PATAGONIA Photography OVERLAND Bariloche / El Calafate – 13 days

This incredible Overland Trip is designed for enthusiast landscape/nature photographers that are looking for a unique and adventurous Photography Tour Experience in Patagonia guided by local knowledge and passion for the region, while sharing and improving their photographic skills to guarantee the best opportunity to capture that ‘epic’ scene.

The Ruta 40 (National Route 40) is the backbone of this spectacular region and we begin the traverse of this immense road network in San Carlos de Bariloche, nestled in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, and the heart of the Patagonian Lake District. This vast mountainous region is landed with uncountable lakes, crystal clear rivers and matted with a dense evergreen forest.

Our overland adventure will take us over endless plains where the views are simply lost on the horizon. This is an area chosen by the original pre-Hispanic settlers to leave their trace in beautiful cave-art. Today it’s solitary inhabitants live surrounded by nature’s harshest elements.

On our way, our Tour Leader will explain you about the history and nature of the area and our Photography Leader will guide the group right in front of the most impressive landscapes of Patagonia. Every afternoon we get together to wrap up and prepare for what’s next!

A wide range of landscapes, some unknown to the photographic community, with mountains, forest, steppe-like planes, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers and the amazing Patagonian skies will be there for us to be frozen forever with our cameras. This Photography Tour is held at the best time of the year when autumn gives us unique light and colours.

Activity Level:

This is an active Overland and Photography Workshop.

In order to reach the location for some of the Photo Sessions you will have to do a moderate hike for more than 2 hours. In addition to this, we will do a Hike and Photo Exploration that will take you out into the wilderness for 4 days and 3 nights camping. Every day in El Chaltén there will be moderate 5 hours hikes with 1 optional strenuous 3 hours hike.

Photography Overland Highlights:

Discover the history and nature of Patagonia.
PHOTOGRAPHY SESSIONS: Morning and afternoon sessions on specific locations.
Highlights of Bariloche, with its world famous landscapes and those hidden ones.
Piedra Parada Geological Site.
Cueva de las Manos and Río Pinturas Canyon. UNESCO World Heritage.
Los Glaciares National Park. UNESCO World Heritage.
Hiking and Mountain Photography at El Chaltén/Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.
Perito Moreno Glacier and it’s shades of Blue

Workshop Techniques:

Fundamentals of in camera settings.
Understanding creative composition.
Using the light to its advantage.
The use of photographic accessories to maximize the best image possible.
On field instruction and hands on use of a variety of high grade ND and polarizing filters and holders courtesy of KASE FILTERS.
Workflow for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Group Photo Critique.
Going beyond that classic postcard image.

ITINERARY

TRIP OVERVIEW

April 1^st: Bariloche:

Arrival at Bariloche Airport ready to start our photography adventure in Patagonia. The group will meet up after midday at the hotel for a Welcome Briefing and group introduction prior to tackling our first location at sunset. Afterwards we will toast to our great adventure together during the Welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* – DBL room w/bathroom.

Meals: Dinner.

AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 2^nd: Bariloche:

Today we start early morning to catch the unique sunrise light over the Andes Mountains. Then, we continue with a stop at the very famous panoramic view from Campanario Hill. During this excursion, our guide will explain us how this little mountain village has evolved into one of the most attractive cities in Patagonia and the National Capital of Adventure Tourism. The tour continues with a nature-oriented walk through an impressive native forest in order to reach our next photo stop with an intimate view of the lakes and mountains. At midday we will stop for lunch before returning to our hotel.

This afternoon we will catch the sunset from a different perspective than yesterday.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* – DBL room w/bathroom.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

MORING PHOTO SESSION
AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 3^rd: Bariloche / Piedra Parada: 364km (260 km paved, 104km gravel) – 6 hours

We depart after breakfast to take the Ruta 40 South, driving beside blue lakes and jagged mountains. The road goes along fertile valleys and small villages. After almost 4 hours, we leave the Ruta 40 to take a detour off the main road to reach our destination at the amazing geological site: Piedra Parada and La Buitrera Canyon. The landscapes along this road become dry and it is the prelude of the fantastic rock formation system where we will enjoy our next PHOTO SESSIONS. We have a box-lunch on the road to arrive there with time to explore the area during the afternoon.

Accommodation: we stay in a Farm with very cozy rooms (for 2, 3 and 4 people) and shared bathrooms.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 4^th: Piedra Parada:

We stay here one full day to have time to explore this magnificent place, recharge ourselves and scout the area properly to ensure our creative minds find that right composition.

After breakfast we will spend all morning exploring La Buitrera Canyon. This narrow canyon is considered a new rock climbing paradise and it is place full of possibilities for great pictures.

Piedra Parada Formation is an ancient volcanic caldera in the middle of the Patagonian Plateau, encompassed by a phenomenal landscape in the semi-desert steppe region.

At midday we go back to the farm to have lunch and relax. Early afternoon we will have a group briefing and workflow presentation with Matt. Then we go out for another photo session.

Accommodation: We will stay on a Farm with very cozy rooms (for 2, 3 and 4 people) and shared bathrooms.

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

MORNING PHOTO SESSION
AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 5^th: Piedra Parada / Perito Moreno: 640 km 8 hours

After breakfast we leave for the longest ride of the trip that goes through sheep farming country, tiny countryside towns and endless plains. Today we have time to talk with our trip partners, listen to music, discuss about photography and take the best “mate-tea” lesson!!! We will have a box-lunch on the road in order to arrive to our next destination late afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* – DBL room w/bathroom.

Meals: breakfast and lunch.

April 6^th: Perito Moreno Town / Cueva de las Manos: 118km, 2 hours

Cueva de las Manos / Bajo Caracoles: 47km, 1 hour

Today we will visit the impressive Río Pinturas Canyon and the Cueva de las Manos Archeological Site. This is a Unesco World Heritage Site where Ancient Cultures left their art expression 9.000 years ago.

This segment of the Ruta 40 is one of the most colorful of the trip. We will have chances to enjoy the canyon and the road with the morning and afternoon light. Then we continue to our next destination at Bajo Caracoles Town, a little town in the middle of nowhere. Here we have the chance to take impressive pictures of the Patagonian Planes as well as Mount San Lorenzo, one of the highest peaks in Patagonia (weather permiting).

Accommodation: Road-side Hotel – DBL room w/bathroom.

Meals: breakfast, lunch.

MORNING or AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 7^th: Bajo Caracoles / El Chaltén: 523 km, 6,30 hours

Today we also have a long drive, we leave after breakfast and we will drive along the most remote and dramatic segment of the Ruta 40. No man’s land, wildlife such as guanacos, rheas, hawks and eagles are the true inhabitants. On the way we will have the chance to enjoy the remoteness of this place, long straits roads, the turquoise Lake Cardiel and arriving to our next destination we hope the best to be blest with the most famous Patagonian Mountain Silhouette, Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre massif, on the way to our final destination at El Chaltén. This evening we will sleep in a very comfortable hotel where we can freshen up, recharge our camera batteries and empty our SD cards in preparation for the following days in the mountains.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* – DBL room w/bathroom.

Meals: breakfast, lunch.

ROAD PHOTO SESSIONS

April 8^th: El Chaltén – Los Glaciares National Park:

We start the day before breakfast, leaving early for a sunrise photo session of the Fitz Roy Masiff, then we go back to have breakfast at the hotel final check of our gear and we depart for our next photo adventure.

HIKE & PHOTO EXPLORATION: during next 3 ½ days we will be camping and hiking around 5 to 6 hours a day, in order to photograph some of the world famous panoramic view points of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre mountains, as well as performing sunrise and sunsets photos sessions on specific (photogenic) sites of the area. To guarantee that we photograph under the right light, we stay on Base Camps sites where required provisions will be set up for us by mountaineers at two special locations. The hiking here is some of the most rewarding in the world. During the following days the Photo Sessions will be focused on different views and light conditions of the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre Massif. The order of the hikes and photo sessions may change according to weather conditions.

HIKE & PHOTO EXPLORATION – DAY 1: after a short bus ride, we will start the hike from El Pilar to Poincent Base Camp. The hike goes through a Patagonian Beech Tree Forest. On the way we will enjoy views of Piedras Blancas Glacier, Cerro Eléctrico and Cerro Chaltén (Mount Fitz Roy). Hike to Laguna de los tres or Laguna Sucia.

Accommodation: at Poincenot Base Camp. 1 tent each 2 people. Dry toilet.

Meals: breakfast, box-lunch, dinner.

MORNING PHOTO SESSION
AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 9th:

HIKE & PHOTO EXPLORATION – DAY 2: We start the day before breakfast leaving early for a sunrise photo session of the Fitz Roy Masiff. Then we return to base camp to have breakfast before another day hike. Hike to Laguna de los tres or Laguna Sucia. We end up the day with another sunset photo session.

Accommodation: at Poincenot Base Camp. 1 tent each 2 people. Dry toilet.

Meals: breakfast, box-lunch, dinner.

MORNING PHOTO SESSION
AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 10^th:

HIKE & PHOTO EXPLORATION – DAY 3: We start the day before breakfast leaving early for a sunrise photo session of the Fitz Roy Masiff. Then we return to base camp to have breakfast before another day hike. Today we hike from Poincenot Base Camp to our next Base Camp at Laguna Torre passing through Lagunas Madre e Hija and changing valleys. We end the day with another sunset photo session.

Accommodation: at Laguna Torre Base Camp. 1 tent each 2 people. Dry toilet.

Meals: breakfast, box-lunch, dinner.

MORNING PHOTO SESSION
AFTERNOON PHOTO SESSION

April 11^th:

HIKE & PHOTO EXPLORATION – DAY 4: We start the day before breakfast leaving early for a sunrise photo session of the Fitz Roy Masiff. Then we return to base camp to have breakfast before another hike. Today we hike from Laguna Torre back to El Chalten arriving after lunch.

Meals: breakfast, box-lunch.

MORNING PHOTO SESSION

El Chaltén / El Calafate: 220km, 3 hours

In the afternoon we get back on the bus to go to our next destination at El Calafate. This road is very colourful and we will be surprised with the turquoise colour of the Lakes Viedma and Argentino as well as La Leona and Santa Cruz glacial rivers.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* – DBL room w/bathroom.

April 12^th: El Calafate – Perito Moreno Glacier:

After breakfast we will drive towards the Andes Mountains to spend the day visiting Los Glaciares National Park’s most famous sight – the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier. We will walk the walkways from balcony to balcony in front of the glacier, which no words will be apt to describe, as we anticipate seeing calving and hearing the thunderous sound that follows! Suggest doing the optional boat trip (not included) in front of the glacier for the complete experience of one of nature’s natural wonders. Back in town we will have our Farewell Dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* – DBL room w/bathroom.

Meals: breakfast.

April 13^th: El Calafate:

Today our Travel Experience in Patagonia is about to end. After breakfast, if time prevails we will have our last group photo presentation at the hotel for critique and final post production workflow discussion.

We will assist you with Airport Transfer arrangements (NOT included).

Meals: breakfast.