Wild Puna Photo Tour
Instructor: Ian Plant
Where: Salta, Argentina
Maximum number of students: 8
Price: $8000 ($1000 non-refundable deposit required at booking)
February 22 - March 3, 2027
Email Ian at ianplantphoto@gmail.com to register.
This place will take your breath away, and not just because of the elevation! The Puna Wilderness, a high desert plateau located in a remote corner of northern Argentina, contains some of the most incredible desert scenery in the world. Surreal rock formations, massive sand dunes, endless salt pans, dramatic mountains, ancient volcanoes, and colorful geothermal pools are just the beginning. We explore this epic wilderness with 4x4 vehicles, allowing us to photograph places rarely seen by others. I invite you to join me for this unique photo adventure, and to nurture your inner photo muse in the stark solitude of the Puna.
This tour is timed for the tail end of the Austral summer, which is when the weather in the Puna transitions from the wet to the dry season. This means comfortable temperatures and chances for amazing sunrise and sunset skies. Highlights of the Puna include:
Campo de Piedra Pómez: A massive field of giant pumice stone formations, sculpted by wind and water into fantastical shapes. This area also has massive sand dunes, a colorful geothermal lake, and dramatic volcano craters.
Labyrinth Desert: A cracked mud desert carved from soft red claystone hills.
Arita Cone: A shapely ancient volcano cone rising from Salar de Arizaro, a massive salt flat.
Salinas Grandes: The largest salt flat in Argentina, and one of the largest in the world.
Ojos de Campo: An assortment of colorful geothermal pools.
Hornocal Mountain: A massive peak covered with jagged patterns featuring a rainbow of colors.
Drone photography paradise: From the air, the beauty of the Puna takes on a whole new dimension. You don't need a drone to photograph the Puna, but if you already have one, this is one of the best places in the world for drone photography.
Please explore my Puna portfolio at the bottom of this page to see photos of these locations.
For more inspiration, watch my Solar Eclipse video, which was filmed in the Puna.
Tour location: The tour starts and finishes in Salta, Argentina. Salta (airport code SLA) is easily reached by a quick two-hour flight from Buenos Aires (airport code EZE). Vehicles will be waiting for you when you arrive at Salta airport to transfer you to the hotel.
Physical requirements: The Puna is a high-altitude region in the Andes, starting around 10,000 feet above sea level (we'll occasionally top out over 14,000 feet when crossing high passes, but most of the time we'll be at 10,000-13,000 feet above sea level). At this altitude, the air is thinner, which can make breathing feel a bit more difficult at first. Staying well-hydrated and moving at a relaxed pace are key to fully enjoying your experience in the Puna. At this altitude, most people don't experience more severe symptoms of altitude sickness, but if you are especially prone to problems when at high elevations, please contact me and we can discuss in more detail.
You'll have to do some easy to moderate hiking on this tour to get to some photo spots. You don't have to be an athlete to enjoy the Puna, but if you have limited mobility, please contact me and we can discuss whether this tour is right for you.
General schedule: Please note that each day’s schedule might vary according to which locations we visit that day, how long we shoot, and what the weather conditions are like. Flexibility is key to successful outdoor photography, so expect that plans might change. Generally, we will photograph every sunrise and sunset, as well as many times during the day in between, including stops for photography when we have travel days.
February 22: Arrive in Salta, Argentina. Private Transfer from Salta Airport to hotel.
February 23: We travel from Salta to the Quebrada de las Conchas, a beautiful desert area just outside of the town of Cafayate, which is nestled in the heart of one of Argentina's best wine-producing regions. Overnight in Cafayate at a beautiful winery.
February 24: We travel from Cafayate to El Peñón, and photograph sunset at Campo de Piedra Pómez, a massive pumice stone field. We're in a very remote area; our lodging in El Peñón is basic but clean and comfortable.
February 25-26: We spend each morning and evening photographing in and near Campo de Piedra Pómez. This is an amazing area, and there is plenty for us to photograph. In addition to the pumice stones, we'll photograph sand dunes, volcanoes, and a colorful lake while we are here.
February 27: After a morning shoot, we travel to Tolar Grande, exploring and photographing Ojos de Campo and Arita Cone along the way.
February 28: From Tolar Grande, we photograph Arita Cone and the surrounding Red Hills and Labyrinth Desert. Lodging in Tolar Grande is basic but clean and comfortable.
March 1: After photographing sunrise in the Red Hills, we travel to Purmamarca, photographing the Salinas Grandes salt pan for sunset on the way. We're back in civilization; we stay at a stunning hacienda hotel.
March 2: During the morning, you are free to wander Purmamarca, a beautiful scenic town. In the afternoon, we head to Hornocal Mountain for sunset.
March 3: In the morning, we depart for our departure flights from Salta Airport in the afternoon.
Lodging and meals: Lodging, meals, water, and soft drinks are included in the tour price. Alcoholic beverages and tips are the responsibility of participants. All lodging on the tour is clean and comfortable, although lodging is more basic in remote areas of the Puna. Lodging is double occupancy; the single supplement is $1000, subject to availability.
Transportation: Participants are responsible for transportation to and from Salta Airport (code SLA). During the tour, we travel in 4x4 vehicles, which allow us to safely explore the desert.
Payment policy: A deposit of $1000 is required to secure your spot on this tour. The remainder will be collected 120 days prior to the tour start. Payments are non-refundable. Trip insurance is highly advised to protect you in case you need to cancel.
Travel insurance: Medical Evacuation Insurance is mandatory. Trip Insurance is not mandatory, but highly advised. Having proper insurance is your responsibility. You should protect yourself and your trip.
