Bolivia’s Altiplano Photography Workshop Tour

5.00
$6,495.00

Overview

Set off on a 10-day photography adventure that begins in La Paz with an acclimatization period on the shores of Lake Titicaca and the Island of the Sun, where you’ll explore ancient Inca ruins. From there, journey south into Bolivia's Altiplano, a region where the echoes of ancient civilizations linger amidst dramatic landscapes. From the vast expanse of the world’s largest salt flat to the striking, molten-like forms of volcanoes that look like melted candles, every moment presents an opportunity to capture the essence of this extraordinary landscape.

Guiding you on this journey will be 2 former National Geographic photographer and editor: Karen Kasmauski and Bill Douthitt. With over six decades of combined experience at NatGeo Magazine and other esteemed publications, Karen and Bill bring unparalleled photography expertise and insights into editing, design, book creation, and exhibition curation.

This rare opportunity offers the best of two worlds: learning from two masters of photography in one of the world’s most enchanting landscapes—the Bolivian Altiplano.

Whether you're shooting with a smartphone or a digital camera, this workshop is designed for all gear types. You’ll capture everything from intimate portraits to sweeping vistas, focusing on developing your unique photographic vision rather than on technical details. Learn to get the most out of your device—be it an Apple, Android, or digital camera—and create images that tell a story.

 


 

Karen Kasmauski is an award-winning photographer known for her extensive National Geographic work, covering 25 major stories on topics from global health to societal issues. Her photography spans over 50 countries, documenting events like Japan’s earthquakes and life in Alaska’s north slope. Notable projects include books on nursing and global health with forewords by President Jimmy Carter, and a documentary on Japanese war brides.

Bill Douthitt, former Photography Managing Editor at Science Magazine, transformed its visual content by hiring top photographers for cutting-edge science features. With over 20 years at National Geographic, he produced acclaimed editions and oversaw projects like the Millennium Project. Douthitt collaborated on notable stories, including the Titanic anniversary with Jim Cameron and interviews with Buzz Aldrin.

 

 

At a Glance

Dates: February 17th to 26th, 2025

Duration: 10 days

Accommodation: 5-star hotel in La Paz and 3/4-star hotels in the countryside.

Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate

Gallery

What's Unique About This Adventure?

Highlights
<p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; padding-bottom: 28px; margin-bottom: 0; color: #51526e !important;"><span style="color: #333333;">What makes this photo expedition workshop truly unique is its innovative, assignment-based approach. Through immersive shooting sessions and personalized editing guidance, you’ll push creative boundaries and refine your skills.</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; padding-bottom: 28px; margin-bottom: 0; color: #51526e !important;"><span style="color: #333333;">By the end of this epic 10-day journey, you’ll not only expand your technical abilities but also gain a deep understanding of visual storytelling. You’ll return home inspired, invigorated, and equipped with a thoughtfully curated portfolio that you’ll be proud to showcase.</span></p>
<p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; padding-bottom: 28px; margin-bottom: 0; color: #51526e !important;"><span style="color: #333333;">Here’s what makes this adventure exceptional:</span></p>

<ol>
<li style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; color: #51526e !important;"><strong style="color: #333333;">Guidance from Photography Masters:</strong><span style="color: #333333;"> Led by Karen Kasmauski and Bill Douthitt—two highly acclaimed photographers and editors with a combined six decades of experience at National Geographic Magazine.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; color: #51526e !important;"><strong style="color: #333333;">Smartphone-Friendly:</strong><span style="color: #333333;"> Whether you bring an Apple, Android, or digital camera (or all three), this workshop is designed to enhance your skills with any device.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; color: #51526e !important;"><strong style="color: #333333;">Iconic Locations:</strong><span style="color: #333333;"> Experience the Uyuni Salt Flats, Lake Titicaca, and Bolivia’s Altiplano—three stunning landscapes in one unforgettable journey.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.75; color: #51526e !important;"><strong style="color: #333333;">Cultural Immersion:</strong><span style="color: #333333;"> Meet the native Aymara and Quechua people that are part of the intricate social fabric of Bolivia.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>

What's Included

What's Included
<li>Airport Transfers IN and OUT of your arrival city </li>
<li>Private vehicles and drivers</li>
<li>Bi-lingual photographer &amp; guide Sergio Ballivian</li>
<li>Expert instruction from photographer Karen Kasmauski</li>
<li>Expert instruction from photo editor Bill Douthitt</li>
<li>All hotel / hostel /estancia accommodations for all nights (based on double occupancy)</li>
<li>All daily meals as denoted on the itinerary as ‘B, L, D’ (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)</li>
<li>All entry fees and permits to protected areas: national parks, islands and museums</li>
<li>Domestic airfare within the destination country</li>
<li>Unlimited bottled water per person per day</li>
<li>Snacks during the whole trip</li>
<li>Over 25 years of experience in tourism</li>
</ul>

What's Not Included

What's Not Included
<li>International airfare to destination country</li>
<li>Visa requirement and fees</li>
<li>Personal expenses of any kind (liquor, laundry, personal purchases, etc.)</li>
<li>Telephone, email, mobile phone, Wi-Fi services</li>
<li>Emergency evacuation expenses</li>
<li>Personal travel or health insurance, doctor visits</li>
<li>Gratuities to guides, drivers and other staff</li>

Location

Itinerary

DAY 1 : Arrival La Paz, Bolivia (AM) – City Tour (PM)

Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting for you. The staff will take care of your luggage and transport you the company's private vehicle to the hotel. The drive from the airport descends through winding roads with breathtaking views of the valley below, taking us to Hotel Casa Grande Suites (5*) in the Calacoto-Achumani neighborhood. After check-in, you’ll have time to relax until lunchtime, which is on your own at the hotel.

At 2 pm, you’ll begin a 4-hour tour of La Paz, a fascinating city and the capital of Bolivia. You’ll explore vibrant open-air markets, historic colonial neighborhoods, and the mystical Witches' Market, with stops at viewpoints offering views of the vast canyon surrounding La Paz. You’ll return to the hotel afterward so you can unwind before dinner.

Hotel: Casa Grande Suites (5*)
Meals included: D

DAY 2: La Paz - Open Air Markets - Canyons - La Paz

You'll start the day early, heading to various locations within La Paz, focusing on the bustling open-air markets where locals gather to buy ingredients for preparing meals in honor of the departed. As you delve into the Indian quarter, you’ll encounter scenes that range from unusual to fascinating—a kaleidoscope of color, intense energy, and deeply rooted spiritual traditions. This blend of Pagan and Christian beliefs creates a unique cultural experience as locals pay homage to their ancestors.

After a break for lunch, you’ll have a brief review session to discuss the morning's shots. In the afternoon, you’ll venture into the agricultural fields within the eroded canyons near La Paz, capturing another layer of Bolivia’s stunning landscapes. Upon our return to the hotel, you’ll download photos, relax before dinner, and then it's time for a post-dinner class. Dinner and overnight in La Paz.

Hotel: Casa Grande Suites (5*)
Meals Included: B, L, D

DAY 3: La Paz - Lake Titicaca - Copacabana

After breakfast, you set out, bypassing the busy city center as you head west onto the Altiplano. The route follows the shoreline of Lake Titicaca toward the pilgrimage city of Copacabana, near the famed Island of the Sun. Known as one of the most scenic roads in the Andes, this journey offers numerous stops for sweeping views of Lake Titicaca and the impressive Cordillera Real to the east. Crossing the Straits of Tiquina, you continue onto the Copacabana Peninsula, with Peru’s border just a short 20-minute drive further.

Upon arrival in Copacabana, you’ll enjoy lunch before checking into the hotel. In the afternoon, you’ll gather for a classroom session and photo review to assess your progress. Later, you’ll head to a prime spot to capture the sunset, enjoying magnificent views of the lake, the Andes, and the rugged landscapes of the Copacabana Peninsula. Dinner and overnight in Copacabana.

Hotel: Gloria Copacabana (3*)
Meals included: B, L, D

DAY 4: Copacabana - Sampaya - Moon Island - Sun Island

Sunrise in Copacabana is a must, offering wonderful photo opportunities before the town awakens. After capturing the early light, you'll return to the hotel for breakfast, pack up, and make your way to the end of the road to visit Sampaya, an ancient stone village. Following an Inca road, we’ll enter the heart of the village, stopping at its cemetery. Sampaya is a traditionally built village with stone walls and thatched roofs, offering beautiful views of the Island of the Moon.

From here, you’ll board a motorized boat to explore the Inca ruins on Moon Island, then continue to the southern end of Sun Island, where you’ll spend the next two nights. Your luggage will be transported by donkeys and porters to the hotel, located a few hundred feet up the island. You’ll take your time ascending via the Inca Stairs, soaking in the spectacular views and photographing locals along the way. Once at the hotel, you’ll check in and enjoy lunch.

Sun Island is a vehicle-free location, so we’ll explore the island on foot along well-established trails, with the option to take a boat to visit sites further afield. In the afternoon, you’ll have time for an image review session before heading out to capture the sunset. The island offers incredible viewpoints, it's recommended to stay at the top for the best views as the sun sets over Peru to the west, casting rays that illuminate the Cordillera Real across the lake to the east. Dinner and overnight on Sun Island.

Hotel: La Posada del Inca (4*)
Meals included: B, L, D

DAY 5: Island of the Sun - Chincana Inca Ruins

Don’t miss the sunrise this morning, as it illuminates the Royal Mountain Range directly across the lake—a truly spectacular sight. After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, you’ll head to the northern end of the Island to explore the Chincana Inca ruins. Following lunch, you’ll make your way back across the island’s scenic heights to the hotel.

In the afternoon, you’ll review photos with your guide and fellow travelers and then head to a new location to capture the sunset from a different vantage point. Dinner and your second overnight stay on Sun Island await, completing another memorable day.

Hotel: La Posada del Inca (4*)
Meals included: B, L, D

Day 6: Sun Island - Yampupata - La Paz

Sunrises here are often stunning, so early risers will want to be out to capture the beautiful, clear morning light. After everyone enjoys breakfast, you’ll pack up and head to the port, where a boat will be waiting. A refreshing one-hour sail will take you to the end of the Copacabana Peninsula, where vehicles will meet your group.

Today, you'll journey back to La Paz. Traveling along a dirt road, you’ll cross the peninsula and enjoy sweeping views high above the lake, passing through Copacabana and across the Straits of Tiquina. You’ll stop for lunch along the way and arrive in La Paz by mid-afternoon. Once there, there will be a photo editing session before dinner. Dinner and overnight in La Paz.

Hotel: Casa Grande Suites (5*)
Meals included: B, L, D

Day 7: La Paz - Oruro- Challapata - Tahua

After an early breakfast, you'll begin your journey south across the Altiplano. Leaving the canyon of La Paz, you'll head south past the industrial city of Oruro and smaller, traditional Altiplano towns. Your destination today is the northern edge of the Salar de Uyuni. You’ll stop for lunch along the way in Challapata, aiming to arrive at the salt flats by late afternoon with plenty of time before sunset.

You will check in to a family-run Aymara hostel that has been welcoming travelers for decades. Although the last 20 miles of the road are rugged, the breathtaking scenery makes the journey worthwhile. Towering above us is Mount Thunupa, a 17,450-foot (5,322m) volcano that juts into the northern salt flats, offering stunning photography opportunities from various vantage points. Sunrise and sunset here are exceptional year-round, and especially photogenic during the rainy season from December to March.

After capturing the sunset, you’ll return to the hostel for dinner and a restful night.

Hotel: Tayka de Sal – Tahua (4*)
Meals included: B, L, D

DAY 8: Tahua - Thunupa Volcano - Coquesa - Tahua

Today, you have a full day to explore the northern edge of the Uyuni salt flats. You’ll head out before sunrise to ensure plenty of time to set up before the first light illuminates the landscape. After returning to the hostel for breakfast, there will be an editing session to review everyone’s progress, refining each person’s vision and capturing techniques.

Following lunch and another workshop session, you’ll set out in the late afternoon to hike up the slopes of Mount Thunupa. From this elevated perch, where condors often soar, the vast expanse of the Salar de Uyuni unfolds, revealing the region's volcanic activity and glacial history. Mount Thunupa’s layers of lava from the Pleistocene era and its former glaciation until around 15,000 years ago tell a compelling story. Once an island in ancient lakes Minchin and Tauca, Thunupa now offers awe-inspiring views from 1,000 feet above the salt flats, emphasizing the sheer scale of the world's largest salt flat, where the horizon seems endless.

At the end of the route, a short 10-minute walk brings you to a hidden cave that shelters pre-Inca mummies, a fascinating glimpse into the area’s ancient past. To the west, volcanoes dot the horizon like serrated peaks along the Bolivia-Chile border. For sunset, you'll return to salar level, choosing the optimal vantage point based on the day’s weather patterns.

After sunset, you’ll head back to the hostel for dinner and a well-deserved rest. Overnight in Jirira.

Hotel: Tayka de Sal – Tahua (4*)
Meals included: B, L, D

DAY 9: Tahua - Uyuni Salt Flats - Incahuasi Island - Uyuni

Your adventure begins before dawn with a short drive to the edge of the salt flats to capture the sunrise as it illuminates Thunupa’s summit—a moment you’ll want to photograph as the sun rises quickly at these latitudes. Afterward, you'll return to the hotel for breakfast and a quick session to download and review your sunrise shots.

Following a brief rest, you'll head inland to the ancient Chiquini caves, where fascinating petrified plant formations await exploration. The route winds through canyons and elevated overlooks, each offering a unique perspective of the salt flats. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a scenic picnic lunch before returning to the hotel for a short break.

As evening approaches, you’ll venture across the salar one last time, positioning yourself to witness the sunset’s magic. Afterward, you'll head southeast, exiting the salt flats and arriving at the hotel in Uyuni in time for dinner. After check-in, you’ll dine at Minuteman Pizzeria—one of Bolivia’s best! Enjoy homemade beer, fresh pizzas, salads, and a chocolate cake that melts in your mouth. Tonight, unwind with fast Wi-Fi, hot showers, and comfortable beds for a well-deserved rest.

Hotel: Toñito (3*)
Meals included: B, L, D

DAY 10: Uyuni - Fly to La Paz

After breakfast, you’ll head to the Uyuni airport for the 9 AM flight, arriving in El Alto an hour later. The best views are from the left side of the plane, where you’ll catch a glimpse of the salt flats, Thunupa volcano, and the Altiplano region we recently traversed. Upon arrival, transfer vehicles will be waiting, and you’ll descend quickly from the Altiplano to the lower part of La Paz in time for lunch.

After lunch and a brief rest, you’ll dive into the final session of downloading photos, editing, and personal portfolio reviews. By the end of the afternoon, you’ll have a solid portfolio showcasing the raw beauty of Bolivia’s Altiplano and its people.

There will be time to freshen up before the final group dinner. Afterward, you’ll have the evening to prepare for your departure, as many flights leave early the following morning. For those departing that night, transfers typically begin at midnight, arriving at the airport 45 minutes later, ensuring plenty of time for international flight check-in. Your guide will coordinate with anyone staying longer in La Paz or with different flight times.

Hotel: Casa Grande Suites (5*)
Meals included: B, L, D

DAY 11: Airport Transfer in La Paz

Your guide will coordinate your departure time from the hotel based on your flight schedule. Most international flights to North America depart between 3-4 AM. The drive from the hotel to the airport takes approximately 45 minutes. For domestic flights, it's recommended to arrive 1.5 hours before departure, while for international flights, it's suggested to arrive 2.5 hours in advance.

Hotel: none
Meals included: none

Meet Your Guide

Company
This tour is offered by <b><span style color: 'black;'>Sergio Photo Tours</b></span>.

<BR>
<BR>

For over 20 years, Sergio Photo Tours has been guiding photography tours across South America. Founded with a simple mission—to bring people to places where time feels suspended and moments are worth capturing—the company's focus is on ensuring you’re in the right place, at the perfect time, with the best light. Achieving this requires a blend of meticulous planning, seasoned expertise, and a touch of intuition that only years in the field can provide.

Rates, Share and Sole Use Policy

Rates, Share and Sole Use Policy
All rates are quoted per person, based on shared twin occupancy. If you are traveling alone and wish to share, you will be matched with another person of the same gender at the shared rate. If you prefer to have your own room, you can get your private one for the whole trip for $985 extra. Please select this option at the time of booking.

Payment Terms

Deposits
A deposit of 30% is required to secure your booking and may be paid by major credit card. The remaining balance is due 75 days before the tour starts.
<BR><BR>
Upon receipt of your reservation deposit, you will receive a preparatory package with a receipt denoting your deposit paid and balance due date, trip confirmation, detailed itinerary, medical and liability release forms, trip insurance requirements, vaccinations, equipment list and other pre-trip information.
Final Payments
Balances are due 75 days prior to departure. Balances may be paid by bank transfer, alternatively by credit card (subject to a 2.9% surcharge). If payments are not completed by the specified date, we reserve the right to treat this as a cancellation and will contact you A.S.A.P. in order to clear our records.

Cancellations

Cancellations
All requests for cancellation must be received in writing to Adventure Fix GO. Due to the fact that a large portion of the trip costs are already committed many months in advance before the date of departure, we will provide refunds according to the following schedule:
<BR><BR>

<li>There is a non-refundable administrative fee of $700.00 / per person for all cancellations.</li>
<li>For notice received more than 90 days BEFORE departure date: balance of payment received.</li>
<li>For notice received between 90 – 61 days before departure date: 50% refund.</li>
<li>For notice received between 60 – 45 days before departure date: 25% refund.</li>
<li>For notice received 44 days or less before departure date: no refund of any kind.</li>
<BR><BR>
We strongly recommend that you obtain adequate trip cancellation insurance.

Booking Terms

Booking Terms
Please read carefully the Terms of Service for Adventure Fix GO. This trip is operated by Sergio Photo Tours and you additionally travel under their terms and conditions. Details will be forwarded to you at the time of booking.

Reviews

Write a Review
5
2 reviews
  • Nicholas P - Muscle Shoals, AL

    Sergio, We just viewed a bit of our movies – the Salar de Uyuni, Isla Pescado and the sunset – MUCH FUN! An excellent trip – I’d love to return to see more and do more – a very unique country with tremendous opportunity! Hope to talk to you soon!

  • Jan D. - Denver, CO

    Sergio: THANK YOU! for such a great trip across the Altiplano and beyond. It was everything we had hoped for and I can’t think of a thing we missed, other than perhaps temperatures that were a wee bit warmer…we got a lot of laughs out of it and great stories to tell “we only travel to Hawaii” co-workers.

    Roberto was a delightful guide full of insight and funny jokes. He was endlessly patient, particularly of my slow learning of Spanish. Of all the places we were and everything we did, I like Bolivia the best. It’s a very seductive country…astoundingly raw and wild scenery with friendly and honest people. Who knows, but I’ll definitely be back…it was a great adventure!

Leave a Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Photography Tours | Bolivia

Bolivia’s Altiplano Photography Workshop Tour

Listing Image

Season:

February

Difficulty:

Beginner - Intermediate

Duration:

10 Days


From $6,495.00 USD