Colombia
Location: Northern Colombia
Dates: 2021 Dates Coming Soon
Deposit: $2,000 / Tuition: $5,995
A Photographic Journey Into the Mountains of Northern Colombia
The mountains of northern Colombia are a newly emerging destination for nature photography, and we are excited to offer a new Summit workshop that will explore the wildlife and culture of this diverse region in South America. Join elite nature and wildlife photographers Morgan Heim and Clay Bolt on a spectacular workshop in this rarely visited paradise.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is an isolated mountain range along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. As the largest coastal mountain range in the world, the Sierra Nevada is home to an incredibly diverse tropical ecosystem where big cats, monkeys, reptiles, and over two dozen endemic bird species can be observed.
In this workshop, you’ll have a unique opportunity to explore the varied landscape, wildlife, and culture of Colombia. The journey will begin by traveling from sea level to 6,500 feet into the cloud forests of the Sierra Nevada where we will be staying at a five star ecolodge in the heart of a wildlife preserve. After several days of exploring cloud forests in search of birds, mammals, and reptiles, we will descend out of the mountains to Isla Salamanca, a tropical island located in the Magdalena River. The workshop will conclude with two days exploring the incredible walled UNESCO World Heritage city of Cartagena.
All accommodations for this workshop are at five star, boutique lodges and historic hotels that will offer an unforgettable basecamp to explore the rainforest.
What To Know
You will be responsible for booking your flight to Colombia.
Expect warm temperatures and lots of walking.
Bring extra batteries and memory cards, you will fill them every day!
Spouse and companion discounts are available for this workshop! These discounts are for non-photographers who want to share in this amazing experience with you. Please contact us for more information.
2021 WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS
Morgan Heim
Morgan (Mo) Heim raises a camera for one purpose – to capture moments in an animal’s life that will make us consider what that life means. Inevitably, those stories involve people as much as wildlife. How we treat them. Why we need them. What we love, or hate about them. Mo, used to work as a wildlife ecologist for NOAA on things like killer whale surveys and the Elwha Dam Removal project. She later earned a Master’s in environmental journalism and is a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). She has covered endangered fishing cats and shrimp farm development, and the environmental impacts of marijuana grows in our nation’s forests. In 2016, she became a National Geographic grantee for her collaboration on urban coyotes. Her photographic work has appeared in outlets such as Smithsonian, Discover, NationalGeographic.com, Nature Conservancy Magazine, and bioGraphic.com.
Chris Steppig
Chris runs the annual series of workshops and is in charge of all workshop operations, scheduling, logistics, faculty, social media, marketing and sponsorship. Chris has a passion for conservation, travel, and education and the workshops are a dream platform to help others reach new heights as not only photographers but as people. Chris is also an affiliate of the International League of Conservation Photographers. The iLCP is a U.S. based non-profit whose mission is to further environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography. This affiliation provides a tremendous opportunity to help deliver great content and also be an advisor on matters large and small.
Workshop Information & Itinerary
Trip Highlights:
Small Group Experience (7 Students, 3 Faculty)
Visit UNESCO World Heritage City Cartagena
Photograph Endemic Birds in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Conduct Night Hikes in Search of Nocturnal Animals
Learn Insect, Reptile, and Amphibian Macro Photography
Photograph in Remote Nature Preserves
Search For Monkeys, Iguanas, Exotic Bird Species, and More
Costs Included In Tuition:
Hotels, Meals, Transfers, Entrance / Guide Fees, Domestic Flights, Local Guide Tips
Not Included:
International Flights
Workshop Itinerary
Example Itinerary
Feb 11
Fly into Bogota and domestic flight to Barranquilla. In the afternoon we will drive to Santa Marta.
Feb 12
Today will wake up early and begin our drive into the Sierra Madre de Santa Marta and our home at the luxurious El Dorado eco lodge. The afternoon will be spent exploring the lodge and photographing the spectacular high elevation tropical species that live there.
Feb 13
After breakfast we will drive to the Cuchilla de San Lorenzo to photograph over 21 endemic bird species that live in the region.
Feb 14
Explore the nature preserve around the El Dorado lodge photographing wildlife, nature, and culture.
Feb 15
Explore the nature preserve around the El Dorado lodge photographing wildlife, nature, and culture. In the afternoon we will return to the town of Barranquilla for the night.
Feb 16
Wake up early and travel to Parque Isla Salamanca, a collection of tropical river islets covered in mangroves and over 300 bird species.
Feb 17
After an early breakfast we will drive to Cartagena, a walled city and UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch we will spend the day exploring this spectacular location while learning about travel and cultural photography.
Feb 18
We will have one final morning to explore the walled city of Cartagena before heading to the airport and making our way back home.
