Bill Ellzey Photographs / workshops
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"A Patagonia Photo Safari...
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Other Workshops
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A day by day itineraryPart I: Unknown Patagonia
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Part II, The Torres del PaineDay 9 (Tuesday, April 24) Day 10 (Wednesday, April 25) Day 11 (Thursday, April 26) Day 12 (Friday, April 27) Day 13 (Saturday, April 28) Day 14 (Sunday, April 29) Day 15 (Monday, April 30) Day 16 (Tuesday, May 1) |
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DetailsThese Patagonia photo safaris are limited to a maximum of eight photographer participants. In many ways six is the perfect number, but every year it seems, one or two participants have to drop out at the last minute for pressing family and personal reasons. So for that reason we have set our target number at from 6 to 8 participants — with a maximum of 8. (Other photo tours to this part of the world typically set their group size at 14, 16 or more) The only downside of limiting the size of our group is that we will need at least four participants for each segment to cover our expenses. In the past, we have always had enough signups, even waiting lists. The fact that more and more serious photographers are shooting digitally and using laptop computers to download and archive their images has made real image critiquing, editing and instruction an exciting option even far from photo labs, and Patagonia is about as far as one can get. Participants will be responsible for arranging their own flights from the US to Santiago Chile, as well as their connecting Chilean air reservations, continuing south from the capital, Santiago, to Patagonia. LAN Chile is the leading local Chilean airline, and offers an extensive schedule of in-Chile flights. (In this age of escalating fuel prices it may make sense to purchase your air fares well in advance to avoid fuel-related travel costs increases.) For photographers who can join us for both Part One and Part Two, we have discovered that it is easier (and cheaper} for our outfitter-guides at Salvaje Corazon, to book the connecting flight from Balmaceda to Punta Arenas for the whole group. Once in Patagonia, all your expenses on the ground are included (alcohol however is extra). Since the price of this Photo Safari is based on double-occupancy rooms; To guarantee a single room, we need to charge a single-room supplement of $400 for Part One (Central Ptagonia or the Aisén region) and $624 for Part Two (the Torres del Paine). Because this Patagonia Photo Safari is such a major commitment, I'd like to encourage any interested photographers to contact me directly, by phone, or by email for more detailed information. (see the contact info and links at the bottom of the page). In case I am traveling and temporarily out of contact, then you can also email our terrific guide/outfitters at Salvaje Corazon by clicking To sign up for this trip, please call or email me and send a check for your trip deposit of $600 to We always ask for final trip payment 60 days before the trip starts. Our cancellation policy is standard for the travel and photo-travel industry. If for any reason you need to withdraw from this Photo Safari, please notify us at least 60 days before the start of the trip. At that time we will refund your deposit, less a $250 cancellation fee. But if notification of cancellation is made between 30 and 60 days before the start of the trip, we must retain the whole $600 deposit. If notification of cancellation is made less than 30 days before the start of the workshop there will be no refund. |
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ContactBill Ellzey Photographs |
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A warm-up day, in the form of a day-trip photo excursion from Coyhaique to one of several remarkable nearby locations — the choice depending in large measure on the intensity of the region's fall colors.
From our lodge in Puerto Tranquilo, we visit the Cavernas de Mármol (or Marble Caves) one of the most spectacular and surreal landscapes in all South America. Then we continue around Lago Carrera, photographing the glaciers above the delta of the Rio Leones beneath Patagoina's highest summit, Cerro San Valentin. After a full day we arrive at the Green Baker Lodge on the banks of the Rio Baker.
This morning we returm to the Chacabuco valley. This valley, part of the last great private ranch or estancia in Patagonia, has recently been purchased by the Patagonia Land Trust and is the core area of a large conservation/park project. The landscape changes dramatically into a series of pampas, grasslands and wetland ponds or mallines. Here we always encounter herds of wild guanaco. In the evening we return to Lago General Carrera, and check into Terra Luna, a lovely lakeside lodge near the little town of Puerto Guadal.
Our day begins with a dawn shoot of the Horns or Cuernos, directly across the lake from our hotel. After breakfast, we head off by van to explore the center of the national park. We will spend a second night at the Hosteria Pehoe.
We focus on the floating icebergs or "témpanos" in Lago Grey; a boat excursion to the face of the giant glacier feeding this lake takes us right beneath the blue cliffs of thousand-year-old ice. We spend a second night at the Hosteria Grey.
Today, we once more change our base of operations, moving to the other side of the park, an area well known for its wildlife, especially guanacos and foxes that often seem to want to pose just beneath the most dramatic peaks. We spend the night at the Hosteria Los Torres.