Galapagos Photo Tour

You will join your fellow travelers who have traveled from different parts of the world to share dinner with Ivan Kashinsky and Karla Gachet during the official briefing. When you arrive early you can spend your free time exploring the city which stands among the highest capitals at an elevation of 9,000 feet above sea level. The city occupies a slender Andean valley which stands between the Pichincha Volcano on its western boundary. For a great view and a little exercise, Pichincha is easily accessible for a day trip. Visit Old Town to experience its religious structures and colonial buildings which UNESCO has protected as a World Heritage Site. The hilltop location of El Panecillo offers visitors a complete view of Quito from its position above the Old Town. Museums exist throughout the New and Old Town along with local artisan markets which serve as excellent spots to find souvenirs. The New Town contains numerous cafes and restaurants which serve both local residents and international visitors and domestic travelers. New Town and Old Town are easily accessible by trolley or taxi. Our team will handle the organization of these pre-tour activities for you when you want us to. Our team will help you find accommodation for your stay in Quito if you need to arrive early or stay longer.

Let the photo adventure begin! The hotel staff will pick you up this morning to start your Galapagos journey. Your flight will arrive in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno at midday since you have a morning departure. The family-owned restaurant will provide you with an authentic island dining experience during your lunch break. The Interpretation Center will receive visitors as their first stop during the afternoon which provides them with detailed knowledge about the islands' human past and geological development. You will see lava lizards and different cactus species during your walk through the vegetation-lined path to Tijeretas.

As the sun gets closer to the horizon, you will spend time at Carola Beach, home to plenty of inquisitive (and sometimes noisy) sea lions.

Photography Presentation: Light

Breakfast and Lunch Provided.

The trip starts at dawn when the team boards a boat to reach Kicker Rock which locals call Leon Dormido. The first part of your day requires you to complete a basic snorkeling exercise which takes place near the shoreline. The area features blue-footed boobies and pelicans which dive after fish and sea lions that swim beneath the water surface. From there, you’ll continue on to Kicker Rock.The compacted ash formation reveals various seabird species which inhabit its steep cliff faces. Put on your snorkel gear and dip into the ocean for your first deep-water snorkel to see what waits below the surface.Kicker Rock serves as a well-known location where visitors can observe sea turtles and sharks.

Optional activity: For anyone who is interested in diving, the option to dive at Kicker Rock (instead of snorkeling) may be available.The group divides into two sections for diving at Kicker Rock while snorkelers proceed independently until everyone reunites after lunch. Please inquire in advance.

The boat will take you to a beautiful sandy bay for lunch after which you will return to the port for free photography time in the afternoon.

Photo Presentation: Working with People

You can participate in a sunrise kayak excursion which operates as an additional option for early risers.

The first thing you will do is travel to the highlands which rest within San Cristobal. You will have the chance to see Leon Dormido / Kicker Rock from your elevated position when you reach Soledad.

The journey continues with a visit to a highland farm where visitors can observe the daily routines of local island farmers. The fertile highland soil of San Cristobal Island supports various fruit and vegetable crops which produce an excellent chance for vibrant photography.

After your farm visit, it is free time in the afternoon to review your photos or explore town.

Our destination for the evening will become La Loberia right before the sun goes down. Beach sunsets bring you the chance to witness sea lions and marine iguanas alongside blue-footed boobies and yellow warblers and finches.

Photo Presentation: Composition

The ocean remains your focus when you leave San Cristobal Island for Floreana Island because dolphins and jumping rays and whales often appear during this journey.

After returning to solid ground you will get to eat lunch while exploring the beach and the small community of 200 residents to find photo opportunities. In the afternoon it is off to the highlands by chiva, the open-air transport vehicles used on the islands.If you're feeling adventurous, you may be able to ride on the roof and get a 360 view of the surrounding countryside.

The highlands contain a dense forest which shelters a giant tortoise sanctuary together with several historical hiding places. The tour begins with a brief overview of island piracy followed by a visit to pirate caves before returning to Puerto Velasco Ibarra for night photography in the city.

Photo Presentation: Point of View

A morning walk leads visitors to Loberia which serves as a habitat for both marine iguanas and sea lions who regularly visit the area. The location offers a perfect setting for taking pictures during the early hours of the day.

As Floreana is easily the 'sleepiest' small town of the Galapagos Islands, be sure to get some final town shots, as you'll be heading to Isabela Island after breakfast.

The program includes a trip to the giant tortoise-breeding center during the afternoon. The Isabela Island facility operates as the main breeding center for multiple species while showing visitors the full development of tortoises from newborns to elderly specimens between one month and seventy years old.

Your first day on Isabela will end at the beach in town, where you'll enjoy some sundowners and dinner at Beto's Beach Bar.

Free time lets you choose to visit the Wall of Tears if time permits. The landmark stands as a historic reminder of Isabella's penal colony period because convicts built it during the 1940s and 1950s. The prisoners had to construct a lava rock wall which now stands at about 100 meters in length and 7 meters in height. Make sure you watch your step – this is an area where juvenile giant tortoises have been reintroduced to the wild.

The Wall of Tears path offers a beautiful route for walking or cycling even if you choose not to reach the end. Several stopping points exist which allow visitors to explore the brackish lagoons of Poza de las Diablas and hidden beaches such as Playa del Amor.

Photo Presentation: *Tonight there will be no presentation. If you haven’t decided on your final project theme already, tonight’s the night to make a decision!Tomorrow you’ll schedule your one-on-one session with the photography leader.*

Make sure to prepare your hiking boots and shoes today because you will be walking along the Sierra Negra Volcano rim which last erupted in 2005.

The trail becomes dangerous because the crater rim stays covered in morning fog which makes the ground muddy and slippery. The trail follows the crater's edge which leads to multiple observation points. On clear days you can see across most of the Sierra Negra crater, which is the second largest volcanic crater in the world (after Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania).

Your journey will take you to Chico Volcano where you must navigate through lava fields and enter multiple small volcanic tunnels. The area displays a surreal terrain because both ah-ah and pahoehoe lava flows have taken place here. On a clear day, you may catch a glimpse of Elizabeth Bay and the Alcedo Volcano in the distance.

Some lava rocks contain vibrant minerals while volcanic vents exist throughout the area. The journey to this point requires a long walk because the crater rim trail extends about 9 kilometers so you can take your time while heading back down. During your descent you should watch for birds because the Vermillion Flycatcher and other unusual species exist in this region.".

The day will end with a complete lunch after your hike before you get to explore Puerto Villamil during your free time in town. You can choose to visit the beach or explore the town or follow the boardwalk trail which leads to brackish lagoons that serve as habitats for flamingos and other bird species including ducks. Your evening is free to explore, photograph and dine where you desire.

Photo Presentation: Portraits

Today you will explore the Tunnels which represent one of the most incredible sites in the Galapagos Islands. The island contains various volcanic rock structures which include arches and tunnels and other formations that originated from its volcanic past. The water in this area is also usually exceptionally clear, making it an ideal location for water and underwater photography.

Your afternoon activities will depend on the activities you participated in during previous days. You can choose to relax on the beach or explore the Wall of Tears or work on your photo editing during this time.

Photo Presentation: Editing

Your day will start around sunrise with a pre-breakfast kayak around the sheltered bay area of Puerto Villamil.The shallow waters serve as a habitat for Galapagos penguins and sea turtles and rays while frigate birds and pelicans use the nearby mangrove trees for resting.

After you finish your kayaking session you will receive a breakfast that you have earned. The photography lessons and tour have passed their midpoint so today you should use this time to finish any outstanding assignments from earlier in the course. The photography lessons and tour have passed their midpoint so today you should use this time to finish any outstanding assignments from earlier in the course.

The island of Isabela offers the best opportunity to meet locals because of its friendly environment so you should watch a soccer match and explore the town square and market area. Today you will use your photographic abilities to take pictures which standard tourists would avoid capturing. Today you need to use your photography skills to capture images that standard tourists would avoid photographing."

If you haven’t made it to the Wall of Tears yet, this is your last chance!

Photo Presentation: Think Outside the Box

*Most one-on-one private sessions will be scheduled for today.

Your guide will provide an orientation briefing about Santa Cruz which serves as the tourist capital and the most populous island in the archipelago before you start exploring the streets and shops on your own. A popular stop that may be of interest is the fish market, which attracts all sorts of wildlife and birdlife as fisherman come in with their daily catch.

The planned event for this afternoon involves visiting the top-rated beach of Tortuga Bay which lies in the Galapagos Islands.

The distance between Tortuga Bay and the town requires some walking but the destination provides a wonderful payoff. A 45-minute relaxed walk leads you to the beach where you can observe lava lizards and various birds in the trees. The first white sandy beach with soft sand will present itself to you while rough surf waves shelter marine iguanas and blue-footed booby birds.

The beach path leads to Tortuga Bay which features a tranquil environment because of its surrounding mangrove forest that makes it ideal for swimming and snorkeling activities.

Photo Presentation: Future of Photography

Breakfast and Lunch Provided.

Begin your day by visiting the market for special photo chances or spend your time resting before your trip to the highlands.

Santa Cruz Highlands contain large farms which serve as protected areas for giant tortoises to live in their natural environment. The park offers the only opportunity to observe these animals as they bathe in mud pools and feed on vegetation within their native environment. The field of photography provides boundless possibilities for creative expression. The area includes enormous lava tunnels which visitors can explore to understand the volcanic forces that formed the islands.

Your free time during the evening and sunset today makes it an ideal time to visit the well-known Charles Darwin research Station. The walk to the town edge provides a pleasant path which features numerous prickly pear cacti. The CDRS contains Giant Tortoises as well as a breeding program for Land Iguanas. The Giant Tortoise Lonesome George lived at CDRS. The CDRS contains a breeding program for Land Iguanas.

Optional activity: Saturday mornings is market day in Santa Cruz.You can venture toward the fruit and veggie market for some pre-breakfast photo opportunities if you’re keen to see the locals in action.Saturday evening represents the peak time for street kiosks because it happens on a narrow street which closes down every night to become an outdoor dining area."

Photo Presentation: *Tonight there will be no presentation. Tomorrow is the final project show and tonight is yours to finish selecting and editing your final project.

Those who want to start their day early must visit Tortuga Bay at sunrise before joining the group for the Seymour Island tour.

The island of Seymour supports enormous populations of frigate birds and swallow-tailed gulls and blue-footed boobies. The last day of your Galapagos exploration will bring you face to face with the Galapagos Land Iguana which inhabits none of the other islands you explored.

Seymour Island will require you to follow a 2km trail which leads along its rocky shores and through the interior of the island. The land iguanas favor the prickly pear cactus which grows in this area.

Your day of exploration on Seymour Island will end with a final snorkeling adventure in the Galapagos. Sea lions and sharks might appear in the water if you are fortunate. The final images for your photography project should be taken at Seymour because this location provides distinctive photo opportunities for completing your Galapagos portfolio.

You will return to Santa Cruz during the late afternoon to experience your final night in the Galapagos while viewing the photos taken by your group and photography instructors Ivan and Karla.

Photo Presentation: Final Project Presentations by the Group, Show off your Images!

After spending more than 12-days exploring the Galapagos Islands and gaining a deeper understanding of the art of photography, it is time to head back to Quito.You will exit the islands with a group of fellow photographers who share your interests and who will assist you in exchanging creative concepts and photographic knowledge.

Your flight schedule begins at midday so you can use the morning hours to get souvenirs while saying goodbye to Galapagos wildlife and people. The duration of your airport transfer will vary between 60 and 90 minutes based on bus and ferry departure times in the area.

You will reach Quito where the airport transfer service will take you to your hotel before you get to see more of the city prior to the Farewell Dinner event.

The photography workshop tour reaches its conclusion during this final day of activities. The package includes an airport transfer which becomes available when your flight back home operates during morning hours. You should select between a day tour and an extended stay depending on how long you plan to stay in Ecuador.