Nature and Culture
Peru
Nov. 4 to 14, 2025
Peru is incredible, and we'll photograph birds and wildlife and also landscapes, macro, and even cities, people, and markets. Biodiversity includes human culture, and our workshop is designed to help you tell an in-depth story of the country by using a variety of photo techniques. This trip takes us from the Amazon lowlands to the high Andes!
Date
Nov. 4 to 14, 2025
$
Price
$6,799
Difficulty Level
Moderate
6
Available Spots
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View the itinerary below, read more about the tour, or sign up now!
About the Workshop
Nature and Culture
About the Workshop
Nature and Culture
Leaders
Frank Pichardo
Frank Pichardo is a Peruvian wildlife photographer and tour leader with a strong passion for nature, most of his experience in the field comes from his seven-year work as a naturalist guide for the prestigious lodges of Rainforest Expeditions leading people and teaching about the flora and fauna since 2009. Frank obtained his degree from the Tourism School in Lima, where he also became fluent in English and German. This was the beginning of a long term work in the ecotourism industry.
At the moment, he is part of Tropical Herping, contributing for the “Reptiles of Ecuador”, “Reptiles of Galapagos” and “Amphibians if Ecuador” books, joining also scientific expeditions into remote areas to understand better this group of animals, leading workshops and photo tours. Frank’s work has been featured in National Geographic and BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Follow Frank on Instagram -- @frank_pichardo
Greg Basco
Gregory Basco is a professional nature photographer based in Costa Rica. After completing graduate degrees in political science and tropical ecology (his doctoral dissertation focused on the politics of ecotourism in Costa Rica), Greg worked in conservation before turning to photography full-time in 2006. His images have been awarded in the Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice competitions and have appeared in numerous magazines and books around the world.
His latest major project is the second edition of the large format printed book National Parks of Costa Rica in conjunction with Zona Tropical and Cornell University Press. His popular e-books include The Guide to Tropical Nature Photography, the mega e-book Flash for the Nature Photographer, and the new Complete Video Guide to Lightroom for the Nature Photographer.
You can see more of Greg's work at his website.
Follow him on Instagram @gregbascophotography
Gallery
Info
Airport
You should arrive to and depart from Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM).
Electricity
Some electrical outlets in Perú are US-style types A and B) while others or European-style (type C). Please bring the adapter for the type of plugs you don't use at home. Voltage is 220, but personal electronic items and chargers work just fine with either 110 or 220.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.
Medical
No vaccinations are required for entry to Perú. Please consult with your doctor regarding general travel vaccinations.
Internet Access
All of our hotels have free WIFI. We will also have cell data coverage for most of the trip.
Certified
All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional and legally operated travel experience.
Recommended gear
Tele lens 500 mm or longer
Teleconverters
Camera body or bodies
Medium zoom lens, e.g., 70-200 mm, 100-400 mm
Macro lens
Wide angle lens
Cable release
A flash with TTL functionality
Telephoto flash bracket
Flash plus Better Beamer for birds and wildlife
Rain cover for camera
Small softbox or diffuser
Small pack or shoulder bag for daily shooting
View the full Itinerary +
Day 1, Arrival/Lima
Arrival to Perú. Meet our representative at Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM). and transfer to our hotel right on the airport complex, where Foto Verde Tours’ Greg Basco will be awaiting your arrival. The hotel has free wireless Internet throughout the grounds and in the rooms.
Day 2, Rainforest
After breakfast, we fly to the Amazon city of Tarapoto. After a quick stop in town to purchase any necessary odds and ends, we arrive to our jungle lodge for lunch and check-in. In the afternoon, we head out for a river boat ride to photograph hoatzin, herons, toucans, and kingfishers.
Day 3, Rainforest
Today we spend all of our time on the lodge grounds where we will concentrate on macro photography of some amazing species of frogs such as the Three-striped and Mimic Poison Dart Frogs! We'll help you to get comfortable with flash so that you can take awesome photos of the colorful subjects the Peruvian rainforest offers us.
Day 4, Rainforest
This morning we tak a hike to visit a super photogenic waterfall in the private reserve of our lodge. After lunch, we have time for more macro photography until we adjourn for dinner.
Day 5, Arequipa
Today we fly from Tarapoto to the city of Arequipa in the country's southwest. Arequipa is the gateway to the Colca Canyon and the best spot we've found to photograph the Andean Condor. We arrive this afternoon to our charming hotel right on the main plaza of Arequipa where we will practice blue hour city photography right from the terrace.
Day 6, Colca Canyon
Today we travel to the Colca Canyon and our beautiful lodge replete with natural hot springs. We visit the nearby town of Maca in the afternoon where we have made contacts that will allow us to photograph local people.
Day 7, Colca Canyon
We're up early this morning to photograph the condors and then we'll enjoy lunch in the quaint town of Chivay, which is quite photogenic. This afternoon we'll have a break to do some photography right on our lodge grounds and/or to relax and enjoy the hot springs.
Day 8, To Cusco
After breakfast today, we check out and fly to Cusco but not without another session with the condors! We arrive to Cusco in the late afternoon with time to check-in and chill. For those interested, we can head over to the main plaza (which is incredible) for a bit of travel photography or timelapses.
Day 9, Cusco/Sacred Valley
Today we visit the town of Pisaq for street and market photography, a great typical Peruvian lunch, and then a photographic session with a local cultural and dance group with whom we've established a relationship. With luck, we'll even be able to photograph an enigmatic figure called the Huaylaca in full dress!
Day 10, Cusco/Sacred Valley
After an early breakfast this morning we visit a local nature reserve for photos of hummingbirds, including the iconic Sword=billed and Giant hummingbirds. After lunch back at our lodge, we take the afternoon to visit the amazing and super photogenic Maras community salt ponds, a perfect opportunity to tell a story using wide angle, telephoto, macro, and portrait lenses..
Day 11, To the airport
This morning we head to the airport in Cusco for our flight back to Lima, from where you will continue home. We do have an optional Machu Picchu extension available for those who would wish to visit this famous place and stay in Cusco for an extra day or two.
Itinerary includes
Full-time photo instruction by Greg and Frank
Lodging as specified in DBL occupancy
Meals as specified
Local nature and cultural guides
Private transportation in spacious tour bus
Internal flights throughout the trip
Entrance fees for all described activities
Taxes on all services listed above
Itinerary does not include
International flights
Dinner nights 1, 5, 8, 11
Alcoholic drinks
Gratuities
Non-meal time snacks
Non-meal time soft drinks and bottled water
Single room supplement - $812
Booking a tour with us is easy!
1. Register for your tour using the form at the end of each workshop page.
4. Send us your traveler info form.
2. Send us your reserve deposit.
5. We will send you your final invoice.
3. Book your international air travel.
6. We´ll send you everything you need to know before you hop on the plane!
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+ Will someone be there to meet me at the airport?Certainly! We take care of you from the moment you step off the plane until the moment you leave to return home. We'll send you all of the info you need to know regarding arrival in a final info message before the trip.
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+ I plan to arrive a day early. Can you help?Definitely, we'll be happy to make your reservations to ensure that you get to the same hotel that we have booked for the official first night of the tour. By the way, private transfers to and from the airport are always included in our tours, and you can use this transfer whether you arrive early or depart later than the official dates.
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+ What kind of clothes should I bring?In general, your best choices are lightweight garments that breathe and dry quickly, and you'll want a mix of long sleeves and short sleeves. A light polar-tec and a good rain jacket are also good to have. For meals, it's informal at the lodges and in the region in general. A pair of jeans, tennis shoes, and a clean shirt are just fine for dinner, even in the capital city hotels. Lightweight hiking boots are fine for your photography out in the field, and if you're visiting a beach area, you will want sandals or aqua shoes as well. Of course a good hat and sunscreen are important. We will send you clothing information specific to your trip after you've signed up.
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+ Can I have laundry done?Many of the lodges we use offer laundry service for a cost of approximately $1 per garment with same or next day service. We will indicate to you which lodges have laundry service after you've signed up for a given trip.
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+ Can I drink the water?This is probably the question that our clients ask us the most. And it’s the one for which we have the least definitive answer, except to say that beer is always a safe choice!. Water in and around capital cities is treated with chlorine and generally can be consumed with no worries. The lodges that we use for our photo travel often have their own well water, which is tested regularly by the Ministry of Health. Nonetheless, upset stomachs do occur as a result of change in diet or simply bacteria different from those to which Northern stomachs are accustomed. Serious disorders such as Giardia or amoebic dysentery are virtually unheard of. Bottled water is very widely available at our hotels and lodges, and a conservative strategy would be to use it as often as possible when outside the capital. As with travel to any foreign country, immodium pills are good to have along, and some of our clients also bring along Cipro or other broad-spectrum antibiotics. Some go so far as to begin taking antibiotics before arriving in-country. For antibiotic use, we suggest you consult with your physician. That said, we have very very few problems with water and food-related issues on our tours. During the tour, we will indicate to you where and when it might be better to stick to bottled water.
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+ I'd like a single room. Can that be arranged?Certainly. Simply indicate your rooming preference on the workshop signup form. There may be an extra for the single room supplement. This is simply the difference due to what our hotels and lodges charge us. We do not take a commission for single room supplements.
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+ I'm traveling by myself but would like a double room. Can that be arranged?It depends. If we can match you up with a suitable solo traveler who also wants to share, we will be happy to place you in a double room.
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Should I bring a tripod?Yes, you always want to bring a tripod. We will advise your each trip of any need for specialized heads or flash brackets.