Join us on an unforgettable journey through the rugged coasts, mystical forests, and soaring mountains of Northern Spain. This 9-day adventure is crafted for landscape and travel photographers who dream of capturing dramatic seascapes, hidden waterfalls, and breathtaking alpine vistas — all while immersing themselves in the rich culture and flavors of the Spanish north.
From the ancient Basque Country forests to the towering peaks of Picos de Europa and the wild shores of Asturias, every day promises a new photographic adventure.
(Double occupancy) Private rooms available for a fee
Our tour will focus on some of the most photogenic areas in Spain. The North of Spain is filled with breathtaking locations, covering a rugged coastline, mystical forests and jagged mountains. Every corner reveals breathtaking locations that will fuel your creative spirit. Capture emblematic coastlines such as the Costa Quebrada, magical forests like Otxarreta, jagged peaks in Picos de Europa, as well as beautiful coastal towns like Cudillero.
We will spend nine breathtaking days exploring this landscape photography gem, unknown to many, where, with the help of our local photo tour leaders, you’ll capture incredible images to bring back home with you.
We will personally help you capture the best possible images during our Northern Spain photography workshop and show you the best techniques to shoot any type of subject in different light conditions: sunrise, sunset, midday, twilight, etc.
Our Northern Spain Photo Tour itinerary is tentative and flexible, as it will be adjusted according to the weather conditions. We know Northern Spain and its changing weather like no one else, both of our tour leaders are locals, and they will always make sure you’re at the best location at the right time to capture the best possible images.
Our adventure begins in the vibrant city of Bilbao, where you’ll check into our hotel and meet the group. After a brief orientation and tour briefing, we’ll head out for our first shoot.
Weather permitting, we’ll photograph the enchanting moss-covered trees of Otxarreta Forest under the soft, golden light of sunset. If conditions favor the coast, we’ll switch to Barrika Beach, known for its dramatic rock formations and tidal patterns. Either of these locations will give us a first taste of our Northern Spain photo adventure. After our session, we’ll return to the hotel to rest and prepare for an early start.
We’ll set off early to photograph sunrise at the spectacular San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a small islet connected to the mainland by a winding stone bridge. You might recognize this location from Game of Thrones, but it’s so much more than that, and there is a lot of history connected to this spot. The morning light here paints the rugged coastline in magical colors.
After breakfast back at the hotel, we’ll check out and make our way west toward Santander, our base for the next three nights. On the way there we might stop at a couple scenic locations to enjoy the view and take photographs.
In the evening, we’ll chase the sunset at the Costa Quebrada coastline in Liencres, where dramatic cliffs meet endless beaches. The interplay of sea, sand, and wind-sculpted rocks makes for compelling compositions. Here we’ll photograph the “urros”; different sea stacks with impressive shapes that populate this part of the Cantabrian coastline.
At sunrise, we’ll photograph the jagged beauty of Arnía Beach, where rock spines rise from the ocean like prehistoric creatures. These same rocks tell the story of our planet, as each layer of sediment and rock was formed in a different era.
Afterward, we’ll venture inland to discover the hidden Ajan Waterfalls, a lush oasis tucked inside a quiet forest — a true change of scenery and a great opportunity to practice long exposure techniques.
As the day winds down, we’ll head to Mirador de Santa Catalina, a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Hermida valley, perfect for sunset shots of the limestone mountains stretching endlessly into the horizon.
We’ll greet the new day with a sunrise shoot at Camello Beach. The impressive sea stack at Camello Beach is a short drive from our hotel; you’ll not believe such an incredible scene is so close to the city. Here we’ll photograph the sea stack with different foregrounds and practice with long exposure techniques.
The late morning and afternoon offer flexibility: you can join optional editing sessions to improve your post-processing skills, or take a relaxing visit to Faro Cabo Mayor, a lighthouse perched dramatically above the Atlantic. This will depend on timing and weather conditions.
In the evening, we’ll return to Liencres for another sunset session, exploring different compositions and lighting compared to our first visit.
We’ll capture the gentle morning light over La Magdalena Peninsula, a peaceful spot where city and nature blend harmoniously.
After breakfast, we’ll depart Santander and head toward the majestic Picos de Europa National Park.
Upon arrival, we’ll check into our hotel and get together for an editing class. During this class we’ll do a deep dive into editing some of the images we’ve captured so far during the trip, showing you both basic and advanced techniques using Lightroom and Photoshop. After the editing session we’ll rest for the day as we’re getting ready for a long day ahead of us.
On the sixth day of our Northern Spain photo adventure, we’ll catch the first cable car for a morning photography session in the alpine wonderland of Peña Vieja, where we’ll photograph one of the most iconic vistas in Picos de Europa National Park. We’ll then descend and make our way to the lush region of Asturias.
On the way, we’ll stop at Mirador del Pozo de la Oración, one of the best viewpoints to admire the western face of Picos de Europa.
Depending on tide conditions, we’ll explore Cobijeru Cave, a magical sea cave hidden inland, and Puente Caballu, a picturesque natural arch.
We’ll end the day photographing sunset at the awe-inspiring Acantilados del Infierno («Cliffs of Hell») — a rugged stretch of coastline where the Cantabrian crashes violently against steep cliffs.
On the next morning, we’ll start by capturing sunrise at Castro de las Gaviotas, an elegant natural sea arch that stands proudly against the first light of day. It is an ideal location to practice techniques such as focus stacking thanks to the beautiful rock formations in the foreground.
After the morning shoot, we’ll gather too do another editing session where our trip leaders will show how to get the most out of your RAW files.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll chase the sunset at Campiechos Beach, a surreal landscape of jagged rocks and tidal pools perfect for low-angle compositions and creative photography.
For our final sunrise shoot, we’ll visit the stunning Gueirua Beach, often called one of Spain’s most beautiful coastal spots. Its sharp rock formations and intricate textures make it a paradise for landscape photographers. We’ll spend the morning here, capturing this stunning coastal spot, practicing different techniques learned during the trip.
We will then start making our way back to Bilbao. On the way back if timing allows, we’ll stop at different scenic spots such as the town of Cudillero, a charming fishing village famous for its colorful hillside houses and vibrant harbour scenes.
For our last dinner, we’ve organized a meal at a traditional Northern Spain finca, surrounded by an apple tree farm that the owners use to make local, artisanal cider. The finca has some of the best views in the area, giving us one last taste of the landscapes of Northern Spain.
After dinner, we’ll drive to our hotel in Bilbao to check in and rest for the night.
On the last morning of our Northern Spain photo tour, the journey comes to a close as there are no scheduled plans. You can book your flights at the most convenient time.
Deposit: $2,500 USD
A $2,500 USD deposit is required to reserve your spot for this workshop. You can also pay in full at any time. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start of the tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
This workshop is mainly focused on landscape photography, covering seascaped, forests, waterfalls, and mountains.
What you learn during the workshop will vary according to your goals and skills. Your instructors are professional photographers with extensive experience who will help you take your photography to the next level.
During the tour you’ll have the opportunity to learn:
Some of the photography basics you can learn during the workshop are:
Some of the advanced photography techniques you can learn during the workshop are:
Some of the post-processing techniques that you can learn with are:
Prince Berkoh will be the tour leader, and he’ll make sure that you capture the best possible images during this trip.
Prince is a landscape and night photographer based in the north of Spain, which means the locations we’ll be visiting during this trip are his photography backyard. He is an expert in this region, having developed most of his photography skills here. His passion for photography has taken him to some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, from Spain to the remote Faroe Islands, including the Dolomites, Iceland, Norway and more.
He loves educating and teaching others about photography. He is an experienced tour leader, having led numerous tours in Spain and other destinations and given presentations on night photography over the years. He also leads other photo tours in Europe and South America.
Prince will show you how to best capture the landscapes of Northern Spain, from the basics to advanced techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, and other landscape and night photography tips.
Unai Larraya will be the tour leader on this Northern Spain photo tour. He is a professional landscape photographer, based in the north of Spain, and will make sure you end up with the best possible images.
Unai is a real expert in this region. This is his home country and the landscapes he’s most familiar with. He’s very knowledgeable about the most photogenic locations, the weather patterns, and the best techniques to capture breathtaking landscape images.
Since Unai started his photography journey, he has won multiple awards in recognition of his outstanding photography and editing skills. He currently leads tours in Madeira, Finland, Iceland, and other locations with Capture the Atlas.
With Unai, you’ll learn about composition, shaping light, color theory, focus stacking, and more. He will also show you how to implement all these techniques into your workflow to take your photography to the next level!
Francesco Dall’Olmo will be the coleader of this Northern Spain photo adventure.
He is based in Northern Italy and has developed all his landscape photography in his beautiful backyard: The Italian Dolomites. Apart from shooting extensively there, Francesco has traveled and photographed all over Europe in Norway, the Faroe Islands, Spain, and in South America across Patagonia, Atacama, etc.
Francesco is experienced leading tours all around the world and will make sure you return from this trip with breathtaking images.
Besides being an excellent photographer, Francesco is an expert in time-lapses and he has produced many films.
He will help you capture unique landscape images and timelapses on this trip.
Nacho Fernandez will be your photography co-leader and instructor, ensuring you achieve the best results from your landscape sessions. He will guide you through composition, technique, and post-processing, helping you refine your skills in capturing breathtaking landscape images.
A dedicated astrophotographer, Nacho has spent years mastering advanced editing techniques. As a passionate educator, he leads international photography tours with Capture the Atlas and offers personalized 1-on-1 editing coaching to help photographers elevate their post-processing skills.
Beyond photography, Nacho is committed to creating a welcoming and supportive learning environment. His experience leading teams and working with people ensures an engaging atmosphere where photographers can experiment, grow, and push their creative boundaries.
We will send you a complete list of everything that we recommend for this tour upon sign-up. Below, you can find a summary of things you might need:
You may be interested in this guide where you can dive deeper into photography equipment for traveling.
The average temperature in Northern Spain in August is 72ºF/22ºC, but the weather is very variable, going from warm days to summer storms in a matter of hours. You should be prepared for all seasons and bring waterproof clothes. Some of the things that you will have to bring to this Northern Spain photography tour are:
You will find more items and details in the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
The currency in Spain is the Euro (EUR). We recommend obtaining some euros in your home country, although if that is not possible, you can purchase some at Bilbao Airport.
In almost 100% of places in Spain, you can pay by credit or debit card; however, if the amount is small, some places will only take cash. We recommend bringing around 100€ in cash for this trip.
Spain follows the visa regulations of the Schengen Area. Depending on your nationality and duration of stay, a visa may be necessary. We are here to assist you with the visa application process and provide guidance. It’s essential to verify the specific visa requirements for your country of residence prior to your trip.
Visitors from most countries (such as the United States and Canada) don’t need a visa to visit Europe for less than 90 days. Remember to consult the official embassy or consulate of Spain for the most up-to-date and accurate visa information based on your nationality and circumstances.
Update on ETIAS:
A new travel authorization system called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026. Once implemented, travelers from many countries — including those who currently do not require a visa, such as the United States and Canada — will need to apply for ETIAS before entering the EU.
Since this requirement won’t be in effect during our tour, no ETIAS application is needed at this time, but we encourage you to stay informed about future travel requirements for upcoming trips. You can find more details on the official ETIAS website.
During this Spain photography tour, we’ll be staying at some of the top-rated hotels near the photography locations we’ll visit. Every few days, we’ll change hotels to move closer to the locations in the region. Some of our accommodations are close to the beach, so we recommend packing a bathing suit to enjoy some relaxing time after photographing the landscape.
Accommodation is included during this trip in shared double rooms with twin beds. A number of limited private rooms are available for an extra supplement of $1,000 USD.
All transportation and fuel are included during the tour, alongside driving services from an accredited professional driver.
We’ll be traveling in a comfortable minibus with room for everyone and their luggage and personal items. Our driver knows best how to navigate the roads in Spain to get us to our photography locations always on time.
On this photo tour, getting to some of the locations will require some long walks and hiking. None of the hikes is longer than 3 miles round-trip. We will also walk on uneven terrain and coastal terrain, which is slippery by nature. Additionally, we will use cable cars to get closer to certain locations and minimize the amount of hiking we need to do.
This is a list of the moderate hikes on this trip you should consider:
Hike | Elevation Gain | Distance (Roundtrip) | Estimated Duration (Roundtrip) | Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ajan Waterfalls | 160m / 525ft. | 5km / | 3 hours | Rocky and muddy path when wet. A combination of flat and short hills. Can be slippery. |
Costa Quebrada | 50m / 160ft. | 2km / 1.3 miles | 2 hours | Rocky and muddy path when wet. Steep uphill at the beginning, then flat. Can be slippery. |
Peña Vieja | 133m / 436ft. | 2.4km / 1.5 miles | 2 hours | Rocky path. Constant slight uphill on the way in. |
Gueirúa Beach | 160m / 525ft. | 2km / 1.3 miles | 2 hours | Mostly dirt path, muddy when wet. A combination of flat terrain and steep stairs at the end of the hike. |
We recommend being in good physical shape to enjoy this experience |
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You should book your flight to/from Bilbao Airport (BIO).
The price of round-trip flights to Bilbao from Europe is around $100-300 USD and flights from the US cost approximately $400-700 USD.
We recommend this article to find the best flights to Venice Airport from your current location.
Meals are not included, except for breakfast and the last group dinner.
Whenever the photography schedule permits, we will have breakfast at our hotel and have a big meal at dinner in one of the local Spanish restaurants. Northern Spain is renowned for its exceptional culinary scene, home to some of Spain’s and the world’s best restaurants, making food another highlight of our adventure.
During the day, we will eat snacks/picnic to maximize our time for photography.
We recommend preparing to spend about $50-$90 USD on food per day.
All the parking, and cable car fees for locations, such as Picos de Europa, are included in the price of the tour.
Our workshops are completely centered on photography: finding the best moments of light during and creating an intensive experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best images.
Our workshops are limited to small groups with a ratio of no more than six students per instructor. This is also an important factor for providing the attentive instruction you need during the tour.
During this workshop, we will photograph the famous locations in the Dolomites as well as some hidden gems that we have discovered while exploring in the past that are rarely visited or photographed.
We will discuss your goals before the tour so we can create a dedicated instruction plan for you. It doesn’t matter your age or skills; we will design your plan and provide you with materials before, during, and after the workshop so the learning process is not limited to just the tour.
We have spent years designing national and international photo tours with successful results, helping photographers with everything from the simple task of getting off Auto to the ambitious goal of capturing complex images. Dan’s online courses have also helped more than 400 photographers over the last few years.
Beyond the photography, our photography workshops help build strong bonds that last forever. After our trip, you’ll feel like you have been with a group of friends rather than on a standard tour. We are thankful to have plenty of repeat clients who keep traveling and learning with us.
Whether you are experienced or just starting out in photography, you are welcome to join us, and I am convinced that you will progress very fast. Together, we will get you back home with a greater and deeper knowledge of many photography topics.
Once you sign up for the workshop, we will discuss your skills and goals for this tour, and I’ll organize a teaching plan so you can make the most of this experience. You’ll also receive access to Dan’s Capture the Milky Way course and David Aguilar’s Moody Landscapes course.
Most locations are a relatively short walk from the parking lot. As stated in the hiking section, some locations require longer hikes. We consider most hikes to be moderate difficulty, and the terrain will be mostly flat, with some uphills.
We will be driving, walking, and shooting a lot during the tour, so we recommend being in good physical shape to be able to enjoy this experience.
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph Northern Spain with us.
Non-photographer companions are welcome to join the tour, and they need to book a spot under the same price and conditions as any other participant. (We don’t allow non-participant companions tagging along with the group). We have had plenty of non-photographer companions over the years and all of them enjoyed an amazing experience. As long as they enjoy nature, beautiful landscapes, and are a bit patient with the schedules of a photo tour, joining the trip can be a great experience regardless of the shooting.
Capture the Atlas is drone-friendly. Both instructors are experienced drone pilots; however, drone regulations in Spain are strict, and there are very few places where you can fly without requesting a permit, which can be a lengthy process. For this reason, we don’t recommend bringing a drone on this photo tour.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last years:
Coastline, forests, waterfalls, mountains… it seems like Northern Spain has it all, and it’s such a spectacular place.
This photo is close to my heart because it showcases the natural wonders of Spain, still unknown to many. Here you’ll be joined by our local guides to enjoy these breathtaking landscapes and practice different photography and editing techniques.
We’re looking forward to seein you there!
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