10 Day Puna de Atacama Photography Tour
International Photo Workshop
International Photo Workshop
Salta, Salta Province, Argentina
Description
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival at Salta
Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime! You'll arrive to the charming town of Salta in Argentina, a short two and a half hour flight away from the capital city of Buenos Aires. We recommend that you take flight Aerolineas Argentinas 1450, which has an arrival time in Salta at around 10:35am.
Once you arrive at Salta airport, you'll meet your guides and depart as a group at around 11am, commencing the journey towards the mountainous region of Purmamarca. This area is like an oasis within the desert landscape. It is well-known for its breathtaking and dynamic natural beauty, characterised by colourful mountains that make for stunning abstract photography. We'll spend our time in the mountains, capturing the colours as they change with the light of the setting sun in the evening.
After the sun has set, we'll check in to our hotel in Purmamarca, where we'll settle in for a delicious meal and discuss the days ahead.
Read moreDay 2 - Salinas Grandes, Desierto del Laberinto
On day two, we'll rise early for a sunrise session at Salinas Grandes, a large salt flat that sits around 3350 metres above sea level. The textures of the ground here make for stunning compositions using leading lines and forced perspective. We'll take our time exploring this photographer's paradise, surrounded by awe-inspiring mountains, as we capture the pools caused by salt mining.
After sunrise, we'll make our way via San Antonio de los Cobres along Tolar Grande to Desierto del Laberinto, crossing the Salta-Antofagasta railway track which links Argentina with Chile. Designed by American engineer Richard Maury in the 1940s, it is one of the highlights of the area, passing directly through the Andes.
As we near Tolar Grande, we'll make a stop at a giant cactus forest, where some specimens are over 100 years old. Its just as well that they can tolerate the extremes, contributing to the overall lunar-like quality of the surrounding landscape.
We'll arrive at the Desierto del Laberinto just in time for sunset. Translated to mean the 'Labyrinth Desert', this area resembles something from Mars – hot, barren and indescribably beautiful. Underneath the sunset light, the spectacular rock formations take on an otherworldly quality, making for truly fascinating photographic opportunities.
After the sun has set, we'll check in to our hotel where we'll base ourselves for the next 2 nights.
Read moreDay 3 - Cono de Arita
On day three, we'll continue our journey around the area, unearthing wild and wonderful compositions within the salt flats and the surrounding desert landscape. One of the highlights of the day will be a visit to the isolated pyramid volcano known as Cono de Arita, rising 122 metres high from the Salar de Arizaro salt flat.
In the evening, there is the possibility of visiting the Caipe train station along the Salta-Antofagasta railway for a spot of night or astrophotography if the conditions are favourable. If not, then we'll settle in for some post-processing masterclass sessions where you'll have a chance to gain some valuable feedback from your guides.
Read moreDay 4 - Salar de Arizaro
On day four, you'll rise early for a sunrise session at the large salt flat of Salar de Arizaro between Caipe and Tolar Grande. Spanning across 1500 square kilometres, it is one of the biggest salt flats in the world and to put things into perspective, it was formed around 5 to 10 million years ago. This salt flat makes for stunning sunrise compositions, so we'll take our time exploring the ground for fascinating textures and patterns.
Later in the afternoon, we'll head towards Antofalla, an extraordinary stratovolcano that is incredibly photogenic. Rising 6409 metres high, it is made all the more breathtaking by the stark beauty of the salt flats that surround it.
The town of Antofalla is very isolated and is home to only around 60 people. This evening, we'll stay overnight as guests of a local family for a deeply cultural experience. It will also mean that we will be perfectly placed to explore the spectacular landscapes within the vicinity.
Read moreDay 5 - Antofalla
On day five, we'll have a sunrise session back at the Antofalla salt flat, before exploring the area more in detail. Thereafter, we'll take a drive through the colourful, mountainous and grassy landscape of Quebrada de Calalaste, capturing the surroundings as we make our way to the village of Antofagasta de la Sierra. Here, we'll have a wonderful view of the volcanoes that dot the landscape, as well as streams and water springs. It will be a welcome change to the barren deserts for the moment.
We'll spend the evening in a local hosteria.
Read moreDay 6 - El Peñon
Day six sees us exploring the volcanoes that surround Antofagasta de la Sierra in-depth during a sunrise session amidst stunning lagoons. Thereafter, we'll make our way to the quiet village of El Peñon, where we'll base ourselves at a local hosteria for the next three nights. It's a charming rural setting characterised by adobe-brick houses, making for beautiful photographs in their own right.
For sunset this evening, we'll spend our time at the El Peñon clay fields, taking in the endless dramatic beauty as the sun dips below the horizon.
Read moreDay 7 - Laguna de Carachi Pampa
Day seven will bring a welcome change of scenery, as we head out for an early sunrise session at the Laguna de Carachi Pampa, where stunning reflections make for dreamlike landscapes. The red-coloured lake is populated by pink flamingoes, with many wandering along the edge of the basin. Their blush-pink plumage is wonderfully offset by electric green algae at the edges of the lake, making for a breathtaking sight. Meanwhile, in the background, large black volcanoes loom in the distance, surrounded by vast lava fields.
Read moreDay 8 - Campo de Piedra Pómez
On day eight, we'll head into the unique surrounds of Campo de Piedra Pómez. These pumice stone fields are made of white volcanic rock, surrounded by glorious sand dunes and extraordinary mountains. Shaped over the years by strong winds that blast across the Atacama desert, the rock formations here make for a strange but wonderful sight in a great labyrinth that twists and turns through the arid landscape.
In the vicinity there is a white sand dune that is particularly photogenic. We'll stop by to capture it at sunset before returning to our accommodation for the night.
Read moreDay 9 - Return to Salta
This will be our final day of photography. We'll have a relaxing late start to the morning, as we forgo sunrise to give our drivers the chance to rest. The journey back to Salta is around 500 kilometres in length but we'll break it up with a few stops along the way to stretch our legs and to photograph the surrounding scenery.
We'll arrive back in Salta at around 8pm, just in time for dinner. After a delicious meal, we'll retire to our beds for the night.
Read moreDay 10 - Departure
This is where the adventure ends. After breakfast, you'll check out of the hotel and make your way back to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires – no doubt with a treasure trove of memories and photographs from this incredible adventure to the Puna de Atacama. With nothing further scheduled on this day, you are welcome to book any flight back to Buenos Aires where you'll be able to travel home or onwards to your next destination.
Read moreDeparture Schedule
15-24 March 2024 – Guided by Daniel Kordan & Sebastian del Val
Disclaimer
We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.
The tour is always dependent on weather, as the weather can indeed be highly unpredictable. Likewise, wildlife sightings are dependent on favourable conditions, and there is no guarantee that they will appear on a given day.
Guides
Renowned landscape photographer, Daniel Kordan, is an explorer at heart. Having realized his passion for photography and traveling at a young age, he now spends his time sharing his vision and the many wonders of the world with people all around him.
