Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu

Photos from a Peru Photography Tour

Well, I can’t really believe how quickly that went. I suppose, in comparison to the 56 day tours I used to lead in South America, 14 days is a blink of the eye. But, it still seemed to whip through really quickly. Every day I kept waking up and thinking, “damn, it’s already day 6!”.

I really couldn’t be happier with how the tour went. Yes, we had some issues to deal with like any trip; there was a railroad strike, and massive waves washed out our Ballestas Islands trip, for example. But, in general, everything went really smoothly. And, of course, there were some amazing photos to be had in this wonderfully photogenic country.

To give you a bit of an overview of what went down on this photography tour of Peru, I put together a bit of video during the trip to show some of the places we saw and shot. Check it out. I’ve also got a bit of a rundown on things below.

 

The Participants

It’s funny, but I think the question I get asked the most often is about the group. How old are they? What’s they’re skill level? Where are they from? I know, people are interested because they want to see if they fit in a photography tour. Well, the good news is that no matter your background, you’ll find a place in the group.

My group had 9 participants: 4 Canadians, 4 Americans, and 1 Mexican. They were ages 26 all the way to mid-70s. Moreover, their skill levels in photography ranged from extremely talented long-time shooters to people still trying to figure out their cameras. We also had some hobbyists using high-end point and shoot cameras. So, no, you don’t need a DSLR to enjoy photography.

Really, the group was amazing. They all enjoyed a bit of adventure, were open to learning photography skills, and by the end of the trip I think we kind of melded into on big strange family of photographers.

Photography from Peru

I took nearly 1300 photos in the 14 days of this photography tour in Peru. In the end, I kept about 400. Obviously, I can’t share them all. Instead, I’m going to post my favourite photo from each day of the tour. I hope you like them.

Day 1: Lima

Lima is a bit underrated. Lots of people come here just as a way to skip off towards Cusco or the highlands. But there are photos here, both in the old town and along the coast in Miraflores.

Miraflores, Lima
Day 1 was actually pretty eventful. Not only did the group get together but there was a massive parade in downtown Lima. Then we went down and shot the sunset light in Miraflores.

Day 2: Huacachina

Huacachina is awesome.

That said, it’s starting to get a bit overrun. The last time I was there the desert was sadly filled with garbage and dune buggies were constantly kicking up dirt. But, it’s still a special place. I just hope they do a better job of preserving it.

Huacachina, Peru
Day 2 we headed over to Huacachina which is an oasis in the desert. After arriving we went dune buggy riding in the dunes. This culminated with a sunset view over the oasis.

Day 3: Pool Day in Huacachina

Huacachina Hotel
Day 3 was meant to be a visit to the Ballestas Islands. However, there was massive swell on the coast of Peru and the trip got cancelled on us. Instead, we had a pool day at the hotel before leaving mid-afternoon to Nazca.

Day 4: Nazca and the Chauchilla Cemetery

Chauchilla Cemetery
Day 4 was incredibly intensive. We did morning flights over the Nazca Lines and then in the afternoon we visited the open-air cemetery called Chauchilla. It’s creepy and awesome. In the night, we caught an overnight bus to Arequipa.

Day 5: Arequipa

Arequipa, Peru
I used to live in Arequipa, so it was fun to return. We visited the Santa Catalina Monastery in the day, then went for sunset Pisco Sours and some photography above the plaza de armas at sunset.

Day 6: Getting to the Colca Canyon

Vicuna, Peru
Leaving Arequipa, we headed towards the Colca Canyon. It’s not an easy journey, as the altitude hits heights more people don’t get exposed to. But, it sure is beautiful. Along the way, we stopped and photographed Vicuna grazing in front of this brilliant volcano.

Day 7: Gateway to the Colca

Colca Canyon, Peru
Day 7 was likely the most difficult to choose an image from. We photographed the Condors over the Colca Canyon, shot portraits of vendors, and had an amazing sunset sky over the altiplano when we left. But, in the end, it’s my first photo taken that day that makes the cut. I shot this at dawn from the lawn of my hotel at the gateway to the Colca Canyon.

Day 8: Quechua Portrait

Taquile Island, Peru
Are you starting to get the idea how much we saw on this photography tour? On day 8, we headed onto Lake Titicaca for a visit to Taquile Island and later a homestay on Amantani Island. This is a portrait from an elder on Taquile Island.

Day 9: Puno

Puno, Peru
If the intense travel schedule wasn’t enough, at the end of day 9, we decided “hey, let’s climb up above Puno and shoot Lake Titicaca and the city!” Of course, climbing at 4000m above sea level isn’t easy. We struggled, but it was worth it.

Day 10: Arrival in Cusco

Cusco, Peru
On day 10, we finally arrived in Cusco. I forgot how much I love this city. It’s just fantastic.

Day 11: Cusco

Cusco Cathedral, Peru
Finally, the group got a well-deserved free day on the trip. In Cusco, most people opted for exploration. In the evening, I headed down to the plaza after a bit of a rain storm to photograph the cathedral.

Day 12: The Sacred Valley

Weaving Alpaca Wool
This is one of my favourite days of the trip. The Sacred Valley is absolutely stunning in itself, and there are so many interesting stops along the way. Our first stop of the trip was at an Alpaca farm where locals also weave the wool. This woman weaving made for an awesome portrait.

Day 13: Machu “freaking” Picchu

Machu Picchu
Our visit to Machu Picchu was fairly classic. It started raining and miserable, and as the day evolved, the clouds began to lift. This was my favourite photo because it’s just a bit different from all the images that are a bit more clear.

Day 14: Back in Cusco

We took a couple "normal" group photos when the tour ended.  But, we realized that our group was far too goofy for a "normal" photo.  This is what we ended up with.
We took a couple “normal” group photos when the tour ended. But, we realized that our group was far too goofy for a “normal” photo. This is what we ended up with.

What’s Next on the Travel Photography Blog?

I’ve had some big life changes recently, and think a bit of a personal post is due on that situation. So that will likely be coming up soon. I also still have a video and article from Huanchaco, Peru to come. Then, I’ve actually just booked a flight to Bolivia. I’m going to head to Santa Cruz and then maybe into the jungle in search of wildlife – specifically a jaguar. So, stay tuned to the channel.