Full Day Photography Excursion: Exploring Salt Mines, Snowcapped Mountains and Quechua Farmers

Embark on a full-day photography excursion in Cusco, Peru. Explore salt mines, snowcapped mountains, and meet Quechua farmers. Capture stunning landscapes and receive expert guidance from a professional photographer guide.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Andean Photo Expeditions - 9h30 - We begin our tour by picking you up from your hotel or hostel with our private car to begin our drive into the Andes.

10h15 - Our first stop is at a lesser known viewpoint that gives you a spectacular mountain view. There’s a pretty neat spot here that allows for a unique picture in which you can place your subject directly in front of the mountain range in the background (break out the telephoto lens for compression of scale!) We can take this shot for you with you as the subject if you so wish. We explore this location for around 30 minutes before jumping back in the car and moving on.

10h45 - We make a quick stop in Chinchero to pick up some local empanadas to eat for lunch a little later in the day.

11h00 - We stop by a local artesenal textile market in Chinchero to learn a little of the textile making process that Chinchero is famous for, after the demonstration we will have the opportunity for a great portrait session with the ladies there, they are always wearing full traditional outfits and are happy to have some photos taken of them.

12h00 - We arrive at Maras salt mines. This is a known location so expect tourists, these go in big groups and so are rushed in and out. Our private visit to the salt mines allows more time to explore and seek out better compositions for your images. We explore here for around 45 minutes.

13h30 - We move to a lake deep in the Andes. This lake is surrounded by colourful fields of agriculture and the Andes mountains as it’s backdrop! At this lake we will take some time to relax and eat our empanadas before shooting in the area. The area is full of llamas, alpacas and other animals, here we can get close and take plenty of photos of them.

15h00 - We reach our next location that is around 4000m ASL where we find a full panoramic view of the area with wonderful scope for landscape photography. This location is a private field belonging to a family of potato farmers that give us access to this unique location! If we are lucky on this field we can find friends and family of the owners farming the lands and herding their sheep, this makes for amazing on-location portrait documentary work. The light and direction of the sun at this hour allow for very complete landscape shots with highlights, shadows and different tonalities.

16:00 - Begin the drive back to Cusco.

17:00 - Arrival in Cusco, drop-off at your hotel.

What's Included
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Cusco
  • Guidance from a professional photographer
  • Private vehicle transportation
  • Photography assistance throughout the tour
  • Photos sent via email post-tour
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Personal Insurance
Additional Information

Embark on a day-long photography-focused journey from Cusco in our exclusive vehicle to discover magnificent spots around the vicinity. Tour the Maras Salt Mines, view expansive terrains and snow-capped peaks, interact with and take pictures of local inhabitants in lesser-known tourist areas. Receive advice and assistance all day long from a professional photography guide to help you capture exceptional images.

  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • May be operated by a multi lingual guide
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(17 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Skylar
Jul 8, 2024
The Experience of a LIFETIME!! An unforgettable 2 week mother daughter trip around Peru with Andean Photo Expeditions! - I went on a two-week mother daughter trip through Peru with Andean Photo Expeditions, and it was the most unforgettable adventure I’ve ever had. Dan, the owner, was so helpful in helping us create the perfect itinerary. From the seamless logistics to the thoughtfully chosen accommodations and authentic local experiences, Andean Photo Expeditions exceeded all our expectations!! Our journey began in Lima with the Huacachina Photo tour, a highlight thanks to Dan’s expert guidance, friendly nature, and incredible photography skills. We enjoyed sandboarding and dune buggy rides and received amazing drone footage too. Dan also recommended a private bonfire dinner here and it was one of the most experiences for my mom and I. During Cusco Photo tour and exploration of the Sacred Valley, we were guided by Noe, another talented member of the team. Noe took us to hidden gems and local spots we would never have found on our own, capturing stunning photos and videos throughout the trip. His creativity and talent in videography made every moment special, and he quickly became a friend. A standout experience was the Faces of Peru tour, where we participated in an authentic cultural ceremony with the Quechua community. This unique experience was deeply moving and provided insights into Peruvian culture that we could not have accessed without Andean Photo Expeditions. Noe’s translation from Quechua to English allowed us to engage fully in the ceremony. Our itinerary also included The Moray, Mara’s and Chinchero photography tour (would never have been able to do this much without them!) A highlight here was a beautiful countryside picnic set up for us, and candid moments captured beautifully by Noe throughout. Lastly, a bucket list visit to Machu Picchu, a sunrise horseback to Humantay Lake, Rainbow Mountain, and a final leg to Lake Titicaca - all experienced with the most incredible guide Noe. Andean Expeditions also set up two of the most unique and authentic experiences I’ve ever had - A special geodesic eco-dome camp before Humantay and a homestay experience on our own floating islands of Lake Titicaca, both hosted by the kindest families who made us feel instantly at home and prepared all of our fresh home cooked meals. Noe’s expertise in photography and videography was invaluable. As a new content creator, I learned so much from him that I will carry forward in my future travels. His dedication to capturing the perfect shots is truly so special. This was truly a trip of a lifetime, and I am immensely grateful to Dan and Noe for making it so special. I wholeheartedly recommend Andean Photo Expeditions to anyone looking for an extraordinary travel experience in South America. Thank you, Dan and Noe! I look forward to my next adventure with you both!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Streetmiks
May 10, 2024
Exceptional - I had an exceptional time and tour with Noe. I could not recommend more highly. I really left feeling like I made a new friend. I also loved all the app knowledge he shared.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
302thibaultg
Dec 4, 2023
Highly recommend - Great experience with Dan with whom we visited part of Peru for a bit more than a week. He was great at finding off the beaten tracks activities as well as original venues. We particularly appreciated his ability to adapt to us and our rhythm. Being a great photographer he helped tremendously in finding the good spots and situations. Highly recommend and looking fwd to our next trip to check out the areas we didn’t have time to go to.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shivap853
Nov 1, 2023
Best experience ever, Best photos ever - We were on honeymoon in south America and we booked our honeymoon photoshoot with Noe in Cusco. We also wanted to see the area with a local so the whole package worked out perfectly for us. Noe was super friendly, patient and knowledgeable and SUPER TALENTED photographer. He not only took the most amazing photos but he also took us to hidden gems of Cusco and around and told us all about the history and traditions of people in the area. We can not recommend them enough. The most memorable day in our trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Keelyonseeley
Jun 2, 2023
WONDERFUL! - Review Our photo tour with Noe was nothing short of spectacular! We had a fabulous time visiting locations off the beaten path. There were virtually no other tourists. Noe is super knowledgeable, personable, friendly, fun, and kind. His English was great; we had no issues communicating with him. We couldn’t have chosen a better experience to commemorate our 25th anniversary than to capture our time in Peru with a photographic journey among spectacular scenery. What a memorable experience! We are so thankful for having had Noe’s guidance and expertise is selecting some of the most beautiful places on earth. If you are on the fence about this one…DO IT!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Compass21074983813
May 24, 2023
Professional tour - I joined the two days tour about Rainbow mountain and Pallay Punchu. The guide and driver are really nice. We have two great days. And I really enjoy in it. I will come back again. Thanks Andean Photo Expeditions. Thanks Noe.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pedrofp82
Oct 5, 2020
Highlight of my trip in south america - Stunning locations and beautiful Peruvian people - that’s what you can expect of this tour. Highlight of my trip. Great care and attention from my photographer guide with tips along the way. Overall the tour provided great images which is exactly what I wanted from this trip. Awesome experience.vwish I had se guys sooner so I could book more tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Niou100
Feb 19, 2020
A highlight of our time in Peru and Chile - This was a highlight of our visit to Peru and Chile. The Sunday market in Chinchero was vibrant and the stall holders were very welcoming of us and our cameras. Moving high into the hills we had a great chance to take pictures of the glacier, valleys and farmers looking after their animals. We finally went to the Maras salt mines - a landscape out of this world. Our guide Pedro had a very relaxed style, gently providing tips and encouraging us to be a little more adventurous. All in all, a great day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Texmcgregor
Nov 14, 2019
5 Days with this Company Wasn't Enough - If you're not traveling with these guys, you're doing Peru wrong. Not only are they incredible photographers, and not only do they know Peru inside and out, but they are genuinely a joy to be around. Informed, educational, helpful, and gracious. I can't say enough good things about this company, and I certainly wouldn't go back to Peru without their help.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rozegoes
Nov 3, 2019
Great day trip outside of Cusco - This was my second tour with Andean Photo Expeditions and Pedro, and it was another great itinerary. The driver was a great driver and we felt very safe. Pedro was kind to accommodate my gluten allergy. I am a photographer, but my friend who isn't very interested in photography also joined the tour and had a great time just as a spectator of beautiful places, and learning from Pedro and other locals we met. Don't miss the chance to get out of Cusco and see some let visited places in the region. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 6 guests
1
Adult
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today