Patagonia Fall Colors
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Puma Tracking Extension

 Workshop Information Packet

Magnificent Mt. Fitz Roy

Contents:

I. General Information

II. To Do Checklist

III. Daily Itinerary

IV. FAQ’s

Patagonia 2026
General Information 

Workshop Dates:

Main Tour: April 11–April 21, 2026

Puma Tracking Extension: April 21–24, 2026

WELCOME!
Thanks again for joining our 2026 Patagonia photography adventure! We know you’re as excited as we are to begin exploring Patagonia’s stunning landscapes and wildlife together. But first, a bit of planning is needed to make sure things go smoothly. This document contains important information to help you plan your travels and prepare for our adventure. Please take some time to carefully review it and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions:

OVERVIEW  
The Patagonia Fall Colors workshop begins at 4pm on April 11 in El Calafate, Argentina and ends when you arrive at the airport in Puerto Natales, Chile on April 21 to begin your journey home. For those participating in the optional Puma Tracking Extension, your departure date is April 24.

In between, we’ll explore the magnificent landscapes and wildlife of the Patagonian steppe on both sides of the Argentina–Chile border with our cameras.

Take a look at the Daily Itinerary in this packet or on the Patagonia workshop page of our website for more information about the locations we will visit and the things we can expect to see and photograph throughout our journey.

BALANCE OF FEES
The remainder of your workshop fees are due as follows:

Payment #2: $3000 due by Aug 10, 2025

Remaining Balance: due by Dec 10, 2025

You will receive an invoice by email after registration that contains all charges and payments related to this workshop. Clicking the link in the invoice will take you to your Customer Portal where you can make payments, view or download  statements/receipts and more at your convenience.  

TRAVEL LOGISTICS AND DOCUMENTS:

Arrival – book your inbound flight to arrive in El Calafate (airport code: FTE) no later than ~1pm on April 11. If you are arriving early and need additional hotel nights, let us know and we can make the arrangements (additional charge applies).

Departure

Main tour Only Participants – book your departure from Puerto Natales, Chile (airport code: PUQ) after 4pm on April 21.  

Pumas Extension Participants – book your departure from Puerto Natales, Chile (airport code: PUQ) after 4pm on April 24

Visas & Immunizations 

Americans – US passport holders do not need to obtain visas in advance to visit either Argentina or Chile. 

Other Nationalities – check online or with the Chilean & Argentinean embassies or consulates in your country to determine if you need to obtain a visa in advance of travel.

No specific immunizations are required to visit Chile or Argentina, but you should check with your health provider’s travel clinic or consult the CDC website for health/immunization recommendations. 

Travel Insurance – is mandatory for this trip. The primary concern is that in the event of a medical emergency, the cost of transporting you back home is covered. Policies that cover medical evacuation as well as many other things like trip cancellation, lost luggage, theft/loss, etc. are widely available.

Notify Banks & Credit Cards – notify your financial institutions about your travel plans to prevent problems using credit cards or ATMs while traveling.

Mobile Phone Carrier – look into your phone carrier’s international roaming policies and rates BEFORE leaving home or you may return to an extremely expensive bill. You may want to pre-purchase a data plan from your carrier or limit your mobile phone data usage to Wi-Fi only.

Foreign Currency – credit/debit cards are generally accepted but it would be a good idea to exchange a small amount of cash for local currency for small expenses.  ATM’s are available in El Calafate and our hotels can convert small sums also. US Dollars may be accepted by some merchants but at unfavorable exchange rates.

PHOTO EQUIPMENT

Below is a list of recommended photo gear.

If you are tempted to buy new gear for this trip, make sure to give yourself enough time to get to know it before you leave home. You don’t want to be fumbling through camera settings or an owner’s manual when an epic sunset is unfolding in front of you.

We’re happy to provide more specific brand/model recommendations for any item–just ask

• Camera – pretty much any modern dSLR or mirrorless body will do the job. Some of the higher end ‘bridge’ cameras are also an option. Animal eye-tracking, available on some mirrorless cameras, could come in very handy during the pumas extension. Bring a paper or electronic copy of your camera’s operating manual. Your smartphone is also a great camera – don’t forget it.

• Lenses – we’ll be photographing both landscapes and wildlife so having a selection of lenses ranging from wide angle to telephoto is advisable. Whether you prefer Zoom lenses or primes, we suggest trying to cover a range of focal lengths with 3-4 lenses. Below are suggested focal length ranges (35mm equivalent) your kit should cover:

  • Minimum: 24mm – 300mm

  • Ideal: ~16mm – 400mm+

• Camera Rain Protection – mountain weather is unpredictable, so having a cover to protect your expensive gear is smart.  There are many choices available, but we haven’t found anything better than O/P Tech’s Rainsleeve, which happens to be one of the least expensive options. Make sure to get the right size(s) to fit all your lenses.

• Extra Memory Cards & Batteries - you will be shooting a lot, as many as 1000+ images per day and we may not be able to charge batteries or download memory cards in the field. It is critical that you bring enough spare batteries to make it through each day and enough memory cards for the entire trip. We highly recommend NOT formatting or overwriting memory cards until you are back home.

• Camera Battery Charger –Don’t forget this essential item! As a backup, you may also want to invest in a USB powered battery charger which lets you charge your camera battery from any USB port (e.g. car charger, power bank). Search for “your camera model + USB charger” in Google or Amazon.

• Tripod – essential for low light landscapes, night, photography, and very helpful when using long lenses. Something sturdy and relatively lightweight with a solid ball head is ideal. Flimsy tripods are worse than worthless, especially in the very windy conditions we’ll likely encounter. Your tripod should be tall enough before extending the center column that you don’t have to bend over excessively.

• Camera bag or backpack – there are infinite options out there – it’s really a matter of personal preference. Our advice is to choose something that is no bigger than it has to be. Make sure your bag will fit in an airplane overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you to avoid having to check expensive gear. 

  • Small Camera bag/daypack – you can safely leave extra gear in our vehicle, so bring a smaller bag to carry just what you need for each outing.

• Filters – a polarizing filter helps reduce glare on water and foliage which adds richness/saturation to colors and removes distracting highlights. Other optional filters to consider are split/graduated neutral density (GND) filter(s) and solid neutral density filters.

• Small Microfiber towel(s) – a couple of these inside zip-loc bags will ensure you always have a dry towel to wipe moisture from cameras and lenses.

Other Gear

• Laptop or tablet– highly recommended. Your photography will improve much faster if you review your images daily. Doing preliminary selects and ratings also makes the mountain of images more manageable when you get home. We will also have several sessions on post processing and image management in Adobe Lightroom.

• Portable hard drive -  for image storage/backup. If you are purchasing one, look for a solid-state (SSD) type that is  “bus powered” – a drive that gets its power from the computer and does not require a separate power cord (most SSD’s are bus powered).  1TB capacity minimum, 2TB is better.

• Power adapters – You will need Type C And Type I electrical plug adapters for this trip. Both Argentina and Chile use 220-volt electricity.

  • We recommend simple adapters like this or this

  • A ‘universal’ adapter like one of these will also work

  • A small power strip is also very handy for charging multiple devices simultaneously but make sure it is specifically designed for travel or rated for 220+ volts. Here are some options

  • Voltage converters are not needed for most devices - phones/tablets, laptops, camera battery chargers and most other electronics have built in voltage transformers and work just fine with a simple adapter.

  • Check higher power devices like hair dryers and shavers to make sure they are compatible with 220-volt power.  Here is a link to a good article on travel adapters if you need more info.

• Chargers and cables for your mobile phone and other electronics

• Power bank – extremely handy when traveling. You can even use it to charge a camera battery in a pinch (USB battery charger required)

• Phone Leash  - optional

CLOTHING & OTHER ITEMS

Clothing:
You’ve heard it a million times – dress in layers for maximum comfort and versatility. Also keep in mind, we will be in mountains where weather can be wildly variable. Staying warm and dry is much more of a concern than cooling off – you’ll do fine without shorts on this trip, but Patagonia is famous for its high winds and rain or even snow is possible in the mountains. The following are some recommendations for key items (not a complete packing list):

• Base Layers (tops and bottoms) - midweight or heavier merino wool are the best but can be pricey. Here are couple of brands (1, 2) that are good value. Synthetic materials are also an option but avoid cotton.

• Mid Layers – long sleeve shirts, sweaters, “puffy” down jackets/vests, fleece are goods options to keep you warm. Multiple light or midweight layers are much better than one heavy layer.

• Outdoor pants (i.e. tough, quick drying) - consider winter/lined pants if you get cold easily. Avoid cotton pants and jeans.

• Raingear – a truly waterproof rain jacket AND rain pants are essential.

• Gloves - a pair of thin gloves that will let you work camera controls without removing them should be enough but those whose hands get cold easily may want a pair of mittens as well. There are also several options photography-specific gloves/mittens also, but we don’t have any particular recommendations. Ask our friends Google and Amazon and do your research

• Heated clothing (optional) –there are many options now for heated jackets, vests, and gloves powered by rechargeable batteries. Most work quite well but may not last an entire day and you must recharge batteries nightly. Make sure to pack the batteries in your carry-on luggage, as they are not allowed in checked baggage.

• Beanie or warm hat

• Scarf or neck gaiter

• Footwear – sturdy trail runners or lightweight hiking boots are the best choice for your primary footwear. Waterproof models are recommended. Don’t forget some comfy slippers or flip flops for around the lodge.

Personal items: 


• Passport & Travel Docs

• Sunglasses 


• Spare eyeglasses and contact lenses 


• Personal toiletries 


• Personal medications labeled clearly. If you have allergies, make sure to bring appropriate medications in case of exposure (e.g. EpiPen, Benadryl, etc)

• Sunscreen

• Refillable water bottle 


• Binoculars (optional)

MISC

A Word About Gratuities – Like many service businesses, outfitters/guides rely on gratuities for a substantial portion of their income. I think you will find our guides in Chile & Argentina to be outstanding at what they do. If you feel you’ve received good service, a token of your appreciation is greatly appreciated. The amounts are completely up to you, but since everyone always asks for guidance:

• Guides:  $10 – $20 USD per day

• Drivers: $2-$5 USD per day

The above are per participant (not our entire group).  We suggest giving your tips on the last day with each driver/guide. Either USD or local currency are acceptable (this is also a good opportunity to get rid of any local currency you don’t want to take home).

Tipping at hotels and restaurants is not expected, but small gratuities are appreciated.

If there’s anything we’ve missed or you have questions, please contact us via email, text/WhatsApp or phone.

See you in Argentina!

Ken Lee
+1 949-282-9660 mobile/WhatsApp
ken@artofseeing.com

Patagonia Fall Colors  Workshop 2026
To Do Checklist 

___     Book Inbound/Outbound  international flights  and send us a copy of your flight itinerary (we need airline & flight numbers to track flights in case of delays).

___     Let us know if you need any extra hotel nights pre/post workshop dates

___     Purchase Travel Insurance and send us a copy (summary page only  is fine)

___     Notify Banks & Credit Cards of your travel plans

___     Check mobile phone carrier’s international roaming policies and plans

___     Make personal packing checklist. Click here for a generic downloadable Photo Trip Packing List template you can customize to your own needs.

Patagonia 2026
Daily Itinerary

Patagonia Fall Colors 2026
FAQ’s

Q: How should I book my international flights?
A: Our adventure begins in El Clafate, Argentina and ends in Puerto Natales, Chill. Book your inbound flight to arrive in El Calafate (FTE) no later than 1pm on April 11, 2026 and your homeward flight to depart from Puerto Natales, (PUQ) after 4pm on April 21. For those joining the optional Puma Trekking extension, book your departure for April 24. More information to help plan your travels will be provided to participants after registration.

Q: What if I want to arrive early or stay after the workshop ends?
A: No problem, just send us your flight details and we will book extra hotel nights on your behalf as necessary (additional cost).

Q: Do I need a visa for Argentina or Chile?
A: No, a visa is not required for US passport holders to visit either country. If your passport was issued by a country other than the United States, check online or with the Argentine and Chilean embassies or consulates in your country.

Q:  What fitness level is required for this trip?
A: The Patagonia portion is rated  Easy with the exception of 1 optional hike in Los Glaciares national park. Some walking up to a half mile on unpaved ground is required. Participants of average fitness should have no problems.

The Puma Tracking Extension is considered Medium. Hiking up  to 1 mile  or more in hilly terrain with your camera gear may be required depending on the location of the pumas. Carry just what you need for the situation. Extra camera gear can safely be left in our vehicles.

Q: What is the average age of your participants?
A: Our guests typically range in age from mid 50’s to mid 70’s although we get the occasional spring chicken or spry 80+ year old.

Q: I’m traveling solo. Can you arrange a roommate?
A: Yes, just select the Shared Lodging option when registering and we will pair you with a same gender roommate. If a roommate is not available, you will get a private room, but the Single Lodging fee will apply.

Q: Can my non-photographer friend/partner attend?
A: Absolutely, travel partners who may not share your passion for photography are very welcome. Just make sure they can handle being part of a group that wants to do nothing but eat, sleep and talk about photography. Unfortunately, we cannot offer discount s or alternate activities for non-photographer partners.

Anything We Missed?
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