Atacama & Uyuni – High Deserts
Atacama, Argentina
April 6-15, 2024 10 Days / 9 Nights
Price – $10,750 Single Supplement – $750 Not available days 2-6
Uyuni, Bolivia
April 16-20, 2024 6 Days / 5 Nights
Price – $6,750 Single Supplement – $700
This is a Digital Photo Destinations workshop. Caponigro Arts & D-65 discounts do not apply.
Leaders John Paul Caponigro & Seth Resnick
Our Destination
Prepare to be amazed by Argentina’s majestic Puna de Atacama high desert, surrounded by ancient volcanic craters, lava fields, cinder cones, salt flats, and white dunes. During our journey we’ll concentrate on the Pumice Stone Fields (the largest in the world) and Salina Grandes (an even larger salt flat) but won’t miss other highlights like the crystal-crusted playas of Dead Man Salt Flat and Laguna Verde or the Carachi Pampa volcano. The Andes mountains collect billowing clouds that shed rain, which rarely hits the ground because the air is so dry. It’s marvelous forms, textures, and colors are transformed by dramatic shifts in light and temperature several times a day. Night brings an entirely new dimension as the clearest skies on the planet offer dazzling celestial displays, which is why we’ll have special night photography sessions. It’s a landscape few people know and fewer still have visited; it will feel like we have it all to ourselves. Join us and you’ll think you’ve gone to another planet. (NASA and Hollywood both use it to simulate Mars.) It’s got to be seen to be believed.
Plus there’s an optional extension to the world’s largest salt flats in Uyuni, Bolivia!
Our Program
This is more than a photo tour; this is a master class in landscape! Join us for a unique opportunity to visit one of the most amazing places on our planet, led by world-renowned photographers – John Paul Caponigro and Seth Resnick. We work closely with our exceptional local guides (some of the best we’ve ever worked with, offering unparalleled customer service) who have an intimate knowledge of the area to shoot in the most beautiful places at the best times. Most importantly, we’ll work closely with you to help you make the most of your adventure. You’ll benefit tremendously from our guidance, advice, lectures, demonstrations, and reviews. Creativity, composition, exposure, workflow, and post-processing are just a few of the topics that will be presented. You’ll learn a tremendous amount from us and other participants during group reviews. Together we’ll help you take your photography to new levels.
World-class locations, world-class photographers, and world-class guidance. How could it get better? How about starting and finishing your trip with world-class Argentinian beef and wine?
Our Itinerary
Day 1 Salta To Tolombon
We’ll drive south from Salta through the Calchaquies Valleys, with its dramatic rock formations eroded into wild shapes, such as in the Quebrada de las Conchas and Cafayate. We finally arrive at the Altalaluna Hotel Wine & SPA for a night in Tolombon. Wine lovers can taste the fantastic world-class wines produced in this region.
Day 2 – 6 The Pumice Stone Field
We’ll climb the high-altitude deserts. This is one of the highlights of our trip. The Pumice stone field is approximately one hour away from our hotel, across a beautiful valley that requires some challenging driving. The field is about 55,000 square miles and lies in the heart of the Puna. It represents the largest Pumice stone concentration in the world, with some stones reaching 60 feet tall, surrounded by black sand from a volcanic eruption. Near the Pumice Stone Field, we’ll visit giant white sand dunes under a blue sky. We will explore the north and south regions of the field as well as the Volcano of Carachi Pampa. Finally, we will visit some huge white sand dunes that require skilled 4WD. The dunes are a few hundred feet tall and originated from erosion of the pumice stones nearby. We’ll spend the night at the Hosteria de Altura El Peñon.
Day 7 El Penon To Purmamarca
We’ll drive north from El Peñon through oases filled with llamas and vicuñas, before passing through the Dead Man’s Salt Flat, and on to surprising water holes amid volcanic landscapes punctuated by tall cinder cone spires, until we finally reach Hotel De Las Nubes in San Antonio De Las Cobres.
Day 8 – 9 Sunrises, Sunsets, & Stars At Salinas Grande
We’ll savor sunrise, sunset, and stars at Salinas Grandes, a marvelous 82 square-mile salt flat with its geometrically carved turquoise pools and hills of salt. Our base is at La Comarca Hotel in the colorful town of Purmamarca.
Day 10 – Salta – Fly Home
Those who are traveling home make transfers to Salta.
Those who are continuing on with us start our journey to Bolivia, seeking water on the Uyuni salt flats.
Join us for one or both of these fabulous adventures!
Uyuni, Bolivia April 16-20, 2024
6 Days / 5 Nights
Price – $6,750
Single Supplement – $700
Days 11 – 13 Uyuni Salt Flats
We’ll explore Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world – 4,600 square miles. Its otherworldly white expanse is broken periodically by cacti-studded islands. When covered with water, its mirror-like surface becomes even more sublime. You’ll feel like you’re walking in the sky.
We’ll stay at a hotel made of salt.
Day 14 Uyuni To Purmarca
We’ll return from Uyuni, Bolivia to Purmamarca, Argentina.
Day 15 Purmarca To Salta
Transfer to Salta and start your journey home … or continue onward.
Join us for a fabulous adventure!
