- Overview
- Itinerary
- Trip Includes
- Trip Excludes
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- Booking
- FAQ
Undoubtedly, Patagonia is well-known for a challenging weather patterns….we just need to be patient and work within the laws of nature…and we will come back with stunning images of rugged mountains, dense forests, open steppe and fjords carved by blue glaciers that protect icy summits and hidden coves. Where the southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is where Patagonia challenges the mind, body and spirit. We will capture all of it during this 10-day journey. When someone tells you that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should not be missed…listen to them!
There is a very good reason Torres del Paine is considered the 8th Wonder of the World!
The trip begins in Punta Arenas, Chile in the Magallanes region (at sea level). Connections from Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina are frequent, so getting here is easy.
We will spend a total of 2 nights in Puerto Natales (at the beginning and end of our trip) with prime accommodations in this historical port city. This is the starting point for any trip into Torres del Paine National Park and offers plenty of accommodations, restaurants and amenities and supply options before heading into the wild. The locations we will be visiting are a combination of viewpoints and access points where we can see the massive Cuernos and Torres del Paine from high above, at lake and river level and at the base of these massive rock walls. Our accommodations in the field will provide stunning and perfect jumping-off points to have a great variety of angles to catch the light caressing the peaks and the reflections on a variety of bodies of water. Our routes take into account the best time to be at the perfect location and the ease of accessing some more remote areas with comfortable accommodations nearby. We will hike to some areas that are only accessible via foot, but we also will sail to a few locations and drive for short periods of time from one prime location to another. We spend more time doing photography than driving to and from locations. We also have time to rest, relax and review our images during the time we have at our comfortable lodges and hotels. The people in southern Patagonia are welcoming and hospitable and our local guides are experts in the region, well-versed in the weather, locations and always have a plan B in case our prime location is not perfect for our needs. The itinerary below describes the day-to-day journey of what we will do and what we will see. We believe in our hearts that this combination of locations and timing will provide a truly unforgettable journey to southern Patagonia.
Questions and requests? please e-mail: bookings@patagoniacamp.com
Your Photographic Leader:
Sergio Ballivian was born in La Paz, Bolivia and lived abroad in the US, Canada and Spain for almost 35 years, with addresses in Washington D.C. and Boulder, Colorado and in La Paz. He graduated from Calvert high school in La Paz and studied in Sevilla Spain, and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dividing his time between the Andes and the Rocky Mountains, he continues pursuing adventures via 4×4, motorcycle, kayak or mountain bike. He worked for 5 years in National Geographic in the photography department, supporting the photographers traveling around the world. He started taking photos when he was 15 years old, falling in love with the medium to remember his adventures that continue to this day. His love of adventure and exploration grows further (even after so many years) and every time he sees a place he does not know on a map. He has traveled in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Chile and also to Nepal and New Zealand. The love he has for his native land allows him to travel with clients for photography workshops, shooting documentaries and organizing expeditions. He started doing private photo tours more than a decade ago and leads photographic trips throughout the year to all corners of Bolivia and Latin America. His latest venture is to publish photography books. Two recent books include; Altiplano – Where Earth and Sky Embrace (2016) and Madidi – An Uncertain Future (2017). His 3rd book is about the Bolivian Andes to be published in late 2019. His photography of landscapes, animals and people sheds light on unique places that need urgent protection. His work can be seen at: www.sergiophoto.com, www.sergiophototours.com and www.explorebolivia.com
Sergio will be accompanied by another guide and expert staff from Patagonia Camp during the whole tour, adding another level of expertise and knowledge so that your photographic journey will be un-matched in the region.
We will end our photographic journey on the 5th day at the Punta Arenas airport with a fond farewell and hoping our paths will cross again in the future.
We can run this trip at any time of the year, so please let us know your date preferences and we will create a custom departure date for you and your group.
Current tour departure dates:
- January 21-30, 2020 (Tuesday to Thursday)
Flights to Punta Arenas, Chile depart from most major cities in Latin America, usually routing via Santiago or Buenos Aires, and arrive at various times of the day. Depending on your airline, you would arrive at different times on day 1 in Punta Arenas. However, we would highly recommend you arrive one day earlier in Punta Arenas in case of flight delays due to weather. Please let us know your flight info so we can coordinate pick-ups and other services. We can make all your hotel reservations that are not included in the 10-day tour. International airfare is NOT included in this itinerary. For airline tickets, please contact our ticketing agent GEO Travel 1-800-938-7285.
Questions and requests? Please e-mail: sergiophototours@gmail.com
Itineraries
Day 1
Drive from Punta Arenas to Estancia Olga Teresa – Condor rehab – Puerto Natales

Day 2
Puerto Natales City Tour – Lago Grey – Lago Grey Peninsula

Day 3
Lago Grey – Pingo Valley – Ferrier Viewpoint – Sail Lago Grey – Refugio Grey

Day 4
Refugio Grey – Grey Glacier – Trek to Paine Grande – Refugio Paine Grande

Day 5
Refugio Paine Grande – Valle del Frances (full day) – Refugio Paine Grande

Day 6
Refugio Paine Grande – Sail via Catamaran to Pudeto – Cuernos del Paine view – Lago Pehoe

Day 7
Lago Pehoe – Paine Massif – Rio Serrano

Day 8
Rio Serrano – Laguna Azul – Estancia Goic

Day 9
Estancia Goic – Las Torres – Puerto Natales

Day 10
Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas Airport

END OF OUR SERVICES
As per the itinerary:
- hotel and hostel accommodations
- meals as noted (B,L,D)
- private transport
- bi-lingual guides
- airport transfers
- decades of experience and local knowledge
*International airfare is NOT included in price
In order to make a reservation for a photo tour you can either fill in the form found in "BOOKING" and send it in directly from this website, you can e-mail us directly with any questions or call us.
The procedure from beginning to end is roughly the following:
1. Initial contact from you to us via several methods; online form (below), e-mail, postal mail or by phone
2. We respond to your query and send you whatever information you may have asked for
3. You fill out the Trip Application Form and send in a deposit (non-refundable) for a specific tour
4. We acknowledge receipt of Trip Application Form and your deposit and send you a Receipt/Invoice for the balance due
5. We send the general Pre-Departure information packet so you can begin to make preparations (gear, visas, clothing, vaccinations, etc.)
6. You send in final payment (60 days before departure date) and required paperwork (Medical Form, Liability Release, copy of passport, Travel Arrangement Form)
7. We send you the Receipt/Invoice for all payments and any balance due (if any) and final itinerary
8. We communicate with you about any last minute requests or questions you may have
9. We meet you at the starting point of the photo tour
10. We all have a great tour and you make awesome images to cherish forever
YES!
Anyone can book a single spot on any tour group at any time. These prices reflect the cost for one person, based on the total number of fully-paid people booked on a trip. If you have more people in your group and/or if the total number of people rises, the cost per person goes down. These prices are NOT based on a person or complete group bringing in a set amount of people on a tour
Final group size / price tier will be known 60 days before departure
Yes. You can check the current price tier for any group at any time. Every time we have a new booking we will update the price tier. The same goes if somebody cancels the trip.