Leica Photo Adventure: Patagonia | April 17-25, 2024
$9,195 ($1,995 Deposit)
Workshop at a Glance
Physical Activity
Photographic Intensity
Classroom Instruction
Climate/Weather Severity
Food and Accommodations Cultural Immersion
Good for Non-photographers-
Join Leica Store Miami for a photographic adventure to Patagonia! We'll travel to the far reaches of South America to photograph one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world. With barren, wind-swept plains, ethereal glaciers, the imperious Andes mountains and the rain forests of Chile, this magnetic destination has it all. On this photography tour to Argentina and Chile, you will witness spell binding glaciers, snow-capped mountains, majestic lakes and winding rivers. Get ready to cross this off of your bucket list because our autumn adventure to Patagonia will be a trip of a lifetime.
While other cameras are certainly allowed on this trip, the focus is on Leica camera systems and learning how to use them to their full potential. Current owners as well as those wanting to try Leica gear out for a week of real shooting are encouraged to attend. We’ll share our favorite tips and tricks so you can get the most out of this exceptional gear.Leica experts David Farkas and Colin McKinley from Leica Store Miami along with expert photographer and guide Raymond Hoffman will be on hand to give assistance and advice as you photograph everything from glacial sunsets to the peaks of the Andes.
Why this trip is differentThis is not a workshop where you spend most of your daylight shooting hours sitting in a classroom. Why travel to some of the most beautiful and picturesque locations just to be stuck indoors? Instead, we will focus on making the most of each and every day to capture as many great photo opportunities as we can.
What to Expect
This is primarily a photography trip. We will be shooting some days from before sunrise until after sunset. We will cover a fair amount of ground each day with many stops along the way to get out, explore and shoot. At each destination, there will be plenty of time to set up your tripod, compose your shots and get in some quality photography.
Weather in Patagonia is highly unpredictable and conditions and temperatures can often fluctuate without warning. But this unpredictability can generate some amazing photographic scenes! -
Dates:
Wednesday, April 17 - Thursday, April 25, 2024
Cost:
$9,195 - Double occupancy lodging (Single room available for $1200)
Size:
Limited to 12 attendees
Included in the cost of the trip:
- Double occupancy lodging in 4-star hotels (Single room available for $1200)
- All meals except alcoholic beverages & snacks
- Ground transportation in spacious motor coach
- Professional local guide and driver
- Lago Grey glacier cruise in Torres del Paine Park
- Gratuities for guides and driver
- All national parks entrance fees
- All airport transfers
- In-the-field photography instruction
- Adobe Lightroom post processing instruction
- 1-on-1 critique/review sessions
- Use of loaner Leica SL, Q and M equipment (*limited availability)
Not included in the cost of the trip:
- Airfare
- Medical/Travel/Gear insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Snacks
Signing UpTo sign up for this photo adventure, checkout here on our website, call 305-921-4433 or email us (workshops@leicastoremiami.com). We are happy to answer any questions you may have. A $1995 deposit, along with the single room supplement fee should you choose it, is required to hold your spot. The balance will be due on January 17, 2024.
We look forward to seeing you in Patagonia!
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Itinerary
Day 1 (April 17)- Arrival
Our Leica Photo Adventure to Patagonia will begin in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas. It’s known as the gateway to the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park. Your arrival airport will be Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ).
*We recommend arriving a day early, on April 16th, for this trip just in case there are any airline/airport delays. Most likely, you'll have to enter Chile through Santiago (SCL) and take Latam Airlines to Punta Arenas. You can book your extra room night directly with the hotel.We'll meet for dinner this evening to get to know one another and talk about the trip ahead. After dinner we’ll settle in for the night at the Hotel Cabo de Hornos Punta Arenas.
Day 2 (April 18)After breakfast at our hotel in Punta Arenas, the group will start the journey toward towards Torres del Paine National Park.
As we make our way through the otherworldly scenery and near the peaks of Torres del Paine, we'll hope to see plenty of animals including guanaco, ostrich and armadillo (and maybe even a few pumas!).
As we get closer to the park, the landscape will become more wild and the imperious ridges of the Andes will begin to loom on the horizon. Naturally, we’ll take plenty of time to stop and shoot the local flora and fauna. The last part of this day’s journey is made on a gravel road, as we traverse through the inner territories of Torres del Paine.
Upon arrival in the park, we’ll check in to the Pampa Lodge, which will be our home for the next four nights. *Pampa Lodge is unique in Patagonia because they let guests fly drones behind their property so if you want to bring one, this will be an amazing opportunity.
We’ll have a short rest before heading out to our sunset location. Autumn brings with it the end of the tourist season, so it’s likely that only photographers will be left in the park.
Days 3-5 (April 19-21)
So much depends on the weather over the next five days and four nights. Because we want to make the best of the national park and ensure the group captures as many locations as possible under perfect conditions, we will plan our days on short notice and choose locations depending on the circumstances and the forecast. We will look to photograph the following (including sunsets & sunrises):
- Harbors of Pehoe lake, including stony bays with a variety of foregrounds to choose from.
- Panoramic views from Explora hotel.
- Optional 1-hour hike to Mirador Condor with a stunning 360-view to Cuernos, Paine Towers, Lake Pehoe and Glacier Grey.
- Hike to the Nordenskjold lake: we’ll see the dead forest on the way and plenty of small bays.
- Salto Grande waterfall.
- Laguna Amarga with salty edges and good chance of seeing pink flamingos feeding.
- Laguna Azul and a wonderful waterfall on the way to the lagoon
- Rio Serrano Sector with wonderful bends of the river, gauchos and horses in the water.
- Lago Grey for the full day excursion to the Grey Glacier. The cruise will take about 4 hours.
Day 6 (April 22)
After breakfast on day six the group will leave Chile and cross the border into Argentina. Our destination is the small village of El Chalten. The journey is around 7-8 hours including the border crossing.We will spend two nights in El Chalten and be based out of Los Cerros Boutique Hotel. Our first evening will be spent watching the sun go down over a nearby canyon, which offers incredible views of the Andes and the majestic river flowing down below.
Day 7 (April 23)Before breakfast on day seven, the group will head back to our favorite canyon for a spectacular sunrise shoot. We will again witness the incredible views that stretch toward the Andean ridge. With the Fitz Roy towering in the distance, it’s an incredible way to start a day!
The rest of the daylight hours will be spent exploring the Lago Desierto area, well known for its many waterfalls and a river that undulates through the landscape. We will spend the entire day in the shadows of mountains and glaciers. As sunset looms we will visit a panoramic point on the Fitz Roy massif, one of Argentina’s most famous walks.
Day 8 (April 24)
This morning will begin with breakfast and a 2.5 hour drive. Our destination is El Calafate. We’ll have lunch there before heading out to photograph the mighty Perito Moreno glacier.There aren’t many more spectacular ways to end a photography tour than with a visit to Perito Moreno. On a sunset stroll through the forests we will indulge in one final goodbye to Patagonia’s dramatic landscape. After the sun sets, we'll head to El Calafate for our farewell dinner.
Our final night will be spent at the Hotel Kosten Aike in El Calafate.
Day 9 (April 25) - Departure
Today is the last day of what will be an unforgettable photography adventure in Patagonia. Departure flights are from El Calafate Airport (FTE) to Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airport (AEP) - we recommend a morning departure on Aerolineas Argentinas. All international flights back to the United States will fly out of Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini Airport (EZE). If you're not staying the night in Buenos Aires, we will organize an airport to airport transfer.
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Payment
A $1995 deposit, along with the single supplement room fee if you choose it, is due at the time of registration. The balance will be due on January 17, 2024.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
Enrollment is limited to 12 participants, and once you sign up, we are counting on your attendance. If you need to withdraw from this workshop, please notify us in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. This is our refund policy:
If you cancel and we find someone to fill your seat, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 service charge. If you cancel and we cannot find someone to fill your seat, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule:
At least 90 days before the start of the workshop: Full refund minus $250 service fee.
Between 89 and 60 days before the start of the workshop: 75% refund
Between 59 and 45 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund
Less than 45 days from the start of the workshop: No refundCourse Cancellation and Other Terms
Leica Store Miami reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
In the event that this workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 24 months.
In the unlikely event of illness, accident or injury to one of the instructors, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to replace that instructor with a comparable instructor.
In the event of a natural disaster or severe weather event, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to postpone or cancel the workshop.Medical Insurance (required)
Emergency medical insurance through a provider like Allianz or similar is required to participate in any of Leica Store Miami's international workshop.
Travel Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)Leica Store Miami is not responsible for cancellations due to medical or personal emergencies so we highly recommend purchasing travel Insurance. Companies like Travelex and Allianz Global Assistance are reputable but you can choose any vendor you like. Just make sure that they have an A+ rating from the BBB. Leica Store Miami is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation.
Camera Gear Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)
We advise all of our workshop attendees to insure their camera gear against damage, theft, loss, etc. If your gear is not already insured, check with your home owner's insurance to see if they offer coverage. There are several photo specific insurance policies out there as well.
Single Room Policy
If you sign-up for double occupancy room sharing and there are no other attendees to pair you with, you will be responsible for paying the single room supplement.Transfers
If for any reason you wish to transfer your deposit or workshop fee, please notify us by email. You must register and complete a new workshop within 24 months of the withdrawal. We reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer.There are no exceptions to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.
Signing Up
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