Skip to content Unparalleled access to key visitor sites and expert knowledge from photographers of world renown. Discover Galapagos like never before!
Guided tours through this incredible archipelago and personalized instruction from globally recognized photographers create an unforgettable travel experience.
Galapagos, with its incredible variety of wildlife and breathtaking locations, provides the perfect opportunity for both beginners seeking their first wildlife photography adventure and experienced photographers looking for a unique new experience, all while capturing timeless memories they’ll hold onto forever!
Lucas Bustamante has dived with whale sharks, been bitten by countless snakes, and been chased by elephants. He co-founded Tropical Herping and Savia Fund, an Ecuadorian Nonprofit dedicated to the legal defense of nature.
His photographic work has been featured in National Geographic, Audubon, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Smithsonian, and many other magazines, books, photo exhibitions, and articles. Lucas’s primary objective is to use photography to promote wildlife conservation, so he manages different projects throughout South America, Africa, and Asia.
Frank Pichardo is a Peruvian wildlife photographer and tour leader. He has almost two decades of experience focusing on professional photography in the Peruvian and Ecuadorian Upper Amazon.
Frank leads the tourism department of Tropical Herping, thanks to his vast experience and knowledge in photo tours and ecotourism.
Nowadays, he is focused on photographing nature for conservation and education purposes. His work has been featured in National Geographic and BBC Wildlife Magazine.
The Photography Masterclass begins in Quito. Following a lovely journey through our highlands, you will embark on a Galapagos Cruise aboard Yacht Isabela II. It is available to both amateurs and professionals. We’ve picked the best route for a photography cruise based on diverse flora, fauna, and magical settings.
We invite you to participate in our photography expedition extension after your Galapagos trip. You will travel with your photo instructors one more time to complete your Ecuador portfolio, visiting the cloud forest, the Choco rainforest, the Andes, and Old Quito after your Galapagos trip. An itinerary for the first time scheduled and unique in the country!
Year | Start Date | End Date | Price |
2024 | 6/Sep/2024 | 12/Sep/2024 | USD 7,965 |
2025 | 5/Sep/2025 | 11/Sep/2025 | USD 8,499 |
Transfer between Airport & Hotel in Quito. Welcome to Quito! Remember to always keep your camera at the ready! 
Day trip to Antisana National Park (full-day).
Overnight at Holiday Inn Hotel (airport). 
Our team will offer on-location tips and tricks for photographing Galapagos wildlife and setting up your shot for the best photographic results. Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport and return to the mainland. Year | Start Date | End Date | Price |
2025 | 11/Sep/25 | 16/Sep/2025 | USD 3,878 |
The masterclass extension begins here, with visits to Quito and the nearby rainforest!
Overnight at Casa Gangotena.
The adventure gets underway in Ecuador’s capital, Quito. Quito has the distinction of being one of the very first places to be declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. From here, we take off for Mashpi Reserve located a few hours northwest of the city, within the Metropolitan District of Quito. Mashpi is nestled deep within the cloud and rainforests of the Ecuadorian Chocó—one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots.
All our activities are designed to help you improve your photography skills.
Cultural Tour of Quito (Live Quito like a Local) (full-day)
Overnight at Casa Gangotena. 
Transfer between Hotel in Quito & Airport.
We appreciate you having this experience with us! The use of flash is not permitted with animals anywhere on the islands due to Galapagos National Park regulations.
Galapagos park rules state that the closest we can get is 6 feet of any animal. So long lenses are not 100% required because animals on the islands are fearless of humans, and almost always, they are very close to us. However, sometimes we find birds in the distance or extraordinary behavior that is not near us.
Yes, modern phone cameras are very well adapted to our photo needs, especially to take some snaps of incredible and dramatic landscapes and images of animals in their environment.
Due to Galapagos National Park regulations, drones are not permitted anywhere on the islands.
Yes. Your Galapagos guides and photo instructors will give you relevant information about the local wildlife’s natural history alongside your photo instruction. We believe it is essential to create more compelling and powerful images.
For this experience, a tripod is not essential. But if you want to experience slow-motion with landscapes and the waves, you can bring a light or travel tripod. A GorillaPod can be very useful as well. We will not practice night photography on this trip because all our excursions will take place during the daytime, and at night time, we will be on the ship.
Before each excursion, we will suggest what kind of lenses to bring, according to the highlight of each spot; in that way, a small daypack will be enough. We are not walking long distances or rushing.
Yes. During our hikes or outings, you will typically not need them, but the sea can sometimes be rough when we are on the dingy or returning from the ship to the islands. And sometimes, it can drizzle on the islands as well. So better, you are ready to protect your cameras.
It will be helpful if you can bring a polarizer and neutral density filters to this trip.
A significant component of our trip will be snorkeling. So yes, if you can bring any camera you can carry to the water, your photo instructors will also help you with tips and tricks for taking great images underwater.
