General Information
This 13-day expedition blends three of Earth's most iconic natural wonders with a journey where you will have the ultimate experience!
First stop is the UNESCO Yasuní Biosphere Reserve in the upper Amazon basin – a biodiversity hotspot teeming with over 4,000 plant species per square kilometer, 596 bird species, iconic mammals like the elusive jaguar and the tapir, colorful amphibians, and ancient reptiles such as the Anaconda. Additionally, there are more than 100,000 species of alien-like insects and, of course, many species of monkeys. Photographic opportunities abound at literally every turn.
The second stop is Mindo’s enchanting cloud forest, located in the Choco Andino region with its unique flora and fauna. Mindo is considered a one of the best places in the world for hummingbird photography and for landscape enthusiasts it boasts hundreds of waterfalls, we will visit several of them.
Our final stop is Galapagos UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which probably needs no introduction. Galapagos Islands consist of 13 large islands formed 4 million years ago by volcanic eruptions. The geographical isolation of Galapagos has given rise to a high degree of biodiversity. It has more than 45 endemic bird species, 42 reptile species, 15 mammal species and 79 fish species live in Galapagos and coexist harmoniously with the local population. Oh and let’s not forget Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution.
This is really a wildlife and landscape photography journey that delivers on Terra’s goal of providing the ultimate experience.
Guides
Jonas Paurell
Creative Guide & Expedition Leader
Jonas is the founder of Terra Photography Expeditions. He has been a photographer for well over 20 years. He is a certified International Mountain Leader (UIMLA) that has spent a lifetime exploring the world's wild areas. Jonas will be leading the expedition.
Jonas loves working with developing photographers to strengthen their technical foundation and support them to unleach their inner creativity. Jonas achieves this through engaging lectures, educative assignments and hands-on teaching in the field. Jonas will also be sharing his wealth of knowledge and expertise from photographing the rainforest.
More info here.
Andy Mumford
Creative Guide
Andy is a Lisbon-based professional landscape and travel photographer. He is also a passionate teacher of photography and has been leading groups and one-to-one workshops for over five years, while his images and photography writing have been featured in magazines and publications worldwide. As well as workshops and travelling he also produces regular videos about photography and film-making on his YouTube channel.
Andy's YouTube & Website
Itinerary
Day 1 | Arrival Day | 16 June 2025
All-day arrivals and pick-up from Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador. On arrival, you will be transferred to our hotel not far from the airport. In the evening we will meet for a refreshing welcome drink, tour briefing, and welcome dinner.
Day 2 | Quito - Yasuní National Park
In the early morning, we will take a short flight to Coca, a port city deep in the Amazon and our gateway to the rainforest. From there, a two-hour riverboat ride will take us into the heart of the rainforest, and finally, a canoe will take us the final stretch to our luxury eco-lodge, surrounded by incredible nature and wildlife. On arrival, we will have a short briefing from the local naturalist guides and then get ready for our first wildlife adventure in the afternoon. The journey has now finally begun.
Day 3 - 5 | Yasuní National Park
For the next few days, we will be far from civilization and deep in what is estimated to be the most biologically diverse place on Earth (N.B. not the second most biodiverse – the number one)! The park is home to at least 596 bird species (that is one-third of the total native bird species for the entire Amazon rainforest), 121 reptile species, 382 fish species, 117 bat species, and over 100,000 species of insects – and this is only what has been documented so far. So, get ready to experience the Amazon rainforest, from now on we will focus our efforts on trying to capture troops of capuchin monkeys swinging through the labyrinth of trees, the howling howler monkeys welcoming us with their loud screams, vibrantly coloured frogs, an incredible array of alien-like insects and if we are lucky, we might even have a glimpse of the elusive jaguar. In the evenings we will enjoy the luxuries of our lodge with good food and great company.
Day 6 | Yasuní – Quito – Mindo Cloud Forest
After spending a few days in the deep rainforest, we will now head to our next great location: the famous cloud forest of Mindo in the Choco Andino Region. A unique ecosystem more often than not covered in clouds. Located in between the cold highlands and the warm humid rainforests.
We leave Yasuní the same way we came, by canoe, riverboat, and a short flight, and then transfer over to a bus for a short two-hour ride to our lodge in the middle of the clouds.
Day 7 to 8 | Mindo Cloud Forest
For the coming days, we will get immersed in the enchanting cloud forest of Mindo, another biodiversity hotspot full of avian wonders and mossy nature. Expect to photograph a plethora of hummingbirds covered in colourful feathers as they fly between exotic orchids, toucans sorting their way through the trees, and many other birds. We will also focus our photography on the many beautiful waterfalls cascading as we trek through this unique biome. In the evenings we will enjoy the food and the company of our fellow travellers.
Day 9 | Mindo - Quito - Galapagos
We depart Mindo to catch a morning flight towards the Pacific Ocean for our next adventure. Welcome to yet another wonder of the world, where you will be astonished by a landscape sitting at the intersection between land and water. Galapagos is filled with animals that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. There is no wonder why Charles Darwin found inspiration in the Galapagos to develop the theory of evolution, and it's also why UNESCO declared the islands a World Heritage Site.
Or home for the journey is a 5-star private yacht. In the afternoon we will have our first outing and get straight into the unique flora and fauna.
Day 10 to 12 | Galapagos Islands
These volcanic islands have it all for photographers: natural landscapes that take your breath away and a plethora of unique wildlife to capture on camera. For our journey, we will go to some iconic locations that will show you the vast life that is contained in the Galapagos. Each day or night our yacht will be repositioned so that we have a new place to discover. On land we expect to photograph giant tortoises, land iguanas, penguins, various bird species, including the famous blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds and many other species. We will also have the opportunity for some snorkelling as no visit to the Galapagos Islands is complete without discovering what lies underneath the surface – expect schools of colourful fish, stingrays and sharks.
Day 13 | Galapagos - Quito | 28 June 2025
After our last excursion, we will leave the Enchanted Islands and take a flight back to Quito. Our tour will be officially concluded on arrival at the airport, but to best suit your travel plans, we can provide an optional extra night at the airport hotel in case you have a late flight, or a flight the following day. Lunch at the airport is not included.
Curriculum
All Terra Photography Expeditions follow a proven curriculum that aims to teach the theory behind photography in a dynamic way that directly translates into easily actionable processes in the field. As we move through nature we also go through an introduction to the skills and knowledge required to be safe in the great outdoors.
Photography Techniques Covered on the tour
Storytelling - Telling stories and evoking emotions within the context of landscape and wildlife photography
Composition - A comprehensive introduction to the theory of composition, including the elements of art and principles of design
Process - Learning and implementing a process to achieve consistent quality in landscape and wildlife photography
Focusing - A science-based method for focusing to make your images sharp
Long exposure and filters - Long exposure and the use of Neutral Density (ND) filters, especially related to moving water and clouds
Panorama photography - exposing and merging multiple images
Multiple exposures and graduate filters - Achieving correctly exposed images in challenging conditions using graduated filters and multiple exposures (exposure bracketing)
Finding locations - Using maps, weather services and other tools to identify potential photography locations and times.
Processing Techniques:
Workflow - Full post production workflow in Lightroom
Colour Balance - Using Lightroom to get the colour right
Contrast - Using Lightroom to apply contrast
Shaping Light - Using local adjustments to shape and sculpt the light
Luminosity Masks - Using luminosity masks in Lightroom
HDR Images - Different techniques for blending multiple exposures of the same image
Panoramas - Stitching multiple panoramas together
Sharpening - Sharpening techniques
Black & White - Editing for powerful BW images
Photoshop and Layers - Using Photoshop layers to build up image adjustments
Accommodation
During this tour, we will be staying in some of the most exclusive lodges the Amazon has to offer, along with a private 5 start yacht, chartered only for our group, with which we’ll explore the Galapagos islands.
Additional Information
The Weather
June offers a great opportunity to explore both the rainforest and the Galapagos Islands. In the Amazon region, temperature may range between highs of 24°C (75°F) and lows of 18°C (64°F). In Galapagos, the temperature ranges between highs of 26°C (79°F) and lows of 21°C (70°F). June is the end of the rainy season in Galapagos, which is the best time of year to visit.
Bugs and Insects
Contrary to belief fuelled by Hollywood movies, being in the rainforest is generally not uncomfortable. Yes, there are insects and mosquitos, but nothing long-sleeved trousers and shirts, and some insect repellent can’t take care of.
Partners are Welcome
The focus of this expedition is on photography - as all expeditions by Terra. But that doesn’t mean that this isn’t perfect for your partner as well! As this is a true once in a lifetime opportunity, accompanying partners, adult children, or friends, whether they are photographers or not, are also welcome. There is plenty for non-photographers to experience on this adventure.
Food
All main meals are included. Kindly be in touch with any dietary restrictions.
Leave No Trace Policy
Terra Photography Expeditions has a strict leave-no-trace policy. This policy is also applied to how we share information about fragile ecosystems that we gently and respectfully visit. This means that we have withheld exact locations from the itinerary. This is because we do not want to contribute to large-scale tourism. You are welcome to get in touch if you'd like to discuss the itinerary before applying to join. Thank you for your understanding.
How Challenging?
This expedition has a Lowland Workshop effort level.
Our Lowland Workshops are designed to be accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of participants. Most of our locations are situated along roadsides or can be reached by walking a few kilometers on well-maintained trails. For winter workshops the conditions can sometimes be snowy and on not maintaned paths.
Price & Details
Included:
Landscape and wildlife photography in unforgettable locations
Professional photographers & guides who know the areas
Guided walks by qualified guides
Local transportation to and from the locations
All park entrance fees (except the Galapagos Tourist tax that must be paid in person - currently $200)
Post-processing workshops in Lightroom and Photoshop, with screen recordings which the participants can keep
All accommodation
All breakfast, lunches and dinners (starting at dinner on day 1, and finishing with breakfast on day 13)
Airport transfer to/from Aeropuerto Mariscal Sucre, Quito
Excluded:
Photo equipment
Outdoor clothing and equipment
Snacks and alcoholic drinks
Flights to and from Ecuador
Galapagos tourist tax (at the moment 200 USD and paid in CASH only)
Insurance. All participants are required to have their own insurance appropriate for this tour such as health, accident, mountain rescue, repatriation, cancellation, personal liability, etc.
Price: 11995 USD
30% deposit is due to secure your reservation, remaining 70% is due 180 days before the start of the tour. The price includes shared twin room (or double room if travelleing as a couple). Single occupancy is only possible by pourchasing 2 spots for single use.
Cancellation Terms:
Once the expedition status is "confirmed" the deposit is non-refundable. The balance payment is refundable up to 180 days before the start of the expedition, after that the full payment is non-refundable and cancellations are not accepted. This is due to the special rulas and arrangements for this unique expedition in the Amazon and the chartering of an entire private yacht in Galapagos. We strongly recommend all partipants to have traveller's insurance that refund your non-refundable payment if you need to cancel a trip for unforeseen reasons.
Status: CONFIRMED!
Participants: Minimum 10 - Maximum 12
Start: Quito - Ecuador, 16 June 2025
End: Quito - Ecuador, 28 June 2025
We reserve the right to change the itinerary without previous notice due to weather conditions, and unforeseeable circumstances.
This tour is governed by the Terms and Conditions