Hidden Wilds

Day 01

3.15

Meet in Lima

Fly into Lima, Peru's capital, from around the world; check in and rest off the jet lag. In the afternoon, a look around the city — the life of a South American coastal metropolis — as our in-depth photography journey begins.

Day 02

3.16

Lima → Cusco → Urubamba → Aguas Calientes

Meet at Lima international airport for the group flight to the ancient city of Cusco. Pick-up and lunch, then the drive to Urubamba, shooting highland villages, terraces and salt pans along the way, arriving in Aguas Calientes by evening.

Day 03

3.17

Machu Picchu sunrise · In-depth visit → Cusco

Machu Picchu in the exquisite light of sunrise, then an in-depth visit of the Inca citadel with a professional guide — stonework, cloud seas in the valleys and hidden jungle corners, the depth of a thousand-year civilisation. Return to Cusco for the night.

Day 04

3.18

Cusco at leisure · Street photography

A full, slow day shooting Cusco's old streets and lanes, colonial architecture, street life and the fabric of the ancient city — immersed in the unique atmosphere where Inca culture meets South American colonial charm. (Bolivia visa processing today.)

Day 05

3.19

Cusco → Palccoyo Rainbow Mountain → Sicuani

An early start for Pallay Punchu to photograph the rainbow mountain — the gorgeous light on the plateau's coloured strata. Afterwards, on to the small town of Sicuani for the night.

Day 06

3.20

Palccoyo · Pachata hot springs under the stars

The morning at Palccoyo, the quieter rainbow mountain in its pristine state — pure colour, few people, beautiful scenes. In the afternoon, the highland hot springs of Pacchanta; at night, zero light pollution and a pristine plateau sky.

Day 07

3.21

Seven Lakes hike · Return to Cusco

A full-day gentle hike among the seven highland lakes — alpine lakes, snow peaks and meadows, the untouched plateau. A community lunch along the way for a deep taste of Andean culture. Evening back in Cusco for the team's farewell dinner.

Day 08

3.22

Cusco → La Paz

Fly to La Paz, Bolivia. Check in and rest, then an afternoon in the city — acclimatising to the altitude while photographing the mountain city's street life and landmarks.

Day 09

3.23

La Paz badlands & city in depth

The morning among La Paz's signature badlands — gaunt, grand plateau light on the clay spires. The afternoon roaming the city streets: architecture, markets and everyday life, unlocking the character of the world's highest capital from every angle.

Day 10

3.24

La Paz → Uyuni Salt Flats

A morning flight to the Uyuni salt flat. After a proper rest on arrival, we head out to explore the salar in the afternoon: the guide leads us to the best spots — shallow flooded areas for the mirror effect, or the hexagonal salt-crystal patterns where the pan is dry — pure white salt desert and mirror lake at their extreme. At night, the Milky Way over the train cemetery. Overnight in a salt-brick hotel.

Day 11

3.25

Tunupa volcano hike · Incahuasi Island

If water levels allow, we also visit Incahuasi island, famous for its cacti, choosing the ideal spot for sunset and the Milky Way.

Day 12–13

3.26

Full day at Laguna Colorada

A full day stationed at the high-altitude red lagoon: crimson water against snow peaks, plateau wildlife and plants — the intense colours found only at this altitude. The next morning we shoot the twin spectacle of Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde, red against green with striking visual impact. In the evening we cross into Chile and check in at San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 14

3.28

Atacama Desert in depth

A full day deep in the core of the Atacama: the driest Gobi on earth, coloured strata, barren alien landscapes and crystalline highland light.

Day 15

3.29

Atacama → Purmamarca · Hill of Seven Colours sunset

After breakfast we set out, shooting the Chilean altiplano panorama and crossing into Argentina. At sunset we visit the painted ranges north of Purmamarca — layered, coloured mountains in the last light. Night in a Purmamarca hotel.

Day 16

3.30

Salinas Grandes sunrise · Labyrinth desert sunset

Sunrise at Salinas Grandes, one of Argentina's great natural wonders — salt textures, cones and pools in the early light. En route we pass century-old cactus forests and a vintage high-altitude railway. Evening in the labyrinth desert, a Mars-like landscape at sunset. Hotel at Tolar Grande, altitude 3,450 m.

Day 17

3.31

Argentine Puna volcanic landscapes in depth

Morning photography on the Tolar Grande salt flat and at Ojos del Campo — perfect terrain for drone work. In the afternoon and at sunset, the Arita cone: a magnificent geological wonder carved by erosion into a near-perfect cone, standing alone in the vast emptiness of the Arizaro salt pan on the Puna de Atacama. Hotel at Tolar Grande, altitude 3,450 m.

Day 18

4.01

Arizaro salt flat sunrise · Antofalla palette hills

A pre-dawn crossing of the Arizaro salt flat to wait for sunrise at the Arita cone, then deep into hidden Antofalla — red-and-green painted hills and coloured salt pools. In the afternoon we cross the scenic Calalaste canyon and climb over the range to Antofagasta de la Sierra, leaving the desert behind for streams and vegetation. Night at a characterful local lodge.

Day 19

4.02

Highland lagoon sunrise · El Peñón clay plains sunset

Sunrise over a blue highland lagoon framed by a line of volcanoes. We drive to the remote, pristine village of El Peñón, and at sunset photograph the untouched clay plains and adobe hamlets in the wilderness. Three consecutive nights at El Peñón's characterful lodge.

Day 20

4.03

Laguna Grande · Flamingo photography

Sunrise at Laguna Grande near the Galán crater, with a good chance of flamingos — the lagoon is a nesting ground for several flamingo species and other birds, a landscape of rare beauty. In the afternoon, the giant pumice fields left by volcanic eruptions: sculptural, porous stone labyrinths carved by ten thousand years of wind.

Day 21

4.04

Pumice fields · Hidden white dunes

The morning at Carachi Pampa lagoon — rose flamingos flocking to feed, framed by red mineral water, emerald algae and black lava volcanoes: high-altitude ecology at its most layered and explosive in colour. In the afternoon, more of the pumice fields, then a stop at pure-white hidden dunes — one of northern Argentina's finest little-known wilderness scenes.

Day 22

4.05

El Peñón → Cafayate

After days of intensity on the high plateau, the northwest still holds surprises. From El Peñón the road passes golden meadows, white lagoons and narrow, densely vegetated canyons few travellers ever see. On to Cafayate to check in; in the afternoon, sunset in the Quebrada de las Flechas — a desert of quartz-grey rock surfaced with sediments from an ancient lake. Cafayate is the heart of the northern wine country, famed for its Torrontés whites and a perfect place to visit a bodega. Night in Cafayate, altitude 1,683 m.

Day 23

4.06

Cafayate / Salta

After breakfast we set out for the Quebrada de las Conchas — 55 km of magnificent sedimentary rock — then drive on to Salta, one of northwest Argentina's most scenic road trips, crossing four distinct ecosystems from lush forest to semi-arid valley. Over the pass we descend to Salta, watching along the way for Andean condors soaring in the deep-blue sky, guanacos and wild donkeys, and the spectacle of thousands of giant cacti. There is ample time for views and photographs. Four-star hotel in Salta tonight.

Day 24

4.07

Salta or Tucumán → Buenos Aires · Trip ends

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Buenos Aires — our complete four-country South American loop comes to an end. Or continue with the leader to Patagonia for the ultimate autumn colours and snow-capped peaks.