BEAUTY OF BOLIVIA
Salar de Uyuni and Region, Bolivia
》TRIP INFO
LOCATION: SALAR DE UYUNI AND AREA, BOLIVIA
DATES: JANUARY 8-16, 2025
DURATION: 9 DAYS
INSTRUCTORS: PAUL ZIZKA + KRIS ANDRES
PHOTOGRAPHY LEVELS: ALL
PHYSICAL RATING: EASY
WHERE YOU’LL STAY: HOTELS AND REFUGES
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 15
COST: $8,600 CAD
A payment plan is available for this workshop. See below under “Price/Payment Schedule.”
Join world-renowned photographers Paul Zizka and Kris Andres on an unforgettable photography workshop in the heart of Bolivia, capturing the breathtaking beauty of the Salar de Uyuni and its surrounding wonders. This exclusive expedition offers a unique opportunity to hone your photography skills while exploring some of the most mesmerizing landscapes in South America.
Beginning in the famed Uyuni area, you'll photograph its iconic salt flats and haunting train graveyard. Experience the magic of capturing a mesmerizing sunset on the vast salt flats, as well as some of starriest skies on planet Earth. And if we're lucky, rainfall will turn the Salat into the world's largest mirror - a sight that defies description. As we venture further south, the terrain only gets more enigmatic. Nothing can quite prepare you for the "Road of the Jewels" which will see us visit one surreal laguna after another. Flamingoes and wild colour palettes await. Every night ends in a new remote area, surrounded by new volcanoes, under star-studded skies.
You'll frame your shots with the otherworldly Desierto de Dali and the iconic Árbol de Piedra. Witness the vibrant hues of Laguna Colorada, home to rare fauna, and aim your lens towards the towering Licancabur and the reflective waters of Laguna Verde.
Photograph the geysers at the otherworldly Sol de Mañana geothermal field, adding a touch of mystique to your portfolio, and end the day with a soak in Aguas Termales, under a billion skies. Throughout this workshop, Paul and Kris will be available to provide tips, point out opportunities, give you feedback on your composition, or help you refine your vision.
We hope you’ll join us for this photography workshop-tour in Bolivia!
》WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
1. Learn to shoot the intimate details of nature and capture grand landscapes.
2. How to capture the immensity and "wow" factor of the night sky.
3. Honing your vision and improving your composition skills.
4. How to develop your skills as a landscape photographer using techniques like filters, and long exposure.
5. Developing your skills with your camera settings and equipment from beginner to pro.
》YOUR OFFBEAT INSTRUCTORS*
PAUL ZIZKA // LEADER
Specializing in photographing in difficult conditions and hard-to-reach places, Paul has a passion for shooting alpine sports and backcountry experiences, capturing the spirit of adventurers and finding unusual angles of common mountain subjects. As a landscape photographer, he particularly enjoys the challenge of capturing nature’s beauty at night and the unique features that come with a dark sky – stars, Northern Lights and dramatic silhouettes. Paul’s award-winning photos have been featured in a variety of publications, including National Geographic, Maclean’s, Alpinist, Huffington Post, The Guardian, Islands, and Climbing magazine. [Bio photo by Dave Brosha]
KRIS ANDRES // LEADER
Based in the Canadian Rockies, Kristopher considers the mountains (along with everywhere he travels) to be his second home. Kris is always up for endless adventures with a smile—no matter how "atmospheric" the conditions are. He will be overly excited in almost everything he does in life, capturing each story with the click of a shutter, in any and all genres—from adventure to landscapes to portraiture to food and more! When he’s not out creating, Kris is a full-time yogi working to refine himself every day. [Bio photo by Paul Zizka]
* As per our Terms and Conditions, OFFBEAT reserves the right to change, at any time, the tour leader of any workshop.
》INS AND OUTS
What’s Included:
Daily instruction/mentorship with Paul Zizka & Kris Andres.
Accommodations.
All meals during the workshop.
Travel in 4x4 during the workshop.
All park entrance fees.
Location scouting and itinerary planned by OFFBEAT instructors.
Lifetime membership to OFFBEAT Community.
What’s Not Included:
International flights.
Visa, vaccinations, passport fees.
Travel insurance.
Alcohol.
Souvenirs.
Gratuities and tips for guides, servers, staff etc.
Any weather-caused delays/extensions to stay.
Accommodations
Your time for the duration of the workshop is split between 2 or 3 comfortable hotels, including salt hotels! This is definitely the type of trip where the accommodations will add a lot to our experience!
》ITINERARY
The itinerary is subject to change. Access to sights in that remote part of Bolivia is very much dependent on the weather. We will likely have to stray from our intended plans, but we’ll always end up somewhere incredible regardless!
Day 1 - January 8, 2025
We arrive in Uyuni, get settled into our salt hotel and then head out for our first shoot: a sunset on the incredible Salar de Uyuni. We then return to the hotel for our kickoff dinner, and rest up for a big week ahead!
Day 2 -January 9, 2025
After a visit to the salar-side town of Colchani, we venture deep onto the salt flats. Depending on conditions, we may explore some of the surreal “islands”, some salt sculptures or some of the wild geometry that can be found in the area. We end a full day on the salt with a sunset shoot before heading back to the hotel for the night. If conditions allow, we will venture under the stars after dinner or in the middle of the night!
Day 3 - January 10, 2025'
Today we spend another day exploring the mysterious, unique, extensive Salar de Uyuni. We’ll follow our nose and see what we can find and point our lenses towards!
Day 4 - January 11, 2025
Time to say goodbye to Uyuni and head south in search of jewels! By jewels, we mean an incredible string of lagunas, all wildly different from each other. Prepare to be amazed. We will also likely experience our first wildlife encounters of the trip: keep an eye out for ostriches, vicuñas, flamingoes and Andean foxes!
Day 5 - January 12, 2025
We continue our explorations of the most remote reaches of Bolivia passing countless volcanoes, colourful lakes and bizarre rock formations. At last we enter the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve to take in the famed, unforgettable Árbol de Piedra and Laguna Colorada. And come evening, if the skies are clear, you know we’ll be out there shooting the full Moon over the desert plateaus!
Day 6 - January 13, 2025:
We start the day with another visit to the enigmatica Laguna Colorada, and drive up to nearly 5,000 metres above sea level to marvel at the geysers Sol de Mañana. We then relocate to some hot springs and finish the day with a sunset at the aptly-named Desierto de Dalí. After dinner, check out the hot springs under the stars - undoubtedly a highlight of the trip.
Day 7 - January 14, 2025
This day sees us reaching our southernmost point of the trip, very close to the border with Chile and Argentina. Laguna Verde will leave you speechless. And we can’t wait to show you a new spot we found on our scouting trip that no one else goes to! We then start moving north again as we slowly make our way back to Uyuni. Don’t despair though - there are many highlights and terrific photo opportunities on the way. We spend the night in Villamar, a tiny village located in an enchanting setting.
Day 8 - January 15, 2025:
We drive back to Uyuni (paved road!), but not before we make a few last stops on our journey, including canyons, gravity-defying rock towers and perhaps the most wildlife-rich area of the whole adventure! We check into our hotel right in the heart of Uyuni, freshen up, and then meet at a wonderful restaurant to celebrate our journey with a finale dinner.
Day 9 - January 16, 2025
Departure day. We check out of the hotel and start the journey home with our hearts and memory cards full!
》PRICE/PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Cost: CAD $8,600
Payment options: Full payment or $1,500 non-refundable deposit to secure a space with remaining four payments as listed below.
Non-Refundable Deposit: CAD $1,500
Payment #1 $1775 - Feb 5, 2024
Payment #2: $1775 - May 5, 2024
Payment #3: $1775 - Aug 5, 2024
Payment #4: $1775 - Oct 5, 2024
Note: Failure to pay by due dates means forfeiting deposit and spot will be freed up and potentially sold to another interested participant (see more in cancellation policy below).
If unforeseen circumstances arise, participants are welcome to transfer/sell their space to another interested participant. In such case, participants are responsible for handling payment for the transfer.
WHAT OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT OFFBEAT WORKSHOPS
”
“Curiosity, kindness, and light. What more could you want from your guides and other members of your community? Our trip was incredible: people, places, and personalities. From chasing the light in a ditch off the side of the road, to finding horses to rub noses with, even the most seemingly insignificant moments were memorable. And that's the beauty of Offbeat, in a nutshell: finding the impossible in the most improbable places.”
-Dave G.
“The workshop was amazing - great instruction and professionalism by the instructors. They did a great job handling the group's variety of experience and took time to help each one of us individually. They prepared well for a variety of conditions and had great locations scouted out before we arrived. Kris and Paul are excellent instructors and loads of fun!”
- Tracy B.
“I have attended a number of OFFBEAT Workshops and have loved them all. The co-founders are two of the most genuine people I have met and they are both so enthusiastic and passionate about what they do. They always ensure that you have the best time and are always willing to share their time and experience with you. My photography has definitely improved since learning from these two. I have also only meet decent and friendly people on these workshops. Everybody is there for the common goal - photography and everybody has such fun. I can not recommend Offbeat highly enough.”
— Claire C.
“I felt the level of collaboration and support among the participants in this one was exceptional and so was the size of the group. It is easier to hide in bigger groups when I feel insecure with my skills and talent. The content was timely, appropriate and exceedingly well organized. The facilitators’ presentation skills were exceptional. I came away with a little more confidence and a lot more knowledge. Thanks, Dave and Paul!!!”
-Jan L.
》IMPORTANT INFO
Please visit our FAQs for more information on What to Bring, our Physical Ratings and Photography Levels.
IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR YOU?
Physical Rating (Easy)
Hiking experience // None necessary.
Pace // Slow.
Distance/Description // <5km/day (3 miles) on well-defined trails, with slight noticeable elevation change, and perhaps slightly uneven terrain.
Footwear // Light hiking shoes or sneakers.
Photography Level (All): This workshop is open to both amateur and professional photographers.
INSURANCE POLICY
It is not only advised but required that participants have trip cancellation/interruption insurance, as well as emergency medical/illness insurance and rescue coverage (proof required within 4 months of departure).
Weather and other unforeseen factors can cause delays in travel, particularly from some of our more remote locations. It is the participant’s responsibility to cover any costs in the case of a travel delay of any length. Please ensure your trip cancellation/interruption insurance accommodates this possibility.
By purchasing a spot you are acknowledging that you accept these conditions.
Please see our Insurance page for more information about our insurance partner, World Nomads.
》OFFBEAT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Please take the time to review OFFBEAT’s Terms and Conditions, including our Cancellation Policies. You are required to agree to these in order to confirm your registration. Effective June 16, 2022.