On our second day, we check out of our hotel in Santiago and head to the airport to catch our flight to Easter Island. Arriving in Rapa Nui, it becomes obvious why this is the most remote location on earth. Situated over 3,700 km offshore from the Chilean mainland, the closest land mass is the Pitcairn Islands, located over 1,900 km to the west. The isolation from the rest of the world, the incredible human monoliths known as the Maoi, and the tiny population of Rapa Nui locals result in the very essence of living history.

We will also photograph a site of the Moai during a beautiful sunset. The Moai statues tend to face inland due to the general historical consensus that the inhabitants of Easter Island thought that they were the only people in the world. Therefore the inhabitants feared that all threats would come from within, hence the Moai faced inland to protect the population.

Before dinner, we will enjoy a group orientation with our historical and archaeology guide who will tell us more about the heritage sites that we will be visiting during our days here. (B)

Today we will head out early to photograph the magnificent human monoliths of Ahu Tongariki at sunrise. One of the most iconic Moai sites, 15 human monoliths make up the single largest collection of statues on the island. Each statue has it’s own unique features, with the tallest character standing at 46 feet high. Demolished by a tsunami in 1960, the site was restored by the Chilean archaeologist Claudio Cristino, together with Sergio Rapu, a scholar and former island governor.

After our photography session at Ahu Tongariki, we will enjoy breakfast at our hotel before heading to photograph some of the local inhabitants in traditional dress on a private photo shoot. Traditional Rapa Nui wore body paint, a simple loincloth tied with hair or natural fiber, ornaments and a headdress adorned with feathers.

In the afternoon we will set on a field trip to the inland sites of Ahu Huri a Urenga and Ahu Akivi, as well as Puna Pau, the small extinct volcano that served as a quarry for carving Moai headdresses.

After dinner, and with weather conditions permitting, we will experiment with some astrophotography and light painting of the Moai. Our tour dates have been designed for astrophotography during a new moon, ensuring a clear night sky full of stars. (B)

Today, we head out for some golden hour photography of the massive Moai at Rano Raraku. We will hike the mountainside path to view the quarry where 400 Moai statues were carved from the surrounding basalt, which was essentially a production factory and the source of Maoi dotted all over the island. Here you can view each stage of the production process, as many were unfinished pieces. There are remains of Moai on the southern flank of a volcanic crater, and we can hike the final ascent to look down into the freshwater lagoon within. Many of the Moai statues are buried with only the heads visible above ground, while the full height of statues of up to 10 meters are hidden below ground. Rano Raraku is the heart of Rapa Nui civilization and invokes a sense of mystery like nowhere else.

In the late afternoon, we will enjoy a private photoshoot of locals in traditional dress. This is a fun and productive way to photograph ancestral traditions and local rituals in photogenic light, and captured in a controlled environment and at our own pace.

In the evening, we will enjoy local cuisine such as Umu Tahu – the method of cooking underground in deep pits, where fish, beef, or chicken together with sweet potato, cassava, and taro is cooked in banana leaves over hot rocks and in multiple levels, before being covered in earth. (B)

Today we meet a local expert in archaeology and heritage, who will do a presentation before heading out on a field trip to explore the archaeological site of Ahu Vinapu. Known as the ‘Inca of Rapa Nui’, the stone construction of this ceremonial center shares incredible similarities to the ancient Inca civilization and is unlike anything else found in Polynesia. This location raises questions about the origins of the Rapa Nui people, and together with subsequent wars between clans adds to the fascinating mystery of the island.

After lunch, we will enjoy an excursion to Anakena, the largest beach in Rapa Nui. A beautiful white sand beach surrounded by palm trees, we will enjoy a swim in the Pacific Ocean and relax on the beautiful shoreline. Anakena is the location where Hotu Matu’a, the legendary first king-chief, is believed to have arrived by canoe and lived in a nearby cave while his house was being completed.

Nearby is Ahu Nau Nau – a complex archaeological site where it was discovered that coral fragments unearthed in the sand were actually the inlaid eyes of the Moai. From here we will visit the Poike Ditch – where the legend has it that Long Ears and Short Ears had their famed battle. It is widely believed that these 2 groups on the island came to a decisive war, with Short Ears or Hanau Momoko being the victorious and surviving group that makeup today’s population. (B)

This morning and during beautiful light, we will enjoy photographing environmental portraits of models in traditional Rapa Nui dress on the beach. Utilizing seascapes as backgrounds and including reflections from the warm light, our photoshoot is a productive and fun way to combine photographing the locals and then enjoying a swim in the pristine waters and taking time to relax on the beach. We will enjoy a traditional barbecue dinner in a beautiful setting during sunset, before we head to Ahu Akivi to capture sacred sites on an astrophotography session during the blue hour.

Unique to the island, the seven Moai at this site actually face outwards towards the sea. Some of the Rapa Nui families believe that the seven statues at Ahu Akivi represent the seven explorers who sent by King Hotu Matu’a to find Rapa Nui a thousand years ago. The narrative of the reason for the Moai facing to sea is the origin of the Rapa Nui people, which many believe are the Marquesas Islands – over 3,600km to the North West.

Ahu Akivi is one of the island’s most sacred sites, and exactly faces the sunset during the spring equinox, while the backs of the Moai perfectly face sunrise during the autumn equinox. It is considered a source as reference for astronomical study due to its astronomical accuracy. Due to its remote location, Easter Island has extremely low levels of light pollution. This is one of the highlights of our trip, the contextual scenes including the incredible foregrounds of the Moai during a new moon result in stunning celestial images. (B)

Today we will check out of our hotel on Rapa Nui and take our return flight to Santiago. This will be a good opportunity to go through our images to date and select our favorite images for a group critique in the evening. After we check in to our hotel in Santiago and enjoy some local cuisine, we will have a group critique of our selected images to date. (B)

Today, we will take an excursion out of Santiago, and take an hour’s drive south to the stunning natural beauty of the Maipo Canyon. A narrow valley deep in the foothills of the Andes mountains, this region consists of high mountain passes, forests, rivers, lakes, and hot springs. The Maipo river created a deep canyon of over 70km into the Andes and ends at the town of Pirque, the southernmost limits of the Peruvian Empire. We will also photograph reflections of the El Yeso reservoir at the foothills of the Andes and its beautiful turquoise blue waters.

Due to the natural beauty located relatively close to Santiago, day-trippers come to this region to experience trekking, kayaking, horseback riding, fly fishing and other outdoor activities. The Maipo Valley contains some of Chile’s best wineries. With the beautiful natural setting of vineyards nestled between the foothills of the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, the region is often referred to as the Bordeaux of South America, where Cabernet Sauvignon variety of wines are primarily produced. We will enjoy a lunch of traditional cuisine from local produce together with a wine-tasting tour in one of the region’s premiere bodegas, before arriving back in Santiago. (B)

No photography trip to Chile would be complete without a visit to the city of Valparaiso. Before the Panama Canal was established, the city’s harbor played an important role in Chile’s development during the 19th century and is one of the country’s most important seaports. With an emphasis on art that can be literally found everywhere, the maze-like urban planning of Valparaiso covers an incredible 400 square km of space for street art. There is an interesting history of why the city is so colorful. British ships would trade local materials for rock, metal and paint, and this established a city covered in an explosion of color in every tone and hue imaginable.

As well as including the use of color in compositions, Valparaiso is also a great location for street photography. The city is situated on over 40 hills, and you will find brightly painted stairs leading past amazing murals of art everywhere. The funicular will take us uphill, and we can descend by foot, capturing scenes of this dynamic and exciting city on the way down. (B)

Today, we will leave Santiago and take our flight to San Pedro de Atacama, where we will spend the last part of the trip. In the afternoon, we will head off on a hike in the stunning Valle de la Luna or Valley of the Moon. Wandering through this Martian landscape of sand dunes and jagged rock formations of the Cordillera de la Sal, we will capture the warm colors and variety of tones that change as the light during the afternoon golden hour turns into the sunset and beyond.

Due to this martial landscape and lack of any light pollution, a large array of high-precision telescopes are located here for the scientific advancement of knowledge of the universe. During blue hour, we will unpack our tripods to enjoy some astrophotography with foregrounds of landscapes of incredible rock formations, before heading back to our hotel. (B)

Today we will head out in the morning to the charming Andean village of Toconao. Located 2,500 meters above sea level, Toconao is an oasis within the most barren desert in the world. The modest architecture of the village centres around the church bell tower that was constructed from volcanic rock, and whose inhabitant’s industry revolves around agriculture. Small channels were created to irrigate orchards of fruit and vegetables. With the village set in such an extreme and harsh environment, it is remarkable that agriculture is found here. We can also visit the local artisans that create crafts, carved from the quarry’s volcanic rock. Nearby is the large canyon and water source for irrigation at Quebrada de Jerez, where petroglyphs can be viewed on the rock face.

From here we will head to the Laguna Chaxa. Located in the middle of the Atacama Salt Flats, this lagoon makes up part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve and is an especially beautiful natural setting with its layers of colors and salt deposits. The lagoon is divided into several lakes and is home to Chilean and Andean flamingos. We will continue to the Miñiques and Miscanti lagoons of the Altiplanic region where turquoise water and warm colors contrast resulting in stunning scenery for landscape photography. (B)

Today we head out very early for a fun morning of photography at the Geysers of Tatio. From 900 meters below the ground, boiling steam erupts and shoots over 40 meters above the surface of the earth. El Tatio is located at over 4,300 meters above sea level and is the largest geothermal field in the southern hemisphere. We will enjoy photographing the surreal landscapes such as the Puritama hot springs before capturing some magnificent views of the Tocopurri and Sairecabur volcanoes on our way back to San Pedro.

This afternoon, we will have some time to relax and explore in San Pedro. This fun village is great to wander through its markets and shop-lined streets of adobe that have been receiving travelers for generations. This afternoon will also be a good opportunity to select and edit images to date. (B)

We head out in the morning to photograph the Cejar lagoon, also known as the floating lagoon. We can also come prepared with bathing suits and towels as we enjoy floating in this lagoon due to the high salt content. A polarising filter can be useful here in reducing glare and emphasizing the intense turquoise water and white crystallized salt deposits that line the edges of the lagoon. This area is rich in Borax and Lithium minerals and home to flamingos and tag birds. Watching and photographing the birds in their natural environment is a wonderful way to end a morning of landscape and nature photography. Today we will enjoy our final group critique of images.

In the afternoon we will head to the Valle de Marte or Valley of Mars, to experience the colors and tones of the rock, sand dunes and sky changing from golden hour to sunset. The surreal landscape of jagged mountains, salt caves and sand dunes really does give the impression of being on another planet. The Valle de Marte also offers some of the most incredible views overlooking the Atacama desert, and capturing the sunset here is a special experience as our photography trip comes to an end.

In the evening we will celebrate our Farewell Dinner as we recount our time spent together in some of Chile’s most beautiful locations. (B, D)

Our last day comes to an end when we check out and head to the airport to return to Santiago. Depending on your plans after our tour ends, you will either catch your return flight home or extend your trip within Chile or elsewhere. We will trade contact information and bid each other farewell. (B)