Nature & Culture
Ecuador
Oct. 15 to 26, 2026
We've designed this trip to teach you how to photograph biodiversity in the broadest sense of the word while producing a portfolio that tells a story. We'll help you take your photography to the next level while giving your whole photographic kit a workout. From wildlife to birds to macro to landscapes and cultural photography, with and without flash, you will up your skills and take home a stunning and diverse portfolio. And, unlike other tours to Ecuador, you have 3 professional photographer leaders who are well-versed in the local natural and cultural history, making this a fantastic value!
Date
Oct. 15 to 26, 2026
$
Price
$6,999
Difficulty Level
Easy
8
Available Spots
Sign up fast!
View the itinerary below, read more about the tour, or sign up now!
About the Workshop
Nature & Culture
About the Workshop
Nature & Culture
Leaders
Frank Pichardo
Frank Pichardo is a Peruvian wildlife photographer and tour leader with a strong passion for nature, most of his experience in the field comes from his seven-year work as a naturalist guide for the prestigious lodges of Rainforest Expeditions leading people and teaching about the flora and fauna since 2009. Frank obtained his degree from the Tourism School in Lima, where he also became fluent in English and German. This was the beginning of a long term work in the ecotourism industry.
At the moment, he is part of Tropical Herping, contributing for the “Reptiles of Ecuador”, “Reptiles of Galapagos” and “Amphibians if Ecuador” books, joining also scientific expeditions into remote areas to understand better this group of animals, leading workshops and photo tours. Frank’s work has been featured in National Geographic and BBC Wildlife Magazine.
Follow Frank on Instagram -- @frank_pichardo
Lucas Bustamante
Lucas Bustamante is a passionate biologist and environmental photojournalist from Ecuador. For more than a decade, he has documented tropical biodiversity and its interactions with humans. He is a co-founder at Tropical Herping and Savia Fund. Like Greg, Lucas's images have been honored in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice contests.
In addition to leading photography workhops, he has also written several articles and books about conservation, photography, and herpetology. Lucas's photographic work has been featured in National Geographic, Audubon, GEO, Smithsonian, and many other magazines, books, and articles.
Greg Basco
Gregory Basco is a professional nature photographer based in Costa Rica. After completing graduate degrees in political science and tropical ecology (his doctoral dissertation focused on the politics of ecotourism in Costa Rica), Greg worked in conservation before turning to photography full-time in 2006. His images have been awarded in the Veolia Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Nature's Best Windland Smith Rice competitions and have appeared in numerous magazines and books around the world.
His latest major project is the second edition of the large format printed book National Parks of Costa Rica in conjunction with Zona Tropical and Cornell University Press. His popular e-books include The Guide to Tropical Nature Photography, the mega e-book Flash for the Nature Photographer, and the new Complete Video Guide to Lightroom for the Nature Photographer.
You can see more of Greg's work at his website.
Follow him on Instagram @gregbascophotography
Gallery
Info
Airport
You should arrive to and depart from Ecuador's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). Our driver will be waiting to provide your private transfer to our capital city hotel.
Electricity
Electrical outlets are US-style. Those coming from Europe or Asia may need travel adapters. We will send more info after signup.
Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage while overseas.
Medical
Though Ecuador does not require any vaccinations to enter the country, we suggest you stay up to date on routine travel shots.
Internet Access
All of our hotels have free WIFI. We will also have cell data coverage for most of the trip.
Certified
All of our services are conducted by fully licensed travel, lodge, and transport operators. This is part of our commitment to providing a professional travel experience.
Recommended gear
Tele lens 400 mm or longer
Camera body or bodies
Medium zoom lens, e.g., 70-200 mm, 100-400 mm
Macro lens
Wide angle lens
Polarizing/ND filters
Fast wide angle lens for night scenes
Cable release
A flash with TTL functionality
Off-camera TTL flash cord
Telephoto flash bracket
Flash plus Better Beamer for birds and wildlife
Rain cover for camera
Small softbox or diffuser
Small pack or shoulder bag for daily shooting
View the full Itinerary +
Day 1, Arrival/Quito
Arrival to Ecuador. Meet our representative at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport and transfer to our amazing, locally-owned hotel in the colonial heart of Quito. Our hotel lends itself well to architectural photography; it's so beautiful that you don’t even have to leave the premises! But for those of you who have arrived early, we will take a little tour to a couple of our favorite overlook spots for some late afternoon photography over the historical center.
Day 2, Quito
We meet today for a great breakfast in our hotel and then Lucas will give a presentation on telling a story with our photos. We then head out to explore our favorite market for photography of the abundant fruits and vegetables on display. We'll work throughout the morning on tips for street photography, and we'll also provide plenty of info on the food that we see and how it relates to the culture of Ecuador. We'll have a hearty typical lunch in a great restaurant downtown and then visit a local monastery and a famous church for more photography of the historical center. This evening, we'll head up to our hotel's rooftop bar for blue hour photography of the city while we enjoy innovative Ecuadorian cocktails and snacks – what a way to end a day of travel photography in Quito!
Day 3, Quito to Otavalo
After breakfast, we check out and head toward our next destination, the mountains of the Otavalo region. This area is famous for its agriculture and indigenous culture. After lunch en route, we arrive to our lakeside lodge and take a bit of time to settle in to our rooms before photographing Andean coots with colorful reflections in the water and then sunset over the lake. Before dinner, Greg will give a presentation on using flash for nature and travel photography.
Day 4, Otavalo
After breakfast today, we head to the famed Otavalo markets. After photographing (and shopping!) at the market, we'll head to the home of a local indigenous woman who is famous for her weaving. She'll explain the whole process, and we are free to photograph as much as we like. We'll enjoy a great home-cooked lunch at her house and then head up to a highland lake for some landscape photography. We end the day at the Lago San Pablo for sunset photography and a fantastic dinner at our hotel.
Day 5, Otavalo
Today we spend all day in the areas surrounding our lakeside hotel. Local people grow quinoa, lupine beans, potatoes, corn, wheat, and amaranth in the area and also herd goats, sheep, and cows that provide the milk for the famous cheeses of the region. We have made a great contact with a dynamic local young women who will be our guide today. She’ll facilitate our photo opportunities and will be an endless source of local cultural knowledge. Today will be a fantastic opportunity to produce great photos while also putting into practice our flash techniques. Photo bonus, we'll teach you a great way to use flash for dramatic portraits of subjects in a wide angle scene!
Day 6, Cloud Forest
Today we travel to one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, the western Andean cloud forests where 30 million years ago swifts started to evolve into the absolutely amazing hummingbirds that we know today. We’ll stop for lunch en route and then continue on to our charming country lodge. Once we’re settled in, Greg will give a presentation on multiple-flash photography for hummingbirds.
Day 7, Cloud Forest
Today we have a full day with our multiple-flash setups for hummingbirds at a nearby reserve. Booted Racket-tail abound, and our highlight is the fantasy-like Violet-tailed Sylph! When not on the hummingbird setups, you will be doing macro photography with subjects including tree frogs, glass frogs, and lizards.
Day 8, Cloud Forest
This morning we visit one of our favorite spots for toucan and hummingbird photography (with natural light for variety). This will be a real treat, and we'll have a great home-cooked breakfast at the owner's house. We return to our lodge for a quick lunch and then take the afternoon for more multiple-flash hummingbird photography at a different feeder area owned by a local family. All of our photographic sites in the are constitute true photographic eco-tourism because your photos are helping local families to preserve habitat and promote conservation. We'll end the day with a pizza dinner at our favorite restaurant in the area!
Day 9, Cloud Forest to Quito
Today we head back toward the capital city, our base for our great day trips over the next couple of days. But, there’s a twist; yep, we make a stop for more bird photography and a delicious home-cooked lunch along the way. With luck, we’ll be able to photograph a critically-endangered species of parrot and lots of other fantastic birds! After we get checked in to our hotel in Quito’s vibrant business district, you can relax, take a stroll through the La Carolina park, or edit photos before enjoying dinner at one of the many great local restaurants right near our hotel. Dinner is not included this evening so that you can chill out and eat as much or as little as you'd like.
Day 10, Elfin Cloud Forest
After an early breakfast, we head to the misty highlands above Quito to photograph the famed Sword-billed hummingbird. We will set up custom perches and flowers to photograph this iconic species as well as the very cool Black-tailed Trainbearer, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, and Buff-winged Starfrontlet. This will be an amazing day! We return to our hotel with time to relax and gear up for a special treat – dinner and photography at a restaurant that offers great views of the historical center as the city lights come on.
Day 11, Eastern Slope Cloud Forest
After breakfast, we head to the misty highlands on the eastern side of the Andes mountains to photograph a different set of hummingbirds. Our main hummingbird target is the fantastic Long-tailed Sylph in a beautiful cloud forest setting. And if we're lucky, we may get a good look at the super cool Torrent Duck. We'll have a delicious lunch on site and return to our hotel in the late afternoon. We finish our trip with a farewell cocktail and snack hour at one of our favorite restaurants in the business district.
Day 12, Airport
Private transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Itinerary includes
Lodging as specified in DBL occupancy
Meals as specified
Transportation w/private driver in spacious air-conditioned tour bus
Private transfers to and from airport
Professional, full-time photo instruction from your leaders Greg and Lucas
Multiple-flash setups for hummingbird photography
Entrances and fees for all described activities
Taxes for all specified services
Itinerary does not include
International airfare
Dinner the following nights – Day 1, 9, 11
Alcoholic Drinks
Tips
Non-mealtime snacks and drinks
SGL room supplement - $1570
Booking a tour with us is easy!
1. Register for your tour using the form at the end of each workshop page.
4. Send us your traveler info form.
2. Send us your reserve deposit.
5. We will send you your final invoice.
3. Book your international air travel.
6. We´ll send you everything you need to know before you hop on the plane!
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+ Will someone be there to meet me at the airport?Certainly! We take care of you from the moment you exit the airport until the moment we drop you off for your return flight home. We'll send you all of the info you need to know regarding arrival in a final info message before the trip.
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+ I plan to arrive a day early. Can you help?Definitely, we'll be happy to make your reservations to ensure that you get to the same hotel that we have booked for the official first night of the tour. By the way, private transfers to and from the airport are always included in our tours, and you can use this transfer whether you arrive early or depart later than the official dates.
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+ What kind of clothes should I bring?In general, your best choices are lightweight garments that breathe and dry quickly, and you'll want a mix of long sleeves and short sleeves. A light polar-tec and a good rain jacket are also good to have. For meals, it's informal at the lodges and in the region in general. A pair of jeans, tennis shoes, and a clean shirt are just fine for dinner, even in the capital city hotels. Lightweight hiking boots are fine for your photography out in the field, and if you're visiting a beach area, you will want sandals or aqua shoes as well. Of course a good hat and sunscreen are important. We will send you clothing information specific to your trip after you've signed up.
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+ Can I have laundry done?Many of the lodges we use offer laundry service for a cost of approximately $2-4 per garment with same or next day service. We will indicate to you which lodges have laundry service after you've signed up for a given trip.
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+ Can I drink the water?This is probably the question that our clients ask us the most. And it’s the one for which we have the least definitive answer, except to say that beer is always a safe choice!. Water in and around capital cities is treated with chlorine and generally can be consumed with no worries. The lodges that we use for our photo travel often have their own well or municipal water, which is tested regularly by the Ministry of Health. Nonetheless, upset stomachs do occur as a result of change in diet or simply bacteria different from those to which Northern stomachs are accustomed. Serious disorders such as Giardia or amoebic dysentery are virtually unheard of. Bottled water is very widely available at our hotels and lodges, and a conservative strategy would be to use it as often as possible when outside the capital. As with travel to any foreign country, imodium pills are good to have along, and some of our clients also bring along Cipro or other broad-spectrum antibiotics. Some go so far as to begin taking antibiotics before arriving in-country. For antibiotic use, we suggest you consult with your physician. That said, we have very very few problems with water and food-related issues on our tours. During the tour, we will indicate to you where and when it might be better to stick to bottled water.
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+ I'd like a single room. Can that be arranged?Certainly. Simply indicate your rooming preference on the workshop signup form. There will be an extra charge for the single room supplement, and this is indicated in the full itinerary section of each workshop page. We do not take a commission for single room supplements.
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+ I'm traveling by myself but would like a double room. Can that be arranged?It depends. If we can match you up with a suitable solo traveler who also wants to share, we will be happy to place you in a double room.
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Should I bring a tripod?Yes, you always want to bring a tripod for all of our workshops. We will advise you each trip of any need for specialized heads or flash brackets.