, the Lead Photographer will give an introductory talk about the Spring in Patagonia Photo Tour, together with the Amigos del Parque Nacional Los Glaciares Zona Norte Association.
We will take advantage of this first day to make a short trek (2 km / 100mts slope) to the “Paredón Viewpoint” and enjoy panoramic views of the town and the mountains at sunset.
Night in El Chaltén.
We will wake up early to hike to the Chaltén Camp trail (3km), and get amazing photos of sunrise and the first lights of the day over the Fitz Roy Mount, the town of Chaltén and the “Las Vueltas” river.
Breakfast.
Hike to the “Chorrillo del Salto” waterfall. We will practice there long exposure showing the flowing of the water with the surrounding forest as a background.
In the late afternoon: transfer from the hotel to the Cañadón Río de las Vueltas (9km on route 41) for sunset photos with the incredible backdrop of the Cordillera and the imposing Fitz Roy and Torre mountains.
Night in Chaltén.
Early morning trekking (4,5 km / 200mts slope) to Laguna Capri. Sunrise photos of the Fitz Roy and reflections on the lake.
Option to hike 2km without slope to take pictures of Fitz Roy from the shores / hidden waterfalls of the Chorrillo River.
Return to El Chaltén.
In the late afternoon: short trek from the hotel to the “Mirador de los Condores” viewpoint.
Sunset/night photos of the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre mountain range and the illuminated town of El Chaltén.
Night in Chaltén.
Early morning transfer from the hotel to the Fitz Roy viewpoint on the road at the entrance of the town to get sunrise photos.
Breakfast.
Transfer to Lago del Desierto (37km north of Chaltén on route 23). Short trekking along the lake shore, photos of the lake and the surrounding forest.
In the late afternoon: sunset photos on the north wall of Fitz Roy from the bridge of the “Río Eléctrico” river.
Night in El Chaltén.
Early in the morning trekking (4,5 km / 200mts of elevation gain) from El Chaltén to the Cerro Torre viewpoint for photos of the sunrise and first light.
Before returning to Chaltén, we continue along the trail to Laguna Torre for approx. 2km more to get pictures of the “Bosque Quemado” and some small lakes.
Night in Chaltén.
Sunrise photos of Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy from the Mirador de los Cóndores viewpoint.
After breakfast, we will review together the work done and we will say goodbye until the next adventure!
CAMP TREK - 2 to 8 November 2023
To book flights, please consult schedules! We suggest flights arriving in Calafate before 3 pm and returning after 9 pm.
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 you at the designed hotel in Chaltén around 2 PM.
After lodging, the Lead Photographer will give an introductory talk about the Spring in Patagonia Photo Tour, together with the Amigos del Parque Nacional Los Glaciares Zona Norte Association.
We will take advantage of this first day to make a short trek (2 km) to the “Paredón Viewpoint” and enjoy panoramic views of the town and the mountains at sunset.
Night in El Chaltén.
Transfer from Chaltén to a nearby viewpoint to photograph the sunrise over this beautiful corner of the Andes.
Breakfast. Transfer to the Hosteria El Pilar and trekking to the Poincenot camp (12km).
After settling in, we will have the possibility to take sunset photographs from the Chorrillo river and/or the beginning of the Madre & Hija trail. As a backdrop for our images, the majestic Mount Fitz Roy.
Camping night in Poincenot (Fitz Roy Base Camp).
We will leave Poincenot before sunrise towards Laguna de Los Tres (2 km trek with 400 meters altitude difference) to appreciate and photograph the awakening of the day from a unique location.
Then we will return to El Chaltén (10 km trek), taking the opportunity to photograph from the trail and banks / waterfalls of the Chorrillo River.
Night in Chaltén.
Relaxing morning for free activities in El Chaltén.
Breakfast.
Around 11 AM: Photo viewing and lecture on post-production in Lightroom.
Transfer from the hotel to the Mirador Fitz Roy and the Cañadón Río de las Vueltas to enjoy a beautiful sunset with a great view.
Night in Chaltén.
Breakfast.
Around 11 am, we will leave for Laguna Torre (11km trek), along a beautiful road that crosses a forest of lenga’s trees.
We will practice sunset and night photography from the Fitz Roy River or Laguna Torre.
Camping night at Thorwood Camp (Laguna Torre Base Camp).
We will enjoy the sunrise from Laguna Torre and the Maestri viewpoint.
We will then return by the same trail (11 km trek) as the previous day, with more possibilities to photograph the Cerro Torre from other points of view.
Night in Chaltén.
After breakfast, we will review together the work done and we will say goodbye until the next adventure!
What's included?
- Professional Photographer (LT/CT)
- Certified Mountain Guide (LT/CT)
- Small Group Size (LT/CT)
- Analysis of the Work Done (LT/CT)
- Accommodation for 6 Nights (CT)
- Accommodation for 5 Nights (LT)
- All Excursions and Photography Activities (LT/CT)
- All Breakfasts (LT/CT)
- 5 lunches + 2 dinners (CT)
- 3 lunches + 5 dinners (LT)
- Transfer Full-Day Lago del Desierto (LT)
- Tent, Insulation, Kitchenware (CT)
- Regular Bus Calafate - Chaltén (LT/CT)
What's not!
- Transport from your origin point to Calafate (LT/CT)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary (LT/CT)
- Sleeping Bag (CT)
- Travel & Medical Insurance (LT/CT)
- Personal Expenses (LT/CT)
- Tips (LT/CT)
LT = Light Trek / CT = Camp Trek
CUIT 33-71517729-9 | Legacy 16666
For the logistical organization of this Spring in Patagonia Photo Tour we rely on Volando Viajes, a certified agency with great experience in the field.
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.
The workshop is mainly aimed at landscape photography. It is therefore essential to bring a good wide angle lens, generally between 10 and 35 mm. Beware that with very short focal lengths you will generate more distortion.
For wildlife photography we suggest a super-tele lens, generally from 100 to 800mm.
Since the prime lenses are very expensive and generally heavy, most photographers who are not only dedicated to this type of photography opt for zoom lenses, that allow to cover different focal lengths, saving space in the backpack and in the wallet.
More specifically, depending on the brand you use, different zoom lenses are available. Here are some possibilities: a 24-70 mm or 24-105 mm will cover the most common focal distances (from landscape to portrait), a wide angle 16-35 mm will be useful especially for landscapes or architecture and a 100-400 mm or 170-500 mm are good for details of mountains and fauna.
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 it is a trip that involves some trekking we will have to take into account also 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.
We always recommend a UV protective filter for each lens and a Polarizer, to saturate colors, increase contrast and especially reduce reflections.
Most important for this kind of workshop are the ND (Neutral Density) and GND (Graduated Neutral Density) filters, which allow you to remove luminosity stops from the lens and use longer exposure times, for example to create the famous “silk effect” in the water and compensate for different exposure lengths within the frame.
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 with you, as they tend to discharge faster with low mountain temperatures.
If you are 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.
PATAGONIA PHOTO TOUR FAQ
The landscape around El Calafate and El Chalten consists of forests, mountains, and rivers, where different species of animals live.
Among them: the Andean Condor (Vultur Gryphus), the Guanaco (Lama Guanicoe), the South Andean Deer (Hippocamelus Bisculus), the Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus Chilensis), the Cougar (Puma Concolor), the Aguila Mora (Black Chested Eagle), the Cachaña (Austral Parakeet), the Woodpecker (Magellanic Woodpecker), the Rhea (Rhea pennata), Caburé Grande (Austral Pygmy Owl), the Torrent Duck (Merganetta Armata), the Cauquén (Upland Goose), the Black Neck Swan (Cygnus Melanocoryphus), the Loica (Long-Tailed Meadowlark), the Patagonian Piche (Pichi), the Patagonian Skunk (Conepatus Humboldtii), the Carpintero Pitío (Chilean Flicker).etc..
November is among the best months to visit this area. According to historical averages, the temperatures are as follows:
El Calafate – Minimum Temperature 6 °C / 43 °F , Maximum Temperature 16 ° C / 61 °F.
El Chaltén – Minimum Temperature 0 °C / 32 °F , Maximum Temperature 6° C / 43 °F.
Our planned hikes on the trails of Los Glaciares NP are of medium difficulty and require only a few hours of hiking and moderate physical condition.
Always leaving the beautiful town of El Chaltén we head into the forest towards the mountains on clear and well marked trails that regularly gain altitude allowing us to have incredible views of the Río de las Vueltas Valley.
With a moderate effort but with the wonderful reward of seeing these magnificent mountains we will arrive after a few hours of hiking to Laguna Torre and Laguna de Los Tres.
The experience of camping in the forest at the foot of these magnificent mountains is a truly unique experience. You will only have to worry about focusing your camera to capture the untamed beauty of spring in Patagonia, we will take care of the rest.
Yes!
During the days of hiking to Laguna de Los 3 and Laguna Cerro Torre, we will be accompanied by a Certified Mountain Guide.
Here is a list of recommended clothing for the Patagonia Workshop:
- Waterproof Hiking Boots
- Comfortable Trainers
- Thermal Clothes (T-shirt and underpants)
- Lightweight and breathable long-sleeved shirt and T-shirt for UV protection
- Sunglasses for UV Protection
- Sleeping Bag (it is possible to rent it in Chaltén)
- Headlamp
- Hat, gloves and neck cover
- Windproof and rainproof jacket and trousersit is possible to rent it in Chaltén)
- Hiking stick (it is possible to rent it in Chaltén)
The round trip between your city of origin and Calafate is not included in the price.
We include in the price a regular bus (way and back) between Calafate and Chaltén.
