Wonders of Perú
As the former capital of the Inca empire, Perú is steeped in culture as well as abundantly beautiful landscapes. Join us for the bucket-list trip of a lifetime as we explore all the must-see locations in the Cusco region from Machu Picchu to the dazzling Rainbow Mountains.
Dates
July 8 - 14, 2023
$3,850
Tuition
Group Size
6 - 10
Moderate – Advanced:
High altitude, cold temperature, mild hiking
Fitness Level
What's Included
What's
Included
Pre-trek briefing the night before the Rainbow Trek
All transfers to and from airports/hotels, trek
7 days of professional guide service with a licensed, professional, English-speaking guide and two professional photographers
1 night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes (double room)
4 nights in a hotel in Cusco (double room)
Tour of Sacred Valley, Cusco Ruins, Maras, Moray Salineras, Lake Humantay
1 night camping at Rainbow Mountain in 3-person, 4-season Mountain Hardwear Tents (double occupancy)
Extra thick foam mattress sleeping pads and self-inflating mattresses
Sleeping bag
Meals on the trek
Train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and private transport to Cusco
Personal porters to carry overnight gear up to 8kg/person – can be removed if desired
Dry bags in which to put your overnight gear on the trail (for porters to carry)
Machu Picchu entrance fees (both time slots AM and PM)
Trek cook, kitchen and dining tents, tables and stools, stainless steel dishes and utensils
Boiled and purified water to refill your water bottle/bladder every morning/afternoon/evening
Hot water every morning and evening for washing purposes
Campsites with portable toilets, a toilet tent, toilet paper
First aid kit including an emergency oxygen tank
Bus ticket roundtrip from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
Guided tour of Machu Picchu with plenty of time to explore on your own
Guided tour of Maras, Moray, Salineras and tourist ticket, snacks and transport
Editing time with the photographers
Booking/credit card fees
What People Are Saying
What's Not Included
What's Not
Included
International and domestic flights
Personal equipment: walking poles (note: walking poles must have intact rubber bottoms)
Additional excursions or tours in Peru
Meals outside of the trek and as noted
Travel/medical insurance (required)
Tips and gratuities
Personal meals and expenses beyond what is included above
Souvenirs
What People
Are Saying
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“It felt like a group of friends hanging out, not like some workshops I have been to in the past."
They are insanely talented, the cutest couple, very knowledgeable on their art, and fun to be around. Sitting on a hillside watching the sun go down and stars come out with a bunch of nature photographers is the best feeling. You will learn so much and make new friends. I am inspired by how these two have built their life around what they love and it keeps me going to keep building my dreams.
— Sydney N. -
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“I’ve done several workshops with Nate & Autumn and have loved each one of them."
I learned a ton from the two of them. They have different strengths and teach on a level that is understandable but challenges you to do better. Considering all that goes into the workshop and all that is included, it’s a bargain.”
— Amy A.
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“Nate and Autumn are both so welcoming, easy to talk to, experienced, and work great together as a team!"
Nate and Autumn’s workshop on San Juan Island was my first photography workshop. Such a fun, laid back trip with great attendees. I would recommend any trips with these two and plan on doing more with them in the future!
— Austin A.
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“The tips and instruction I got resulted in me taking MUCH higher quality photos than I would have on my own."
The trip was also very well planned and organized, and they were always attentive to each person’s needs. Seriously amazing experience and would highly recommend doing a photo workshop with them!”
— Kiri R.
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“I will remember this experience for the rest of my life."
Autumn and Nate are exceptional workshop hosts. This workshop experience fundamentally changed my ability to capture adventure and landscape shots, and also gave me the ability to take my freelance business to the next level. I highly recommend their workshops to photographers of any level.
— Frankie S.
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“I wouldn’t do this workshop with anyone else!!”
Autumn and Nate are amazing instructors, and they worked hard to get us some fabulous shots in Norway. The scenery is gorgeous and provides a great backdrop to gloomy snow clouds, blue skies, and too-wonderful-to-even-describe Northern Lights.
— Drea L.
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“Between the two of them, they have such a great breadth of knowledge to help with any questions."
We were able to photograph a nice variety of landscapes and night photography, including a few great shows from the northern lights. And they're a fun pair too so the group had a great time even during our downtime.
— Laura G.
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“They were truly there to make sure we all learned a lot while having a great time."
I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to do a workshop with Nate and Autumn at Mt. Rainier National Park last summer. The locations were all very carefully planned and their attention to all students was at 100% the entire workshop. I am excited to do future workshops with them!!
— Richard W.
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“Our editing sessions were amazing. Nate and Autumn have different styles for editing so I was able to learn tons from each of them."
I had the pleasure of attending Nate and Autumn's workshop to Mount Rainier NP a couple of years ago. They were fun to learn from, so informative, and got us to the right places at the right time. We covered landscapes, waterfalls, reflections, and astrophotography and more. If you have the opportunity to join them on a workshop, take it!
— Nadeen F. -
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“Truly the best experience you could ask for, and Nate and Autumn couldn’t make better company!"
Expert instruction and once-in-a-lifetime experiences…unless you choose to go again 😉 Spend a night photographing the night sky with them and you won’t be able to keep yourself from coming back! I know I will be!
— Ryan S.
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“Whether you're looking to broaden your photography skills or travel and learn the basics of taking pretty photos, these workshops are perfect."
I couldn't ask for better mentors/hosts than Autumn and Nate. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable in all things photography and in the places they take you, they are also so incredibly kind and overall great humans. I went to their Mt. Rainier workshop and it was one of the best things I could've done. I learned so many new skills and I've already seen such an improvement in my photography. I will 100% be joining more of their workshops (Norway here I come!).
Itinerary
Our itinerary is planned, but we are always prepared to change things up based on weather and light conditions.
DAY 1
July 8th - Arrival and Acclimatization Day
Please try to arrive before 12 pm! After collecting your bags and clearing customs, your guide will take you to your hotel for check-in and a bit of relaxation.
Cusco sits over 11,000 feet (3,400m), and many of our photo adventures will be higher than that. As such, we'll be spending our first day in town mostly relaxing and adjusting to the high elevation. We'll take a leisurely stroll through the historic district and get our first immersive look at the local culture. We'll visit the ancient Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman for our first photo excursion. At 7 pm we'll head to a favorite restaurant in the town center for a group dinner.
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (double occupancy)
Meals: Dinner in a local restaurant
DAY 2
July 9th - Salineras and the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes
Today we will explore three beautiful sites, also located in the lush Sacred Valley of the Incas. Departing around 8:30 am we will take private transport to the local village known as Maras. Here you will see colonial architecture with incredible facades made of thin stone and lintels with sculptures in bas-relief. We then drive to Moray (3450m/11,319ft) where you can explore the incredible and still mysterious circular agricultural terraces with complex irrigation systems that are surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. Finally, we will visit the salt mines (Salineras) where you can walk amongst the 3000 salt pools and watch the salt miners harvesting the salt of the Incas! They have a cute little shop where you can buy some hand-mined Andean salt to take home with you if you wish. After seeing Salineras we take our private transport to the train station in Ollantaytambo where we catch our train to Aguas Calientes. Check into the hotel and freshen up before we have our group dinner!
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Aguas Calientes, Peru (double occupancy)
Meals: Breakfast in the hotel, snacks on the tour, dinner in a local restaurant
DAY 3
July 10th - Machu Picchu Sunrise, Back to Cusco
A very early morning breakfast prepares us for the amazing day we have ahead of us! We take the first (5:30 am) bus directly to Machu Picchu (2,400 m/7,875 ft.). From the entrance, it is a 15-minute walk to the famous views from the South Zone of the farming terraces at the end of the Inca trail. Along our walk, we encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry–a backdrop of twisting gorges and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu. We spend the morning on a guided tour of the city’s highlight, unfolding the mysteries, history, architecture, flora and fauna of this magical site. Enjoy a packed lunch sitting in this magical city, after which you will spend time with Nate and Autumn taking pictures among Machu Picchu’s multitude of hidden nooks and crannies. After, we will head down to Aguas Calientes where we will relax at the hotel and enjoy dinner at a restaurant of your choosing.
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (Double Occupancy)
Meals: Breakfast in the hotel, snacks, boxed lunch in Machu Picchu
Optional Add-Ons: Extra hike within Machu Picchu (Wayna Picchu)
DAY 4
July 11th - Day in Town
After several early starts, today will be more relaxed. We'll sleep in and eat a leisurely breakfast, and then tour the beautiful and historic city of Cusco. The streets are rich with history and culture, and teeming with vibrant colors and street vendors. We'll practice some street photography before an afternoon editing session and sunset photos in the main plaza.
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (Double Occupancy)
Meals: Breakfast in the hotel
DAY 5
July 12th - Palccoyo, the Valley of Rainbow Mountains
We depart this morning very early to begin our drive down the valley towards Palccoyo, one of the most famous rainbow mountains in the world. We'll eat breakfast in the bus and stop in a small village for snacks before arriving at Palccoyo for sunrise. Palccoyo is very high in elevation (~5,000m), but there is very little walking, making this a beautiful sightseeing option.
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (double occupancy)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, snacks
DAY 6
July 13th - Lake Humantay
Today is an early departure from Cusco! We'll stop in the small village of Soraypampa for breakfast and coffee before heading up the valley into the Choquequirao Preserve where we'll enjoy a short hike up to Lake Humantay. After some snacks and a leisurely exploration of the lake, we'll head back down towards our transport and return to Cusco. The drive back will be through staggering mountain passes with glaciated peaks and we'll stop several times for photos along the way.
Once back in Cusco we'll take some time to freshen up and pack our bags. Since it's our last night of the trip we'll all meet in the plaza and have one last group dinner.
Overnight: 3-Star Hotel in Cusco, Peru (double occupancy)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner at a restaurant in Cusco
DAY 7
July 14th - Departure
Sadly, today is our last day in Peru. This morning we’ll do an editing session before we depart, so be sure to book an afternoon flight out so you don’t miss this time! Private transport takes you to the Cusco airport for your departure flight to Lima. Connect to your departure flight home.
Packing List
The camera recommendations listed below are not comprehensive or mandatory, these are just our favorites. Please use the form at the bottom of the page if you have any questions. Upon signing up, you'll receive a more thorough packing list.
Travel Items
✓ Passport and travel documents
✓ Mask
✓ Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
Clothing
✓ Baselayers:
✓ Merino wool shirt
✓ T-shirts
✓ Wool hiking socks
✓ Hiking pants
✓ Midlayers:
✓ Fleece sweater
✓ Mid-weight jacket
✓ Outer layers:
✓ Warm coat
✓ Hardshell jacket
✓ Gloves
✓ Beanie
✓ Hiking boots
✓ Comfortable street shoes
Camera Gear
✓ Camera body:
✓ Wide prime lenses:
✓ Zoom lenses:
✓ Memory cards
✓ Batteries
✓ Battery charger
✓ Tripod (we use Colorado Tripod Company)
✓ Camera backpack (we use Shimoda Designs)
Accessories
✓ Headlamp and extra/rechargeable batteries
✓ Sunglasses
✓ Chapstick
✓ Laptop for editing
✓ Memory card reader
✓ Hard drive
✓ Reusable water bottle
✓ Trekking poles (note: trekking poles must have intact rubber bottoms)
Payment Terms
Your deposit of $1,000 USD will hold your space in this workshop. A second payment of $2,850 USD is due by May 1, 2023.
All of our standard terms and conditions apply.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Cancellation &
Refund Policy
We understand that attending our workshops requires advance commitment, and also that things can happen in life that may require you to cancel from a workshop. Based on cancellation date, the following apply:
Greater than 120 days before the workshop start date: full refund of any payments made.
120-61 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund of any payments made.
Within 60 days of the start of the workshop: no refund.
Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made less transaction fees.
Note that there are some non-refundable workshops for which the above terms do not apply, and for these workshops we do not offer a refund of any payments made under any circumstances. This will always be noted clearly in the workshop description as “Payments for this workshop are non-refundable under any circumstances.”
Payments made for private workshops that you arrange with us are not refundable.
Read our full terms and conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
You’re Sony ambassadors, Do I have to bring a Sony camera?
No! Feel free to bring whatever camera you choose. The more familiar you are with your camera, the better results you’ll get.
What skill level is required to attend?
All photography levels are welcome, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.
What fitness level is expected?
Moderate. The hikes we have planned are fairly short (2-3 miles/3.2-4.8 km), but the terrain can be steep and the elevations are very high.
What is the age range of the group?
All ages are welcome! We typically have a variety of ages, but we’ve had participants ranging from their teens all the way through their 80s.
Do I need a power adapter?
Perú uses a few different power outlet types. Type C (the Europlug which has two round prongs) is the most common outlet type where we will be. Don’t forget to pack adapters for your electronic devices!
What are the accommodations like?
We’ll be staying in a nice hotel in the center of Cusco for the majority of our trip. We’ll also stay at a hotel at the base of Machu Picchu the night before our visit. The hotels are double occupancy.
What is the food like?
There are a lot of options! Perú is one of the culinary capitals of the world. With its proximity to the Amazon Rainforest, the ocean, and high alpine growing climates, they have a broad diversity of both meat and produce. Our tour guide company will be providing daily snacks for us that consist of crackers, fruit, chips, etc. Please let us know ahead of time if you have any food restrictions, preferences, or allergies.
How cold will it be?
Perú is equatorial and so they don’t necessarily have a “winter” as we think of it. However, Cusco is located at nearly 12,000 ft (3,700 m) above sea level, so afternoons will be warm, but mornings and evenings can be quite chilly! We will be there during the dry season, but still bring rain gear just in case. Machu Picchu is in the rainforest, and even dry season can have precipitation.
Have More Questions?
Have More
Questions?
Get in touch using the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.