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Peregrine Travel Centre

Photography Workshop Galapagos Tour

Photography Workshop Galapagos Tour

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Description

Our Galápagos photography trips offer a unique, uninterrupted 15-day circumnavigation with a focus on extensive exploration and rare phenomena. Guided by two expert naturalists and renowned photographer Tui deRoy, you’ll enjoy intimate and flexible experiences tailored to both keen photographers and their companions. Early morning and late afternoon excursions, a slow-paced itinerary, and two nights in Quito before embarkation ensure optimal conditions and a seamless start to your adventure.
Your Photography Tour Leader:  Tui de Roy
Tui De Roy is a world-renowned, award-winning wildlife photographer and writer, as well as an acclaimed conservationist and founding fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers. 
Tui has lived in the Galapagos since the age of two, when her artist parents decided to leave their native Belgium to become pioneers in the little known archipelago in 1955. Home taught with a keen interest in nature, she became the first naturalist guide when tourism began to reach the islands in 1969, but soon turned to wildlife photography and writing as her lifelong profession. 
Taking up residency in New Zealand in 1992, Tui travelled the world for 20 years, producing large format books on topics as varied as the world’s albatrosses and penguins, a natural history of the Andean mountain chain, and an ecosystem-based exploration of New Zealand.
After photographing on all seven continents, Tui has now returned full time to Galápagos where she is dedicating herself to re-photographing the wonders of these islands with a new eye, and spreading the word about their fragility and need for protection.  Still, it’s impossible to keep her settled!  Her most recent project is focusing on sea turtles of the world – capturing images of a wide range of sea turtles around the planet.  
Tui’s work has been published in over 40 countries. She has authored 20 natural history books illustrated with her images, including a line of Galapagos guidebooks and recently released children’s books. In 2020 Princeton University Press will publish her landmark photographic anthology covering her 50 years of Galapagos photography. 
Only very rarely does Tui lead a photo tour – this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the islands through her eyes! 

Trip Name
Photography Workshop Galapagos Tour
Days
17
Overview
Vessel Type: Catamaran Passenger Capacity: 16 Built/Refurbished: 2006/2024 Of the 50 or so such small ships, which one to choose for our photography workshops?  We considered reputation, price point, itinerary configuration, design and many other variables.  It was a also critical that your expert photographer endorse the ship.  After careful consideration, the 16 passenger Anahi rose to the top of our shortlist.  More comfortable that a tourist superior ship, but not in the "luxury" class, the Anahi rests at what we consider a good price point.  The catamaran Anahi is owned and operated by an Ecuadorian couple with strong Galapagos roots. Built in 2006, it was extensively refurbished in 2024. We asked our photographer/tour leader for her endorsement, and Tui de Roy gave it her two thumbs up. 

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1: Wednesday
 Arrival in Quito, overnight at the Mama Cuchara Arts Hotel. Free evening for those arriving earlier. Hotel transfer is not included.  Taxis can be easily arranged at the airport.  If you'd like a private transfer, contact us.
Day 2 - Day 2: Thursday
 After breakfast at the hotel, you'll get the chance to visit Quito's historic centre.  The government of Ecuador and the City government have invested a lot over the past decade and transformed to old city centre into a delightful place to discover history and architecture, along with the opportunity to see Ecuadorians out and about in town.    Historic Quito was inscribed onto the World Heritage list at the same time as Galapagos, in 1978 (see http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/2 for more details).   If the morning's sky is particularly clear, we will arrange for a trip on the cable car up to Pichincha volcano, where you should be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the Quito valley below and surrounding snow capped volcanoes.  Lunch is provided in a tasty local restaurant.   You'll be back at the hotel in time for a quiet late afternoon.  Free evening - local restaurants abound.
Day 3 - Day 3: Friday
 AM: Flying from Quito, our flight will arrive at Baltra Island at around noon (local time), where we will be greeted by our guide in the lobby, who will be waiting for our arrival to drive us to Yacht Anahí. Your baggage will be handled by one of our crew members who, aboard the smallZodiacs will transport you directly to the yacht. The captain and the crew will welcome you on board, and then you will have your cabins assigned. After lunch, our guide will give you a brief explanation of the afternoon activities.PM: Bachas Beach: The sand of the beach is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, while it is also one of the favorite nesting places of sea turtles. Nearby, we can also find a small lagoon where we will be able to observe flamingos, black-necked stilts, thrushes, as well as two old ships that were abandoned during the Second World War. Furthermore, we will also find sea lions, marine iguanas, and seabirds resting on the beach. We will enjoy the tranquility of the beach as well as spend some time with the playful sea lions that like to swim with the visitors. 
Day 4 - Day 4: Saturday
 AM: Darwin Bay: A beautiful bay area due to the great diversity of seabirds that nest in the mangroves that dominate the area. These include red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, Galápagos petrels, seabirds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and Galápagos doves.PM: Prince Philip's Steps: We will climb 25 meters of stairs at one of the best bird nesting sites on the islands. We will have the opportunity to snorkel, kayak, hike, and take a ride in a panga.
Day 5 - Day 5: Sunday
 AM: South Plaza Island: You'll find unusual vegetation here, creating an interesting landscape that helps to enhance the fauna and the flora of the Galápagos. It is also possible to observe land iguanas in the shade of cacti. The main attractions of the Plaza Islands include land iguanas, sea lions, and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as lizards, island insects, red-beaked sparrows, frigate birds, and pelicans that glide down the cliffs. Then we will return to the yacht for lunch and a deserved rest.PM: Santa Fe Island: An extremely scenic island, where we can visit two different trails, with one of them leading to a beautiful viewpoint on the top of a cliff, where you can find endemic land iguanas of the island. The other trail is a small circular path close to the beach, where we will be able toobserve another colony of land iguana. Here we will also have the possibility to kayak, snorkel, panga ride, or walk, in order to observe and enjoy nature. Then we will return to the yacht for dinner and a time of relaxation.
Day 6 - Day 6: Monday
 AM: Punta Pitt: Considered as one of the most beautiful and impressive sites in the Galápagos, it has become one of the favorite nesting sites for seabirds. Here we will be able to see three species of frigate birds and their nesting sites in the same area. Then we will return to the yacht for lunch.PM: Kicker Rock: Is a gigantic and impressive rock formation known locally as ‘León Dormido’ where we can see a multitude of blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, pelicans and sea birds that will delight us with their majestic flights to be photographed. Later we head towards Isla Lobos, an islet separated from San Cristóbal Island by a narrow stretch of calm waters. On the islet we will take a walk that will allow us to observe frigates, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, a colony of sea lions and we will also be able to snorkel in the arm of the sea, probably with the company of sea lions and different kinds of colorful fish. The atmosphere is one of tranquility and primitive beauty, a typical environment of the Galapagos Islands.
Day 7 - Day 7: Tuesday
 AM: In the morning, our guide will take us to the top of San Cristóbal Island. Following, our tour has 2 options. The first option starts from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and involves a visit to the El Junco Lagoon. For hundreds of years, rain water and condensation have caused an accumulation of water in the caldera of an extinct volcano, creating a paradise for frigate birds and turtles. Alternatively, we will visit the “Cerro Colorado” turtle breeding center. There we will have a pleasant walk along a path that allows us to be in close contact with the turtles, that can vary from the smallest to the oldest of giants.PM: Interpretation Center of San Cristobal, located on the outskirts of the small town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital city of the Galápagos province. The interpretation center will give us an introduction to the islands, and their natural, as well as human history. After, we will walk tothe place known as ‘La Colina de las Fragatas’, or ‘Cerro Tijeretas. This short 30-minute walk starts from the interpretation center and takes you to the top of the hill. Once there, the visitors can enjoy a spectacular sight of the surrounding white beaches and the incredible geographical formations of the Pacific Ocean. The hill is often visited by Frigate birds that nest there in certain seasons of the year. From the hill we will descend into a small cove known as Punta Carola, where we will observe a colony of sea lions. At night (if you want) you can go into the city for a walk and maybe have a drink at one of the local cantinas.
Day 8 - Day 8: Wednesday
 AM: Punta Suárez: A destination of great interest due to the abundance of birds. This island also has its own species of animals, like the Española Mockingbird, which has a distinctively longer and more curved beak than variations found on other islands; The Galápagos lava lizard; The marine iguana of the venustissimus subspecies, that has red marks on its back; among others. We can also observe seagulls and other tropical birds that live on the rocky slopes. Among the more interesting attractions is the waved albatross, as almost the entire world population comes to breed here between March and December, and the mating dance of the blue-footed booby. There are hundreds of nazca boobies, colonies of sea lions, large colonies of marine iguanas and different species of birds.PM: Bahía Gardner: A beautiful beach that is excellent for swimming and snorkeling. Here we can find a large colony of playful sea lions and hopefully observe the Galápagos Peregrine Falcons and local species of snakes, while we will undoubtably see Darwin’s finches, mockingbirds and sea turtles.
Day 9 - Day 9: Thursday
 AM: Punta Cormorant / Devil's Crown: A site that has the best and the biggest flamingo lagoon of the Galápagos. It is located between two volcanic hills that gives the area a special atmosphere. There are varieties of sea birds that can be seen in addition to flamingos, the most frequent ones being stilts, white-tailed ducks and other migratory birds. This is a unique area due to the high percentage of endemic plants (unique to the island). Here we can see the “Green Beach” (due to the high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” mainly composed of coral reefs, making these the two most interesting beaches of the islands. Then we return to the yacht to begin our snorkeling activity at the location known as the Devil’s Crown. This is a sunken volcanic crater where the interior of the formation is ideal for the sustainability of a marvelous coral reef habitat, making it one of the most fascinating marine sites in the Galápagos.PM: Bahía “Post Office”: Historically, it served as a letter exchange station in the 18th century when the crew of a whaling ship utilized a wooden barrel. Both sailors and tourists have used this system to communicate with people from all around the world. The idea is to bring letters or postcards to their destination by hand, creating a very special “postal service” This site was also the landing place for some of the first settlers on the islands. Then we will visit the Asilo de la Paz, known for its strange history as one of the first occupied areas of the islands by the German Witmer family. We return to the yacht and head to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in Galápagos. If we are lucky, we may see a pod of dolphins during our trip, as well as manta rays and sea turtles.
Day 10 - Day 10: Friday
 AM: After breakfast, we will visit 2 interesting locations, before departing for the airport. We begin with a visit to the visitor center of the Galápagos National Park “Fausto Llerena” where the breeding of the turtles is carried out, and where we can learn about the work that is being done in order to protect this unique species. The famous Charles Darwin Research Station is also located here, where we can contribute to the scientific investigations that are promoted by the station.PM: We head up to the Santa Cruz Highlands where we will enjoy a delicious lunch on a private ranch. Our guide will take us on a walk through a beautiful forest full of ferns, sedges, and miconias, while you might also observe some giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Later, we will head to one of the many lava tunnels in the area. Here we will enjoy a short walk through the tunnel, where we can admire the results of a powerful volcanic eruption that occurred millions of years ago.
Day 11 - Day 11: Saturday
 AM: Isabela is the name of the largest and the youngest island within the Galápagos Archipelago. In the morning we will begin our first visit to the islets known as Las Tintoreras, located south of Puerto Villamil. This area has a small bay of calm turquoise water, where we can observe sea lions,sea turtles, marine iguanas, stingrays, and many more aquatic species. Next, we will walk along a path and explore two different beaches. The first beach that we will encounter is a popular place for sea lions and marine iguanas that nest in the area, while the second beach is surrounded by button mangroves (Conocarpus erecta) and white mangroves (Laguncularia racemosa). After the visit to "Las Tintoreras", we will disembark to Puerto Villamil to head to the Sierra Negra Volcano, found in the highlands of the island, as it rises to an altitude of 1124m. It is located betweenthe Cerro Azul volcano to the west, and the Alcedo volcano to the north. Furthermore, it is one of the most active volcanoes of the Galápagos.PM: After lunch, during the afternoon, we will visit the wetlands known as “Los Humedales”, where we will be able to see a wide variety of wetland birds with majority of them being endemic to the island. After our visit, we will have some free time in the small town of Puerto Villamil. At the end of the day we will board the yacht for dinner and a well-deserved rest.
Day 12 - Day 12: Sunday
 AM: Punta Moreno is located on the north coast of Isabela Island, between the Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. The distance of the trail is about 2100 meters, but this will grant us a panoramic view of the three most active volcanoes in the Galápagos: Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul on Isabela Island, and the summit of Fernandina Island. We will have the opportunity to do a surface dive in this area, where, despite the cold waters, marine life is abundant. After this visit we will return to the yacht for lunch and a little rest before heading out for our afternoon activity.PM: In the afternoon we will visit Elizabeth Bay. The trip will begin in a cove surrounded by red mangroves. Here we will be able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. Visitors have often been able to see Galápagos falconsfly over their heads, while Pompano and Mahi-mahi fish schools are seen swimming below. This is an amazing site due to the large amount of marine and terrestrial fauna as well as due to the unique and beautiful landscape of the area. After this visit, we will return to the yacht for dinner and rest.
Day 13 - Day 13: Monday
 AM: Urbina Bay is located at the east base of the Alcedo volcano, with an approximately 3200m path connecting it to the beach, where, after a beach landing, we will have to cross through the coastal zone, traversing sand, rocks, lava, corals, and plant formations. At this site, we will be able to see large sized land iguanas, as well as giant Galápagos tortoises, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos penguins, pelicans, and marine iguanas.PM: We will return to the yacht to enjoy a delicious lunch, followed by a short sailing towards Tagus Cove. Here we will have the opportunity to snorkel, surface dive, or to kayak. At around 4pm, we will hike to the top of the cliff that takes us to a viewpoint of Lake Darwin, a lake that has high saline concentrations. Finally, we will observe Lake Darwin. It doesn’t contain any fish, and only a few lifeforms due to itshigh salinity. Supposedly, in the past there was an explosive volcanic eruption in the area, since there are large number of volcanic rocks of varying sizes that can be found here. Among the most common are small spherical balls, that are almost perfect in shape, referred to as “lapili” or petrifiedrain.
Day 14 - Day 14: Tuesday
 AM: Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has only one point of interest. Punta Espinoza is located on the far northeast part of the island and is a narrow platform of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. Punta Espinoza is well known for its large colonies of marine iguanas, and its unique fauna full of species such as the flightless cormorant, the Galápagos penguin, the Galápagos falcon, and the Galápagos racer snake. After this visit, there will be a possibility to snorkel in the area, where we will be able to swim with marine iguanas, large colonies of sea turtles, and if we are lucky even with beautiful seahorses.PM: Isabela Island is believed to have the shape of a seahorse, where Punta Vicente Roca would be considered the mouth. At this location you will find the remains of an ancient volcano that forms two coves with clear turquoise water, in conjunction with a bay protected from the waves of theocean. From this point, we will have a snorkeling activity, followed by a panga ride along the cliffs to observe the remains of the volcano, or we may explore a cave that is partially found underwater. Nazca boobies and blue-footed boobies perch along the steep cliffs, while the flightless cormorantsinhabit the coast. At the end of our activity, we will begin navigating the ship, so that we will approach and cross the equator line. At this point, we will have a special cocktail to celebrate our crossing to the northern hemisphere.
Day 15 - Day 15: Wednesday
 AM: Puerto Egas is a black sandy beach located on the west side of James Bay, northwest of Santiago Island. The site gets its name after Mr. Héctor Egas, who tried to exploit the salt found in this area, however failed due to the price of salt in other parts of the country. The hike along the rugged coastline, especially during low tides, will allow us to observe many marine species, such as the iguanas relaxing on the rocks, and the sea lions resting in the tidal pools. We will have the opportunity to snorkel near the beach of Puerto Egas in order to enjoy the marine landscape that is relatively different from previously visited locations.PM: In the afternoon we will visit Rábida Island, said to be unique due to the red color of its rocks and sand. The volcanic material on this island is very porous and external factors such as rain, saltwater and sea breeze have acted as an oxidizing agent. When we arrive, we will enjoy a snorkeling activity, in order to learn about the marine life in this area, that is full of interesting aquatic species. A short walk along a trail will take us to a lagoon to observe the beautiful terrestrial birds, such as finches, pigeons, yellow warblers and mocking birds. This lagoon is also home to a colony of flamingos. The red sand beach, along with the animals, lagoons, and vegetation make this place an excellent location to visit. 
Day 16 - Day 16: Thursday
 AM: After a short night sailing, the sun will dawn on the beautiful “Sombrero Chino” channel. This small islet is located near the southeastern coast of Santiago Island. Our visit provides an excellent opportunity for the observation and understanding of geological characteristics such as lava tubesand lava flows. The landscape is covered by colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, and occasionally Galápagos penguins. The trail is 700 meters (there and back) and the minimum time that is required for this hike is one hour at a moderate pace. We will take our time to swim in this beautiful bay area, where we will be amongst sharks, stingrays, unique species of fish, and occasionally penguins, before returning to the yacht to enjoy a barbecue on top deck. We can also spend time exploring the area with kayaks, visiting the magnificent geological formations from the surface.PM: Bartolomé Island is one of the most famous spots in the Galápagos, located in front of Sullivan Bay near the island of Santiago. When arriving at this unique location, we will have the opportunity to enter the water and swim around the famous Pinnacle Rock, and between the rocks that come out from below the surface of the water, forming an incredible labyrinth for the marine life. Later we will visit the top of the island, where we will be able to observe a variety of volcanic formations, including volcanic bombs, ash cones, lava flows and lava tubes. This lunar sceneryprovides one of the most scenic landscapes of the archipelago. At the second site that we will visit, we will have the opportunity to relax on a beautiful beach, which offers excellent opportunities for snorkeling. Multicolored fish, and occasionally penguins and sea turtles have been seen at the base of the Pinnacle Rock, which dominates the landscape of Bartolomé.
Day 17 - Day 17: Friday
 AM: North Seymour is a small island located to the north of Baltra and will act as our last visit on the itinerary aboard Catamaran Yacht Anahí, and we will be able to observe the land iguanas of Baltra. On Baltra we will take a bus to the Baltra Island Airport. Our amazing Galapagos journey ends here. We will say goodbye to our guide and companions with whom we shared this wonderful adventure.
Day 18 - Please note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

    • An uninterrupted itinerary : The ship won’t be sailing back to port during your trip, dropping off / picking up new passengers. Uninterrupted itineraries help build a sense of camaraderie among the guests, guides and crew. They allow the ship to venture further from the ports and linger longer in the more remote corners of the archipelago.
    • A full 15-day circumnavigation: We’re assuming you want to get the absolute most out of your time in the islands, and that you want to be given the broadest range of opportunities to be exposed to the best of what they have to offer. The more time you spend out and about in the archipelago, the greater the odds of encountering rare / unique phenomema. A full, uninterrupted 15 circumnavigation is about as good as it gets. Charles Darwin would be envious.
    • Two quality naturalist guides: We hand-pick two naturalist guides, providing for an intimate 8:1 guest to guide ratio. This gives us the flexibilty to attend to different inclinations within the group. Some may be keener on snorkeling / underwater photography, others may want to take a break and spend some down time on the beach. Our two guides will ensure you have built-in versatility during your trip.
    • Led by Tui deRoy: Tui deRoy is considered is the most accomplished and well-known Galapagos photographer. Raised in the islands from age 2, no other professional photographer has such an intimate knowledge of the islands. No other dedicated photography cruise in Galapagos enjoys the services of such a reputable Galapapagos photographer. See Tui’s bio below.
    • Early morning and late afternoon excursions: We get up early and are out and about on land at, or soon after sunrise on most days. Similarly, we often linger on land until close to sunset. Doing so has several benefits: i) Excellent lighting for photography; ii) Peaks of wildlife activity; iii) More comfortable temperatures; iv) reduced likelihood of encountering other groups.
    • Slow paced: To get the most out of your time in Galapagos, it’s important to take the time to develop a sense of intimacy with your surroundings, with the wildlife and the landscapes, both above and below the sea. That’s best done by adopting a slow-paced approach to your visits. This approach is ideal for photographers and non-photographers alike. We might take as much as two hours to complete a 1 mile / 1.6km hike, for example. We’ll stop frequently, we’ll sit among a group of marine iguanas, or close to nesting blue footed boobies and observe them going about their normal routines. Similarly, you’ll be free to spend as much time snorkeling as you like
    • with the option of returning to the ship whenever you’re ready.
    • Suitable for both keen photographers and their travelling companions: With two naturalist guides and a photography tour leader, you can be sure that a travelling companion perhaps less photographically-inclined will still very much enjoy this trip.
    • Two nights / two days in Quito pre-cruise: Over the years, we’ve come to appreciate the value in arriving into Quito two days prior to the embarkation date. These days provide a valuable buffer against the vicissitudes of travel (missed connections, snowstorms, delayed luggage delivery). We’ve programmed a wonderful visit to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Quito, giving you a chance to settle into your new country, rest up after a long trip, and start your time in Galapagos on the right foot.

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