2024 PATAGONIA PHOTO TOUR
EL CHALTÉN & TORRES DEL PAINE IN THE FALL
Join us for a Patagonia Photo Tour where we will capture the most iconic and impressive landscapes in southern Chile and Argentina. From massive glaciers, towering peaks, turquoise lakes, and pristine Patagonian forests to plenty of wildlife like pumas, guanacos and condors, Patagonia is a photographer’s paradise.
We are running this Chilean and Argentine Patagonia photo tour in April 2024, during the best time of year to photograph the spectacular Patagonia forests’ fall colors and when the parks are less crowded.
OVERVIEW
During this 13-day Patagonia photo adventure, we will visit the most photogenic locations around the picturesque village of El Chaltén in Argentina, as well as the most iconic spots in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, including one full day at the famous Perito Moreno Glacier.
This Patagonia photo tour is mainly focused on enjoying and capturing the best moments of light that the Southern Andean range has to offer, from epic sunrises over the base of Mount Fitz Roy to dramatic lenticular clouds and unforgettable photography sessions at Los Cuernos in Torres del Paine. We will stay in some of the best hotels in the area but also camp and hike on fully outfitted trips to reach the best photography locations in Patagonia.
We will personally help you capture the best possible images during our Patagonia photography workshop and show you the best techniques to shoot any subject in different light conditions: sunrise, sunset, midday, twilight, night, etc.
PATAGONIA PHOTO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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- Photo tour in April 2024.
- Group size: 12 participants + 2 instructors + 1 local mountain guide.
- Main topics: landscape, mountains, forests, wildlife.
- Main areas: El Chaltén, Perito Moreno Glacier, and Torres del Paine.
- Accommodation included in top hotels close to the best locations.
- Transportation included in a bus to travel comfortably with all the luggage/camera bags.
- All entrance fees to national parks included.
- A 3-night, fully outfitted photo experience with camping in the Patagonian wild.
- Puma tracking photo tour in Chilean Patagonia.
Download the official Patagonia Photo Tour brochure
Is this Patagonia Photo Tour the Right Trip for me?
Before you continue reading, it’s important to note that this Patagonia photo tour requires a very good level of fitness. During the first part of the trip, in Argentina, we’ll hike an average of 3 to 4 miles per day with an average elevation gain of 1,500 feet. Also, we’ll be sleeping in tents for three camping days.
During this fully outfitted camping experience, we’ll have a team of local porters and assistants so you can just hike with your camera gear and focus on shooting and taking in the views. While in Chile, we won’t be hiking as much, but there will be some shorter hikes to reach the best photography locations.
We’ll be visiting and photographing many locations, which require walking on uneven paths, so being in good physical shape is fundamental so that you can enjoy the experience.
2024 EL CHALTÉN & TORRES DEL PAINE PHOTO TOUR ITINERARY
The itinerary for our Patagonia photo tour can be flexible. Here, the weather is very changeable and we can experience all four seasons in one day. However, the weather is also one of the best things about Patagonia, since it creates the most dramatic conditions you’ll ever see in the wilderness.
As we know the area very well, our goal will be to photograph the Patagonian landscapes in the best possible conditions, depending on the weather forecast.
We will try to make the most of the light, especially during the sunrises, when the light creates a feast for the eyes by turning the peaks red and orange.
DAY 1: Argentine Patagonia Photo Tour
This Patagonia photo tour will begin at El Calafate Airport (FTE) in Argentina, where we’ll pick you up by 12 PM and meet with the rest of the group.
During this first day, we’ll do the welcome speech and briefing. We’ll also do a gear review to make sure we are familiar with our cameras and have the right settings. You’ll then have time to rest from the trip, before going out for our first group dinner.
It’s important to be well-rested because the remaining days will be filled with activities!
DAY 2: Patagonia Photo Tour
On the second day of our Patagonia photography tour, after breakfast, we will say goodbye to El Calafate and drive to our first photography spot: Perito Moreno Glacier!
This spectacular mass of ice spreads along 121 square miles and it’s one of the few glaciers in the world in a quasi-steady state, with no major changes in its size during the past centuries.
This massive glacier towers above the turquoise waters of an enormous lagoon in Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s one of the most impressive glaciers in the world. We will spend the morning shooting this gigantic sharp ice field under the fall colors from different viewpoints until sunset light.
After our Perito Moreno photo excursion, we will then drive to El Chalten to begin the next part of our journey.
From Perito Moreno, we will drive about 4.5 hours to the world-famous village of El Chaltén. Just an hour before we arrive in El Chaltén, we’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the iconic peaks of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre in the distance; these two peaks will be our main photography backgrounds for the next five days.
DAY 3: Patagonia Photo Tour with Camping
On the third day of our Patagonia photography tour, if the peaks are visible, we will wake up early to capture the sunrise at a location near the village.
After we have breakfast at the hotel, we will leave our laptops, electronics, and other clothing at the hotel before meeting up with the porters, local mountain guides, and assistants to start our Patagonia camping photo adventure. We will do a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) hike (about 3 hours with a 1,300 foot/400 meter elevation gain) to our first campsite, which is next to the beautiful Laguna Capri and has views of the imposing Mount Fitz Roy.
The local team will set up our campsite for us, and, after having lunch, we will scout the area with our cameras and wait for the sunset light by a secret waterfall not too far from our campsite. The foliage in this area is usually at its peak during this time of year. After sunset, we will walk back to the campsite for dinner and some rest.
DAY 4: Patagonia Photo Tour with Camping
On the fourth day of our autumn Patagonia photo tour, we will start the day by capturing the sunrise at another hidden waterfall close to the campsite. After breakfast, our porters will pack up the camping gear and we will continue hiking towards our next campsite, near the base of Fitz Roy. This will be a shorter 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) hike (2 hours on mostly flat terrain). This will be a private campsite, reserved only for guided tours.
Once we reach our campsite, the team will set up the sleeping tents and a large communal tent where we can gather for lunch.
After lunch, you’ll have the option to hike up to Laguna de los Tres, one of the most beautiful landmarks of the trip.
It will take us around 2 hours from the campsite to reach this location via a 1.5-mile (2.5-kilomter) uphill path with a 1,300-foot (400-meter) elevation gain. This is the steepest and toughest trail of the trip, but you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with a picturesque lake that offers unparalleled views of the Patagonian mountains right at the base of Fitz Roy. This is one of those places that you cannot miss if you visit Argentine Patagonia!
If you choose to stay at the campsite, we will start exploring this spectacular area. We will capture endless outstanding foregrounds, such as reflective ponds, red ‘bonsai’ trees (“ñires” and “lengas”), and lakes, with the impressive Mount Fitz Roy in the background, until the sunset light is gone. Then we will head back to the campsite to enjoy a warm dinner.
DAY 5: Patagonia Photo Tour with Camping
On the next morning of our Patagonia camping photo adventure, we will wake up early to start hiking to our sunrise spot on one of the most beautiful, yet unknown Argentine landmarks.
It will take us around 1 hour from our campsite to reach the base of Mount Polo. The trail is mostly flat with some muddy and swampy sections. From here, we’ll be able to see Fitz Roy while being surrounded by some majestic dead tree trunks which will help us with our compositions. If you prefer to stay at camp, you’ll be able to capture the beautiful morning light over Fitz Roy reflected in some close lagoons.
After our morning session, we will go back down to the campsite to have some breakfast. Then, our porters will take all the camping gear to the village, and we will start the 5.5-mile (9-kilometer) hike back to El Chaltén (4 hours, flat + 1,640 feet (500 meters) downhill).
Back in El Chaltén, we will head to our hotel, where we will have some post-processing lessons before going to our sunset location near the village.
DAY 6: Argentine Patagonia Photo Tour
On the sixth day of this Patagonia photo workshop, after our morning session, we will meet up with the porters and guides again to start our last trek, this time towards the Cerro Torre area. This 5.5-mile (9-kilometer) hike will take us 4 hours and involve a 1,640-foot (500-meter) elevation gain on a trail with continuously breathtaking views.
Once we reach our private campsite and the team sets up the tents, we will walk 25 minutes to Laguna Torre, a pristine glacial lake right below Cerro Torre where you can see chunks of ice floating in the lake.
Here, we will have plenty of compositional elements to photograph, such as rivers, trees, rocks, and ice. We will explore the area around sunset before returning to the campsite for a warm dinner and some rest.
DAY 7: Patagonia Photo Tour with Camping
On the next day of this guided Patagonia photo tour, we will be back to Laguna Torre to shoot sunrise. The sunrise in this location is stunning. Seeing the peak of Cerro Torre light up as the sun is coming up is definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
Then, the porters will gather up the camping gear and we will start hiking back to El Chaltén, following the same path we took the day before.
In the village, we will have time for some rest at the hotel and, depending on the weather, we may visit a nearby waterfall or have a post-processing class.
DAYS 8-12: Chilean Patagonia Photo Tour
On the eighth day of our Patagonia photo tour, we will continue our journey and drive toward the outstanding Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. It will be a long drive that includes a border crossing, but we’ll make stops along the way to see wildlife like guanacos and rheas.
The closer we get to our final destination, the more impressive the scenery will become. We will stay at one of the best hotels in Torres del Paine, with stunning views of the incredible vertical peaks that we will be shooting in the coming days. We can even take amazing pictures from the hotel doorstep! After check-in, we’ll head out for our first sunset session in Chile.
During the next 5 days, we’ll have the flexibility to shoot in different locations across Torres del Paine National Park during the best light according to the weather forecast, which we will check the day before. We’ll access our photo spots via small drives and short hikes.
There are endless possibilities to shoot here: beautiful reflections of Los Cuernos, Laguna Amarga, Glacier Grey, the Dead Forest, turquoise lakes, waterfalls, many panoramic views of the mountains, colorful autumn foliage, and even seascapes.
Also, during this week, we will try to capture some blue hour and night images if conditions allow. The moon can illuminate the beautiful landscapes of Torres del Paine, so we’ll always keep an eye on the conditions for any possible night photography session.
Also, we’ll spend one of the days doing a Patagonia Puma tracking Photo Tour. Pumas are elusive animals and it’s not guaranteed that we’ll see them, but with the help of our professional puma trackers who know their habitat and understand their behavior, we’ll have high chances of seeing them. This area in the Patagonia is the best place in the world to witness this beautiful feline. In addition, we’ll probably see other animals, such as guanacos, condors, rheas, armadillos, foxes, and many species of birds.
On our 11th day of the trip, after our last sunrise, we’ll head back to El Calafate in Argentina, where we’ll spend our last night.
DAY 13: Patagonia Photo Tour
After breakfast, we will pack up and drive you to El Calafate Airport, where we will wrap up this photo adventure across Patagonia. We can take you to the airport from 06:00 to 10:00 AM, but you can also take a private taxi to the airport if you need to catch your flight earlier or later.
PRICE: $7,490 USD
Deposit: $2,000 USD
A $2,000 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 photo tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
WHAT DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE?
INCLUDED
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Pick up & drop-off at El Calafate Airport (FTE).
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Transportation during the trip in a private bus.
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Fuel and parking fees.
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Border crossing fees.
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Accommodation in hotels in shared rooms with private bathrooms.
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Entrance ticket to Torres del Paine National Park.
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Entrance ticket to Glaciar Perito Moreno.
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Local mountain guides in Los Glaciares NP and Torres del Paine NP.
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Patagonia Puma tracking tour.
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Photo guide services from professional landscape photographers.
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3-day fully outfitted Camping Photo trek, including: (Click to display)
– Private 4-season tent with sleeping bag and air mats.
– All food and drinks – breakfast, picnic, lunch, dinner.
– Bilingual, accredited professional guide.
– Cook & kitchen services.
–Porters
–Dining tent.
–Satellite phone and first aid kit.
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*BONUS
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- Access to Dan Zafra’s full Capture the Milky Way Course (valued at $299).
- Access to the recorded material during the expedition.
- Access to David Aguilar’s Moody Landscapes course.
NOT INCLUDED
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- Flights to/from El Calafate Airport.
- Private room – Extra $1,000 (*Subject to availability).
- Meals, except for camping days.
- Health/travel insurance (We can help you purchase the best travel insurance according to your needs).
- Personal porters
- Telephone, personal expenses, tips, etc., and any other service not mentioned in the “INCLUDED” section.
Upcoming Patagonia Photo Tours
5/5
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I visited Patagonia with the Capture the Atlas team and it was an amazing experience!
This truly turned out to be one of the most amazing trips that I have done that included everything from beautiful hikes to groundbreaking and amazing landscape photography.
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An incredible experience with leaders David Aguilar and Prince Berkoh. We had a very fun group, the weather was fantastic, the fall colors were at their peak, and the camping setup was first rate.
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The trip to Patagonia was epic! David and Prince did a wonderful job as leaders. Looking forward to a future tour with Capture the Atlas!
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What will I learn during this Patagonia photo Tour?
This trip is focused on landscape & wildlife photography, mainly shooting mountains, forests, and waterfalls. We’ll also do some blue hour/night photography when conditions align.
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:
Basic Photography Techniques
- Getting comfortable shooting different types of landscapes and wildlife in manual mode.
- Adjusting to the best camera settings in each situation.
- Planning your sunset and landscape images.
- Shooting long exposures using ND filters.
- Enhancing your composition with the best techniques.
- Basics of wildlife photography.
- Designing your own shooting workflow to be more efficient in the field.
Advanced photography Techniques
- Creating powerful compositions that tell a story and engage the viewer.
- Building a connection between your photography and your vision.
- Becoming a master of light: learn how to enhance it and keep it under control.
- Advanced landscape techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, or focal length blending.
- Advanced night photography techniques, if conditions allow.
- Advanced wildlife settings and shooting techniques.
Post-processing Techniques
Some of the post-processing techniques that you can learn with the included tutorials are:
- Basics of Lightroom and Photoshop.
- Preparing your images in Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw.
- Stitching of panoramas using different software like Lightroom or PTGui Pro.
- Reducing the noise in your images with Denoise AI.
- Sharpening your photos with Sharpen AI.
- All types of Blendings (exposure, focal length, focus, etc.).
- Light shaping and Dodge & Burn in your landscape & night images.
- Post-processing of moody and atmospheric landscapes.
- Advanced night photography post-processing techniques.
Your instructors on this Patagonia photo tour
Dan Zafra will help you take your photography to the next level on this Patagonia Photo Tour. He will help you with composition, technique, and post-processing in your landscape, wildlife, & night images and use the best methods according to your skills.
Dan is a professional landscape and astrophotographer and has explored the lower latitudes of our planet over the years in places like Peru, Bolivia, Atacama, and Patagonia. He has experience running photo tours all around the world and he’s very knowledgeable not only about the best locations but also about the best time and lighting to photograph them.
Dan is the Co-founder of Capture the Atlas and his main passion is educating other photographers with photo tours, workshops, and tutorials. His online photography courses have helped more than 1000 photographers over the last few years. Joining him for this workshop will provide you with a great opportunity to learn how to best capture the highlights of Patagonia.
David Aguilar will be your photo tour leader throughout this Patagonia photo tour, and he will make sure that you are in the right place at the right time to get the best photography results from this tour. He will help you with your photography, technique, and composition in all your landscape and night images.
David is a real expert on Patagonia after taking many trips throughout the region and running photo tours there over the last few years. He’s very knowledgeable about the most photogenic locations, the weather patterns, and the best techniques to capture breathtaking landscape images. He has also hiked all around the main landmarks of Patagonia and has discovered many rarely known photo locations that he’ll show you on this trip.
David’s main passion is traveling and helping others with their craft. He’s traveled extensively, not only in Patagonia and South America, but also in Nordic countries like Iceland and Norway and across vast areas in the European Alps.
He’s also a skilled post-processing editor and has helped countless photographers over the last few years with his online landscape editing courses.
Prince Berkoh will be the tour leader of the tour and he’ll make sure that you capture the best possible images during the trip.
Prince is a landscape and night photographer based in Northern Spain. His passion for photography has taken him to some of the most spectacular landscape photography destinations in Europe and South America.
He loves educating and teaching others about photography, and he’s given presentations on night photography over the years. He also has extensive experience, having led numerous tours in Nordic countries such as Patagonia, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Lofoten Islands, and more. In addition, he leads other photo tours in Europe and South America.
Prince will show you the best methods for capturing the landscapes of Patagonia, from the basics to advanced techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, and other photography tips.
Francesco Dall’Olmo will be the Co-leader of this Patagonia 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.
Besides being an excellent photographer, Francesco is an expert in time-lapses and he has produced many films in the Dolomites and other areas.
He will help you capture unique landscape images and timelapses on this trip.
You’ve probably seen Capture the Atlas in…
Prince Berkoh will be the co-leader of the tour and he’ll make sure that you capture the best possible images during this trip.
Prince is a landscape and night photographer based in Madrid, Spain. His passion for photography has taken him to some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, from Spain to the remote Faroe Islands.
He also loves educating and teaching others about photography, having led numerous workshops and presentations on night photography over the years.
Prince will show you how to best capture the Patagonian landscapes, from the basics to advanced techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, and other night photography tips.
WHAT TO BRING ON A PATAGONIA PHOTO TOUR?
We will send you a complete list of everything we recommend bringing on this tour before the trip. Below is a summary of things you might need:
PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR
- DSLR/mirrorless camera and a sturdy tripod.
- A wide-angle lens, such as a 14-24 mm lens.
- A medium zoom lens, such as a 24-70 mm lens.
- A telephoto lens, like a 100-400 mm lens.
- A camera bag to transport all your photography equipment and some other items.
- A 6-stop ND filter to shoot waterfalls and rivers.
- A CPL (circular polarizer filter).
- A headlamp for the night shoots and camping.
CLOTHING AND HIKING GEAR
The average temperature in Patagonia in April is between 50ºF to 23°F (10° C to -5ºC), and it’s especially cold in the mornings. You should come prepared for all kinds of weather and bring warm clothing. Rain and strong winds are very common in Patagonia. Some of the things that we recommend bringing on this fall Patagonia photo tour are:
- A system of top layers to wear (base layer, fleece, windproof layer, shell).
- A system of bottom layers to wear (hiking pants, fleece pants for cold nights, overpants for rain).
- A good pair of breathable boots to keep your feet warm and protect your ankles while hiking.
- Warm and breathable socks.
- A wool hat, neck gaiter, and gloves.
- Light water bottle.
- A small, light towel.
- A sleeping bag liner
Some optional items that are highly recommended are:
- Hiking poles.
- A cap or sun hat.
- Light sneakers or sandals so you can change your shoes after the trek.
- Sunglasses.
- Lip balm.
- An external power bank.
You will find more items and details on the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
MONEY
The currency in Argentina is the Argentine peso (ARS), and in Chile, it’s the Chilean peso (CLP). We highly recommend getting Chilean pesos in your home country, although, if that is not possible, you can always purchase some at El Calafate Airport. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most places in Patagonia, but there are still many businesses that only take cash.
For Argentina, we recommended bringing cash since you can get a much favorable rate exchanging your USD in most stores and restaurants at El Calafate or El Chaltén.
DOCUMENTATION
People from most countries, including the Americas, Europe, Eastern Asia, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand, don’t need a tourist visa to visit Argentina and Chile for trips that are shorter than 90 days.
Please check if you need a visa to visit Argentina and Chile if you live outside those areas. We can help you with this process.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The accommodation on this Patagonia Photo Tour is double occupancy in shared bedrooms with two individual beds and a private bathroom. We also offer single occupancy rooms in all hotels on the trip for an extra $1,000. If you are interested in this, please let us know on the signup form below, since the single occupancy rooms are subject to availability.
In Argentina, we are staying in top-rated hotels close to the best locations, where you can see marvelous views of the Patagonian Mountains.
- In El Calafate we’ll stay in Hotel Kau Kaleshen, at a one-minute walk to the main street, where you can find shops and restaurants.
- On the nights in El Chalten, we’ll stay in Chalten Suites Hotel, the best hotel in town, where we’ll be able to rest after our hikes and camping nights.
- Finally, in Torres del Paine we’ll stay at Morrena Lodge; a beautiful rustic hotel, embedded in nature, right on the border of the national park.
On camping nights, you will sleep in a private, individual tent. Also, during these nights, you can leave the luggage you don’t need, like electronics and extra clothing, in a secure room at our hotel in El Chaltén.
HIKING
Most of the trails are moderate in difficulty, but tour participants should have a very good level of fitness.
In El Chaltén, we will be taking long hikes of approximately 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 kilometers) with 1,640 feet (500 meters) of elevation gain to reach our campsites. After this, we’ll be exploring and scouting the area, which can add a few more miles. We’ll spend a total of 3 nights camping during the trip.
During these treks, you just have to carry your camera gear, tripod, and personal items like water, toiletries, a toothbrush, and some extra clothes. Our local team will provide and transport all the camping gear (tents, sleeping bags and mats), set up the campsites, and cook all our food so we can focus on scouting and shooting.
There’s also an optional porter service for your camera/personal gear that you can get for an extra fee of $80-100 USD per day.
In Torres del Paine, we will take shorter hikes. The longest hike we will do in Torres del Paine will be to Mirador los Cuernos, which takes around 1 hour each way in mostly flat terrain.
Hike | Elevation Gain | Distance | Estimated Duration | Path |
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El Chalten – Laguna Capri | 1300 ft. / | 2.5 miles / | 3 hours | Long hike, uphill most of the time on a dirt and gravel path. |
Secret Waterfall | 100 ft. / 30m | 1 mile / | 1 hour (roundtrip) | Mostly flat hike on a dirt and gravel path. |
Laguna Capri.- Poincenot | 100 ft. / 30m | 2.5 miles / | 2 hours | Mostly flat hike on a dirt and gravel path with a few slight uphill sections. |
Laguna de los Tres | 1300 ft. / | 3 miles / 5 km (roundtrip) | 4 hours (roundtrip) | Steepest hike. high elevation gain in a short distance. Uphill most of the way on a rocky trail. This is the most strenuous hike of the trip. |
Mount Polo Base | 100 ft. / 30 m | 2.5 miles / 4 km (roundtrip) | 2 hours (roundtrip) | First section is on a flat trail covered in dirt and bushes. A little uphill at the end. Some sections might be swampy. |
Poincenot – El Chalten | 1640 ft. / | 5.5 miles / 9 km | 4 hours | Long hike but mostly flat and downhill on a gravel trail with some rocky sections. |
El Chalten – Laguna Torre Campsite | 1640 ft. / 500m | 5.5 miles / 9 km | 4 hours | Long hike. Uphill for the first half, then mostly flat with epic views of Cerro Torre. |
Laguna Torre (from Campsite) | 300 ft. / 100 m | 1 mile / 1.5 km (roundtrip) | 1 hour (roundtrip) | Short hike with a few uphill sections. The last section before arriving to the location is mostly loose gravel. |
Laguna Torre Campsite – El Chalten | 1640 ft. / 500m | 5.5 miles / 9 km | 4.5 hours | Long hike. A few uphill sections and flat trails, then downhill closer to the end. |
Mirador Los Cuernos | 160 ft. / | 4 miles / 6 km (roundtrip) | 2 hours (roundtrip) | Uphill hike on a rocky and gravel path. |
We recommend being in good physical shape to enjoy this experience |
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LOCAL GUIDES AND TOURS
All the local guides in both the Argentine and Chilean parts of this Patagonia photo tour are included.
We have also included the entrance fees for Perito Moreno and Torres del Paine National Park, as well as the price of the Puma tracking tour.
WHAT EXPENSES SHOULD YOU CONSIDER FOR THIS PATAGONIA PHOTO TOUR?
FLIGHTS
You should book your flight to El Calafate International Airport (FTE).
Airline ticket prices will depend on the airport you are flying from, but round-trip flights from the USA cost around $1,400 – $1,800, and ones from Europe cost $1,100 – $1,300.
MEALS
Meals are not included, except for breakfast at the hotels and all the meals on camping days.
Most days, we will have breakfast at our accommodation and a nice dinner in a local restaurant. In Torres del Paine, we will have dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, and, during the day, we’ll order box lunches.
We recommend preparing to spend about $40-$70 USD on food per day.
TRANSPORTATION
All transportation and fuel are included during the tour. We’ll be traveling in a private 29-seat bus for the whole 12 days. This will give us ample room to be comfortable during drives and more than enough space for luggage and camera gear. Everybody will have a window seat.
The bus also has a few amenities such as USB chargers and a small fridge with refreshments.
What makes this Patagonia Photo Tour unique?
Immersive
You'll be absorbed by the magic of Patagonia and have an intense experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best images.
Intimate
Our photo trek is 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.
Exclusive
We will photograph some hidden gems that we have discovered while exploring in the past and include a fully outfitted camping tour to be close to the best locations during the best moments of light.
Dedicated
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.
Proven
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.
Unforgettable
Beyond the photography, our photography tours 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.
Frequent questions about our Patagonia Photo tour
WHAT LEVEL OF PHOTOGRAPHY KNOWLEDGE SHOULD I HAVE TO ATTEND THIS PHOTO TOUR TO PATAGONIA?
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 so you can start preparing your astrophotography before the trip.
WHAT PHYSICAL SHAPE DO I NEED TO BE IN?
Most of the trails are moderate in difficulty, but we’ll be hiking and photographing many locations, so being in good physical shape is recommended so that you can enjoy the experience. This is especially important in the Argentine Patagonia region, where the hikes are longer and we’ll be sleeping in tents for 3 of the nights on the trip.
AM I TOO YOUNG/OLD FOR THIS PATAGONIA PHOTO TOUR?
There is no age limit to join this Patagonia photo tour.
We do recommend that participants older than 70 years old do a physical examination with a primary care provider (PCP) to make sure that they are physically prepared for this experience.
CAN MY NON-PHOTOGRAPHER COMPANION JOIN US ON THE TOUR?
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.
CAN I USE MY DRONE?
Unfortunately, flying drones is not allowed in any of the national parks that we will visit, so we don’t recommend bringing a drone on this trip.
Our Happy Students!
I’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last years:
I visited Patagonia in April 2023 and it was an amazing experience with Capture the Atlas team! This truly turned out to be one of the most amazing trips that I have done. It included everything from beautiful hikes to groundbreaking and amazing landscape photography. If you want to go to Patagonia and see the rugged landscape and capture the beauty of it, then you should definitely book a trip with Capture the Atlas. Prince, David, and Dan were just amazing and you will have a fantastic time!
Nick Nath
2023 Patagonia Tour
An incredible experience with leaders David Aguilar and Prince Berkoh. We had a very fun group. The fall colors were at their peak, and we were taken to some excellent spots for landscape photography, especially at sunrise and sunset. The camping set up was first rate, with very accommodating porters, guides and cooks. When the weather wasn't cooperative, our editing walk-throughs with David and Prince were very helpful. Their guidance when on photo shoots was excellent, helping us to see what the possibilities were and how to capture them. I definitely want to do more trips with this organization!
Jonathan Ripsom
2023 Patagonia Tour
What an incredible adventure. I went with the group on the Patagonia tour in April 2023. This had to be one of the most incredible tours I have been on. The accommodations at the hotels were great and scenic. I particularly loved the hiking and backpacking of the 1st segment. The overall experience will forever be one of my favorites. I can't begin to recommend Dan and his group enough. My guides Prince and David were very helpful. I highly recommend Capture the Atlas.
Eddie Carter
2023 Patagonia Tour
The trip to Patagonia was epic! David and Prince did a wonderful job as leaders. Looking forward to a future tour with Capture the Atlas!
Gopal Kolluru
2023 Patagonia Tour
On my recent photo tour to Iceland, not only was I able to see the Northern Lights, but I also was able to photograph them thanks to Dan's tutelage and patience! I returned home with not only amazing pictures but also renewed enthusiasm for photography. Dan's passion for photography and landscapes is unequivocal.
Rachel Rose
Iceland Photography Tour
Dan was a great host on my recent Photo tour of Southern Iceland. He is an excellent photographer and was energetic in his effort to get our group to so many great sites to photograph. I had great comrades along, which made the journey even more enjoyable. Would I make this trip with Capture the Atlas again? In a heartbeat!
Larry Covalciuc
Iceland Photo Tour
Traveled with Dan on the South Iceland tour, September 2021. We had six "photographers" on the tour of varying experience and Dan was exceptional at working with us on our level. He was also accommodating by changing the timing of the itinerary due to the weather and the eruption of the volcano. The tour included, as advertised, some hiking to remote places to capture some unique photos. The weathered dictated times to get out to see the Aurora and sunrises which were all impressive.
Robert Emery
Iceland Photo Tour
Dan & Ascen drove almost 2,000 km’s to bring us to all the locations for photo shoot’s. There was fabulous enthusiasm amongst the group. We witnessed amazing landscapes and seascapes. Dan made it all possible, the “Dancing Northern Lights” would not be missed on this tour. There was a good choice of accommodation & restaurants.
Iris Anderson
Iceland Photo Tour
I took the 2019 Iceland trip. Dan, the group leader, has been to Iceland many times and is knowledgeable on the best photo locations on the island. In addition to the well-known, must-see locations, he also took us to some less-visited locations that were also worthwhile. It is also a plus to have a tour guide who is knowledgeable about lodgings, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. in the area. One bucket-list item for all of our group was to see the Northern Lights. After several days of rain and overcast skies, Dan revised the schedule and drove to locations on the island where we were able to get two nights of good Northern Lights viewing. Dan and Ascen were attentive to the needs of the group, whether for photography advice, accommodations, meals, etc. I highly recommend them and would travel with them again.
Kenneth Orloff
Iceland Photo Tour
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This tour is governed by these Terms and Conditions.
Patagonia is one of the most spectacular and photogenic mountain regions in the world for good reason; here, you can see everything from towering peaks and enormous glaciers to glittering rivers and waterfalls, and some of the most dramatic light in the Andes.
During the fall, the forests feature a unique display of colors, which adds the perfect touch to any landscape photo. Here, you can also expect to see some of the darkest skies in South America when the wind blows away the clouds.
We have crafted this Patagonia photo tour so you can visit, explore, and photograph all the best locations in this magical region during the best moments of light. All our guides and team will focus on you and your photography during this special trip.
Are you ready for this adventure?!
DAN ZAFRA
