I'm a regular visitor to Peru as a tourist. In fact I'm just back from my 3rd visit in 4 years. This time, I took some lighting gear and some props with me, and made some very fruitful connections with local photographers, models, Hair/MUA people and wardrobe stylists.

I'm going back in November 2013, and am looking at putting together a mini-tour of the country (approx 3 weeks) that will include a mix of tourism and photography/video activities for any who wish to join me.

If I can get some help from illustrators and audiophiles, am keen to do something in those media streams as well.

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Of note:

• whilst we'll be doing some traditional "gringo trail" activities, a large majority will be leveraging local contacts in Peru to do something you won't get to do on a tour.
• participants will be welcome to have family/friends come along (different pricing for this)
• English/Spanish all the way (guides/translators)
• Spots will be limited (not sure yet on numbers - depends on demand).

Flights: You need to get yourself to Lima, but once there everything is taken care of (including transfers from Lima to the starting points of the various stages etc)

Prices: The prices below are likely to be the maximum. I've been getting quotes on various numbers and what's below is based on the minimum viable number ie: as numbers increase, most overheads come down. Prices for stages 2-4 are the closest to final. Costs for Stage 1 and 5 in various stages of evolution).

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Potential stops (for all media types) might include:

Stage 1 - The Capital, Culture and Cuisine

Approximate Cost for this stage

• Photographer/Videographer: US$1800/person + accommodation
• Social/Tourist: US$850 + accommodation

Includes: transport and some meals, entry to locations. Models/MUA/stylist etc for all shoots.

Accommodation ranges between US$50 and US$90/night

Lima (4 days)

• sampling a variety of Peruvian food styles with cameras and stomachs
• fashion shoots in some very distinctive locations
• colonial/period in the historic districts of Barranco and Lima central
• Day in the life of Limean inhabitants (house maids, street beggars and hawkers, labourers etc)
• various tourist activities including day trips to Caral, Lomas de Lachay, Museo de la Nacion
• industry/cultural sessions for local Peruvian artists as well as international visitors to encourage exchange of culture, ideas and knowledge.

Pisco/Ica (4 days)

• vineyards (including sampling the world's best Piscos)
• dune buggy racing
• sand dune taboganning
• wildlife/bird sanctuary in Paracas
• Nazca lines

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Stage 2 - Canyons and moonscapes

Approximate Cost for this stage

• Photographer/Videographer: US$1800/person
• Social/Tourist: US$1100

Includes: Accommodation, transport and some meals, entry to locations. Models/MUA/stylist etc for all shoots.

Arequipa (3 days)

• El Monasterio de Santa Catalina, Arequipa Cathedral and Plaza de Armas
• a shoot including the "7 mountains" that encircle the city to the south, including El Misti
• Colca Canyon (2nd deepest in the world) and Cruz del Condor

Puno (2 days)

• Visit the world's highest freshwater lake, Lake Titicaca, and Taquille Island, where the Incan civilisation originated
• A day long train journey thrugh the Andean highlands from Puno to Cusco, with a photoshoot aboard the Andean Explorer

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Stage 3 - The Sacred Valley

Approximate Cost for this stage

• Photographer/Videographer: US$2300/person
• Social/Tourist: US$1600

Includes: accommodation, transport and some meals, entry to locations. Models/MUA/stylist etc for all shoots.


Cusco (4 days)

• Day shoot at Las Salinas de Maras
• Visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman
• Day trip through the sacred valley, visiting highland towns and staying overnight in the Incan town of Ollantaytambo before continuing to Machu Picchu
• Machu Picchu (no scheduled shoots, but you can't visit Peru and not come here at least once)

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Stage 4 - The Amazon

Approximate Cost for this stage

• Photographer/Videographer: US$1750/person
• Social/Tourist: US$1200

Includes: accommodation, transport and meals, entry to locations. Models/MUA/stylist etc for all shoots.

Iquitos (4 days)

• river cruise on the Amazon
• stay in a jungle lodge
• visit indigenous tribes
• "Heart of Darkness" shoot aboard a derelict Amazonian ship (TBC)

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Stage 5 - The Cordilleras

Approximate Cost for this stage

• Photographer/Videographer: US$1400/person + accommodation
• Social/Tourist: US$TBC + accommodation

Includes: transport and some meals, entry to locations. Models/MUA/stylist etc for all shoots.

Accommodation ranges between US$TBC and US$TBC/night

Huaraz (3 days)

• Day trip to either highland lakes (Paron or llanganuco), and the Portachuelo (highland pass); or to the Cordillera Negra and the Huinchus, with a full view of the Cordillera Blanca
• Shoots in Ca�on del Pato, a narrow pass riddled with tunnels as the road snakes through the gap between the Nazca and South American plates.

Trujillo (2 days)

• The sprawling complex of Chan Chan
• Huacas del Sol y Luna
• excursion to El Brujo (a recently discovered and highly valued site on the outskirts)

Website:
- itinerary
- registration


I don't know about flights in from the Americas or Europe, but I know the pan-pacific crossings are both gruelling and expensive due to poor competition. Once in Peru however, travel is moderate and everything is dirt cheap.


If you're interested in taking part (or even in helping me organise), please either reply to this post, or send me a site mail.


Ben