Valley of Mars & Salinas Grandes Salt Mine, Puna de Atacama Extension
Valley of Mars & Salinas Grandes Salt Mine, Puna de Atacama Extension
Date: May 28th - June 4th 2027
Price: $4,965 USD
Initial deposit: $1,489.5
2nd Deposit of $1,489.5 due six months before tour start date
7-Day Photographic Adventure Extension
This is an extension to the Puna de Atacama tour.
We focus most of our time on two major locations: the northern highland area where there is the valley of Mars, and also Salinas Grandes salt mine. The accommodation ranges from grand (in the town of Purmamarca) to very basic once we hit the highlands region.
We have some rest days included at the start of this trip - a few nights in Salta after the Puna tour, so we can get some rest, laundry and relax for a bit after ten days in the Puna. Also, I encourage you to wander the streets of Purmamarca to photograph the coloured hills and local graffiti.
This extension to the Puna de Atacama tour needs a minimum of 3 people to run.
We will stay in a mixture of high quality and very basic highland accommodation. The valley of Mars is quite small, easy to walk around and reach areas of it each day we will return to photograph the rock formations there. Salinas Grandes is a working salt mine with limited / restricted access but we are able to gain access by working with the indigenous communities who oversee the area.
Bruce likes to run his photography-adventures in a friendly, intimate group setting. This trip has a maximum group size of five.
Unlike a lot of tours with up to 12 or 16 people on them, running with a smaller number allows everyone to have space in which to photograph. It also means more quality time for Bruce with each participant.
This trip is more of a tour* than Bruce's normal workshops, due to the logistics involved, but you will get a lot of hands on experience from Bruce while at the same time, immerse yourself with plenty of time out in the field on your own.
* Please note that this is not a workshop. It is a photographic tour, focussed on getting you to great locations for the best light.
What's included
• 7 Nights Bed, Breakfast
• 5 Nights Evening Dinner
• 5 Lunches
• Transportation between shooting locations
• Local Guide & 2 x Drivers
• 2 x Hilux 4WD Vehicles
• One to One Guidance & Group Guidance
• Single Room occupancy
What's not included
• Lunch & Dinner for first two nights in Salta
Altitude
With high elevations of around 3,600 metres.Altitude problems may happen to anyone of any age and of any level of fitness. The key to reducing the risk is to take things easy - avoiding alcohol and too much physical exertion.
Limited Wifi %amp; mobile coverage
As soon as we leave the main city of Salta, there is very little wifi or mobile coverage for the duration of the trip. We are in a very remote region.
Required Fitness Level
Easy to occasional demanding Grading
This trip has been given an easy to occasional demanding grading even though all locations are close to the vehicle. This is because at high altitude you will find that the simplest of walks is more demanding than ususal.
The key is to slow down and take your time, and also pack a lighter camera bag.
Payment Terms
Three incremental non refundable payments:• Initial Depost of 30% is required to secure your booking.
• Second deposit of 30% six months before the start date.
• Final balance due 3 months before tour start date.
Cancellation Policy
Each of your deposits are non-refundable, and a commitment from you to promise to follow through with your booking. I recommend that you take out the necessary travel insurance as detailed below to safe guard your investment in the trip as soon as you book.Travel Insurance
I require that you take out travel insurance that covers you for trip cancellation(by you) at the time of booking. This kind of travel insurance safeguards your investment in the event that you cannot make the tour due to an unforeseen circumstances between the time of booking the trip and the commencement date.Specifically, cancellation coverage typically includes:
1. Medical emergencies: Illness, injury, or death of you, your travel companion, or a close family member.
2. Home emergencies: Damage to your home, such as a fire or flood, that requires your immediate attention.
3. Work-related issues: Job loss, unexpected work obligations, or a change in your work schedule. Other unforeseen circumstances: Jury duty, denied visa, or theft of travel documents.
Please check the small print when taking out travel insurance. All deposits are non refundable.