Galapagos Photo Workshop

May 5-12, 2025 - Sold Out!!

The Galapagos Islands are some of nature's most exquisite creations. From desolate coasts to craggy volcanic peaks, textured lava fields, and iridescent lagoons, this archipelago exudes untamed beauty. Situated more than 600 miles off of the nearest coast, the hallmark of these islands is the profusion of endemic wildlife found nowhere else! And on our 8-day adventure, we will experience and photograph every bit of the Galapagos magic! Be ready to race the giant tortoises, dance with the blue-footed boobies, hop with the Galapagos penguins, and swim with the only seafaring lizards!

Tuition

$12,595
All-Inclusive

Max Group Size

12 Participants
2 Instructors
1 Wildlife Specialist

Instructors

David Swindler
Juan Pons

Physical Intensity

Highlights

Visit six islands with dates optimally timed for stable weather and wildlife activity.
Photograph endemic species such as the blue-footed boobies, Darwin's finch, waved albatross, Galapagos penguins, giant tortoises, Sally lightfoot crabs, and many more!
Snorkel with dazzling array of marine life. May is a good time to encounter the graceful sting and eagle rays, massive hammerhead sharks, and darting Galapagos penguins.
Passionate onboard naturalists eager to share their knowledge of the environment.
Designated in-field and classroom photography instruction with pros David Swindler and Juan Pons.
Private yacht allows us to control the schedule and prioritize photographic opportunities.
Luxury accommodations with delicious and locally sourced cuisine.
100% all-inclusive pricing so you can leave your tip money at home.
Extend your adventure with our Ecuador Tropical Birds Workshop Apr 28 - May 3!

Itinerary

Day 1 (May 5): We meet in Quito where we fly to San Cristobal with transfers to our private luxury yacht, the M/V Majestic. Once aboard, we head out to El Junco Lagoon, an ancient freshwater crater lake. You'll have opportunities to spot frigate birds, white-cheeked pintails, and common gallinules. On most evenings, we'll have dinner together and then edit and review the images we captured.
Day 2 (May 6): Today we venture to the world-famous Post Office Bay on Floreana Island. We then make our way to the Baroness Viewing Point with sweeping views of the island. This area offers unique beaches- one green in color, due to the high percentage of olivine crystals, and another white sand beach made of white coral, as well as the potential to spot sea turtles. We move on to Cormorant Point, which hosts a large flamingo lagoon, as well as a habitat for common stilts and pintails. At the end of the day, guests have the option to snorkel in the island’s volcanic crater, dubbed the ‘Devil’s Crown’. These waters attract a variety of marine life including sharks and rays.
Day 3 (May 7): Today we explore Suarez Point with its blue-footed boobies, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, and Nazca boobies. Waved Albatross dive off the dramatic cliffs, while a famous blowhole spurts water high into the air, presenting a variety of photo opportunities at this location. The group then moves to Gardner Bay on the eastern side of the island, which is a breeding ground for 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses, as well as a sea lion nursery.
Day 4 (May 8): We visit Los Gemelos, the Twin Craters, for some breathtaking views and landscape photography opportunities. We then travel to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This notable location is home to a tortoise research facility and massive collection of specimens from across the islands. Guests can enjoy a leisurely tour of the grounds or dive deep into the history of the ecological research on this archipelago.

Itinerary, cont.

Day 5 (May 9): We head toward the steep, rocky cliffs of El Barranco. This short hike leads to breathtaking views in a serene environment of palo santo vegetation, ideal habitats for red-footed boobies, short-eared owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves. The group then moves to the white sand beach of Darwin Bay. We'll pass by tidal pools with sea lions playing and sunning themselves and end the hike at a picturesque cliff above the bay. There, you can spot colorful rays, reef fish, and hammerhead sharks.
Day 6 (May 10): We start our day visiting Rabida Island and its colorful volcanic landscape. This island is ideal for snorkeling off its maroon sand beaches in brackish waters that host a variety of marine species. On land, Rabida is a birdwatcher's paradise with some of the rarest species in abundance here, such as 9 varieities of finches, large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos hawks,a dn brown pelicans. The group then makes its way to Chinese Hat Islet off of Santiago Island, exploring the geological sites of the island, like the lava tubes and lava flows.
Day 7 (May 11): It's our final full day on the trip and our group ventures to Witch Hill on the northern coast of San Cristobal Island. There, we find one of the most picturesque beaches in the archipelago. Wildlife here includes sea turtles, sea lions, rays, sponge coral reefs, and more. Then, we move to Lobos Island, where a large colony of sea lions call home. Guests are permitted to enter the water or stay on the boat to photograph.
Day 8 (May 12): On our final morning together, we enjoy an outing to the Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center. It's a proper final send off from the action-packed week we’ve experienced. We disembark in San Cristobal and return to the airport to travel by plane back to Quito. Most guests will opt to spend a rest night in Quito before flying home on May 13th.

Logistics

Plan to arrive in Quito, Ecuador anytime before the morning of May 5th. This workshop is 100% all-inclusive from the time we board the ship to when we disembark, excluding alcohol.

This workshop is rated Moderate for physical activity. Although participating in this voyage does not require a high level of physical fitness, you should be able to walk up and down narrow stairs on the ship, and walk on unstable, rocky, or slippery terrain. Optional longer hikes can be done on many of the landings depending on your degree of fitness and interest.

Seasickness is generally only a problem during open ocean passages. When we are cruising between landings, the waters are usually quite calm. We recommend you discuss with your physician the management of your overall health and motion sickness. We will share our experience based suggestions for managing motion sickness during our pre-workshop zoom meeting.

Take a Tour of the boat

State of the Art Boat

Dining Room

Window Room

Deck

Jacuzzi

Lounge

Oceanview Dining

Sun Deck

Luxury

Trip Details

Trip Includes:

Round trip airfare between Quito and the Galapagos Islands.
Transfers between the airport, hotels, and yacht.
7 nights on board our private luxury yacht in a double-occupancy window stateroom.
Gourmet meals starting with dinner on May 5 through breakfast on May 12. Snacks and water during daily outings.
All non-alcoholic beverages while on the boat.
Gratuities for ship & expedition staff.
In-field photography instruction, image critiques, and post-processing training by 2 pro-photographers.
Onboard lectures and classes.
Landing fees, permits, port taxes, and passenger fees for all activities unless described as optional.
Detailed trip materials (provided after booking) and a digital voyage log.

Trip Does NOT Include:

Airfare from your home to/from Quito, Ecuador.
Passport and visa fees.
Mandatory Travel Insurance, including emergency medical coverage and medical evacuation.
Personal expenses incurred on-board the boat (laundry, wifi, phone calls, etc)
Meals and optional activities while in Quito.

Our Yacht

Newly built in 2018
Boat Length of 127' (39m)
Accommodates 16 guests and 9 crew.
Jacuzzi for after a long day shooting.
Al Fresco Dining on Deck (weather permitting).
Luxury lounge for relaxing in the evenings.
Certified Emergency MD
Onboard naturalists

Window Staterooms

Double occupancy share with either two twin beds or one King bed
Private In-Suite Bathroom/Shower
Flat Screen TV
Telephone and Safe
Independent Temperature Controls
Luxury Toiletries & Hair Dryer

Pricing

$12,595 per Person

Includes Window Stateroom (double occupancy share)
Dinner May 5 through breakfast May 12 with meals, accommodations, beverages (non-alcoholic), and gratuity.
No loyalty discounts as this workshop involves third party collaborations.

Payment Schedule

Due at Time of Booking: $5,595 USD
Balance Due: 120 days prior to the first day of the workshop.

Cancellations

Due to the unique specifications of the private boat and this workshop location, no refunds or credits will be given unless we are able to fill your spot with another participant. Once the cancelled spot is filled, the normal Workshop Terms and Conditions will apply.

More Details

During our adventure, we will photograph both on land and on water, with outings aboard smaller watercraft and landings on shore to explore the islands by foot. We plan to search for famed wildlife like marine iguana, giant tortoises, Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, mantas, sharks, crabs, a handful of endemic mammals found throughout the islands, like the Galapagos Sea Lion, Galapagos Fur Seal, and endemic bat, dolphin, and whale species. Group members can also snorkel among the coral reefs, lagoons, and rocky coves. May offers great opportunities for prized stingray, eagle ray, hammerhead shark, and Galapagos penguin sightings.

We hope to see the large population of endemic land birds, seabirds, and shorebirds, such as the tropical Galapagos Penguin, Galapagos Flamingo, Flightless Cormorant, Waved Albatross, Galapagos Petrel, Lava Gull, and Swallow-tailed Gull, Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca Boobies, Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds, many Darwin’s finches and mockingbirds, multiple heron species, Galapagos Hawks, Galapagos Doves, Galapagos Flycatchers, Galapagos Rails, Galapagos Martins, few species of owl, and more.

Extend your wildlife escapade by joining us on our Birds of Ecuador in the beautiful Andes Mountains.

Throughout the workshop, you will learn how to compose compelling images, use the environmental conditions to your advantage, and master the technical aspects of photography. Whether you’re a beginner photographer or a seasoned pro, our experienced instructors provide personalized instruction and guidance to help you improve your skills and take your wildlife and landscape photography to the next level.

Recommended Camera Gear

Much more detailed packing info will be sent after booking.

Digital SLR or mirrorless camera body (preferably 2 bodies)
Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-105mm.
Long telephoto zoom lens in the 100-600mm range. If you like shooting birds, 500-600mm is recommended.
Wide angle lens in the 14-24mm range.
Macro lens in the 90-150mm range.
Circular polarizer filters
Tripod or Monopod (optional)
GoPro or Underwater Housing for Underwater Photos (optional)
Backpack to carry your camera gear
Extra batteries, extra memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
Laptop and card reader to backup your photos during the voyage.

Personal Gear List

Waterproof and windproof shell
Warm layer for cooler mornings.
Thermal underlayers
Swimsuit
Casual clothing for sea days
Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat
Water bottle

Extend Your Adventure!

Ecuador Tropical Birds

Apr 28-May 3, 2025

Learn More

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Trip Advisor

David Swindler

Founder - Photography Instructor

David Swindler is an award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer. Among others, he has been recognized by the International Photography Awards, Siena International Photo Awards, Sony World Photography Awards, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, and National Geographic. He received a degree in chemical engineering and worked in the semiconductor industry specializing in optics and photolithography. In 2014, he left his day job to follow his true passion. He has traveled to some of the most remote regions of the world and has extensive experience photographing a wide variety of subjects and conditions. As the founder of Action Photo Tours, he finds great satisfaction in helping others learn photography, especially in the wild desert environment near his home in Kanab, UT. David is an expert in night photography and loves to get out and shoot the starry night skies.

Gallery Awards and Media Coverage

Having guided photo tours for years, David is very familiar with many different types of cameras. He is a master with light and composition. But most importantly, his dedication to his clients is what really sets him apart! But don't take our word for it - read what others are saying: Trip Advisor.

Juan Pons

Juan Pons is a wildlife and nature photographer with over 30 years experience and a passion for photographing our world’s most magnificent features. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Juan is an avid conservationist and environmental educator, and has traveled extensively leading photography workshops out in the field and in the classroom for more than 18 years. Juan’s adventure expeditions have taken participants to once-in-a-lifetime places like Antarctica, Cuba, Alaska, Costa Rica, Yellowstone, and much more.

Juan’s decades of work have made him a recognized expert in wildlife photography and Lightroom. Juan’s work has been featured in numerous publications including Sierra Magazine, Nature Conservancy, Audubon Magazine, American Photo, Audubon North Carolina, Wildlife in North Carolina, The Independent, and many others.

Juan hopes that his images, which he often donates to nature and wildlife non-profits, as well as sells to private individuals, will inspire others to appreciate and respect nature.