Photo Tour Mexico

After collecting everyone individually at the airport in Cancún, we will first check into our hotel near the Caribbean Sea. Then at 3 p.m. in the afternoon, we will gather to introduce the itinerary of Mexico’s uniqueness and conduct a workshop on the topic of travel and night photography. From then on, we turn our sights to two exciting weeks packed with extraordinary photo opportunities. Following the workshop, we will have the opportunity to take pictures of our first sunset in Mexico. Over dinner, we can chat together and start to get excited as we discuss our shared adventure we are soon to embark on.

Following breakfast, we will make our way to Tulum. After our arrival in the early afternoon, we will visit the “Voladores de Papantla”, the flying men of Papantla. During a breathtaking and artistic performance, we will witness the four men abseil headfirst from a rotating platform. In the late afternoon we will reconvene with our friends, the “Voladores”, for another private photo shoot. In different colourful costumes they will play music for us and introduce us to the customs and traditions of their region. Tonight the first special highlight awaits us. After midnight we will set off for the ruins of Tulum to be the only visitors to photograph the Milky Way above the Mayan temples by the Caribbean Sea.

Our exciting shoot in the ruins of Tulum is not over yet. We will also experience and capture the sunrise in this mystical place. After we have had the chance to explore the Mayan temples by daylight, we will head to the hotel for our well-deserved breakfast. But there is also the possibility to return to the hotel before sunrise. After a break, we will photograph the ruins of Muyil in the afternoon. Few tourists stray into this magic place, situated in the middle of the jungle. Afterwards we meet a model wearing a traditional Mayan attire, the "huipil", in a nearby jungle. During a walk through the dense jungle green we will portray the young Mayan woman in this very extraordinary ambience.

After a slightly longer rest, we will take a morning boat journey to photograph the Mayan ruins of Tulum from a completely new perspective. It is here, from the sea, that we will discover two more hidden temples, which cannot be accessed by land. After this astounding trip, our journey will continue to a cenote near the colonial town of Valladolid. We will then experience a Mayan ceremony in an underground cave, flooded with rays of light. Afterwards, we will arrive in Valladolid, and explore the historically-rich old town by foot throughout the late afternoon and evening.

The next morning we start a day trip to the fishing village Río Lagartos, on the northern coast of Yucatán. Subsequently, another highlight of Mexico awaits us, the Pink Lakes of Las Coloradas, where we can take some impressive landscape pictures. In the early afternoon we will do a photo-walk in the fishing village San Felipe, known for its vibrant wooden houses and friendly inhabitants. In the late afternoon we will embark on a boat trip with the Mexican wildlife- and landscape photographer William Cruz Canto to observe flamingos, crocodiles and other coastal inhabitants. During the sunset we are especially on the lookout for flamingos to photograph them against the light. Afterwards we travel back to Valladolid.

Today, we will kick our tour off with a visit of a Mayan family, to get to know more about traditional life in rural Yucatán. This is followed by a photographic discovery of another magical cenote of Valladolid. It is off the beaten track and rarely visited by other travellers. You will be enthralled by this giant, underground cave with its azure blue, crystal-clear water. We will enjoy our lunch in a traditional restaurant, run by the local Mayans. You can watch, in front of your very eyes, how Tortillas are handmade. By late afternoon, we will arrive in Chichén Itzá where we will spend the night in a resort hotel right beside the majestic ruins. In the evening we will dive once again into the fascinating topic of night photography and will photograph the Mayan temple "Observatorio" of Chichén Itzá under the stars.

Also today a very special photography highlight awaits us, because we will take pictures of the main temple "Kukulcán" of Chichén Itzá at sunrise. After having explored the ruins and the biggest Mayan ball playground "Juego de Pelota" of Yucatán during daylight, we have earned a substantial breakfast. In the late morning we will head south towards Mérida, where we will spend the night in a Spanish Hacienda from the colonial era. The region is known for its expressive dance performances in colourful costumes. Up until our evening meal, we will have time for a workshop on the theme of “night photography – image editing in Lightroom and Photoshop”. Afterwards we will savour Yucatán specialities of the Mayan peninsula.

This morning we have time to relax at the Hacienda, enjoy a traditional Mayan massage or do another workshop in Photoshop. In the afternoon we will experience a rather unusual and colourful photo shoot. We will photograph a private performance of the Ballet Folklórico of Mérida, while different dances in traditional Yucatán costumes will be performed. Afterwards, we will still have time, to snap a few portrait shots in the antique premises and agave fields of the Hacienda. Equipped with a load of new and colourful photographs, we will continue our journey to Uxmal in the afternoon, where we will visit its fascinating ruins the following morning. We will stay in a resort hotel, right next to the ruins of Uxmal.

After breakfast, we will enter the ruins of Uxmal at 8 a.m. on the dot, in order to be the first visitors of the day. They are some of the largest and most beautiful ruins in Mexico and are one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. They differ significantly from other Mayan dynasties due to their detailed decorations. Up until lunch, we will have time to explore the decorative facades. Then, we will embark on a new photographic adventure, as we leave the Mayan peninsula Yucatán and head south. After a seven hour journey, we will arrive in Palenque in the state Chiapas. Throughout our coach journey, we will have multiple opportunities to stop and take pictures.

This day marks the start of our journey into the jungle of Chiapas, where we will first visit multiple wild waterfalls. The cascades with their turquoise pools are spread out in the dense green of the jungle and are only visited by a few travellers. Here we will have the chance to take beautiful long-exposure shots using a tripod and different filters, before we continue our journey further into the jungle of Chiapas. By late afternoon, we will have arrived in our Eco-lodge in the village of the Lacandon Mayans. A group of Mayans will join us to the nearby lagoon. Here, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to photograph the Lacandons in their white tunics on their boat ride in the traditional canoe “Cayuco”.

Today, we will spend the entire day with the last Lacandon Mayans. During the colonial era, they remained undiscovered, deep within the jungle, allowing them to continue the traditions of their ancestors undisturbed for years. In the morning, we will visit the last shaman, who will conduct a private Mayan ceremony for us. In order to discover the villagers and their culture in more detail, we will also meet some Lacandons in their houses. In the afternoon, we will explore the Lacandon jungle with a group of Mayans. There will be brilliant photo opportunities in the dense, green jungle amongst its giant tropical trees. After this adventurous excursion we thank the Mayans for the wonderful day and drive back to Palenque.

After breakfast we drive to the airport of Villahermosa to head for our last destination together, the culturally-rich state of Oaxaca. Our flight leaves in the early afternoon and takes us via Mexico City to Oaxaca de Juárez, where we will arrive in the evening. After a dinner in the colonial center of the city we look forward to our photo adventure Oaxaca, which promises pictures of unique landscapes and unmistakable people.

Today, we will set off before sunrise, to the petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua. The yellow- and brown-toned rock formations, which were formed over thousands of years through the mineral spring water, span over the mountainous landscape with breathtaking panoramic views. We will photograph the stunning landscape from different perspectives before others arrive at this destination. Back in Oaxaca, we will be accompanied with the professional Mexican portrait photographer, Fernando Cruz, throughout the afternoon. Fernando is a master of perfecting the light conditions and will carry out the workshop on that topic. We will have a photo shoot with models in different Oaxacan attire in the historical centre of Oaxaca. Both today and the following day are very special, because, unless it is a special Oaxacan holiday, you will rarely get the opportunity to witness the vibrant variety of traditional clothing with your own eyes.

This morning we visit two families of artisans in the south of Oaxaca. In Santo Tomás Jalieza several women will demonstrate us the typical weaving art of their village. Afterwards we will meet the impressive Oaxacan artist José Antonio, who despite his blindness creates unique works of art out of clay. In the early afternoon, we will yet again meet with photographer Fernando in the Oaxacan fields to once more have the special opportunity of photographing men and women of the region in their traditional attire. By evening, we will enjoy Oaxacan specialities at our farewell meal and relive the exciting experiences of our photo journey together over a glass of Mezcal.

Hasta luego! Now it is time to say farewell, as our journey together ends today. Saying goodbye is never easy, but now you can at least know for certain that you are heading home with a new brilliant photography portfolio. Come midday, we will fly, with a brief stopover in Mexico City, back to the starting point of our journey in Cancún. If you want to relax and unwind on the white beaches of the Caribbean after our exciting photo adventure, then this would be the perfect opportunity. Your return flight to Cancún may be a few days later, however, so you can explore the indigenous villages, colourful craft markets or the beaches of Oaxaca.