Photography Tour Ecuador
Starting March 13th
Join renowned photographer Dee Potter on an unforgettable photographic journey through Ecuador, exploring the majestic Andes, lush cloud forests, and the vibrant Amazon. As an optional add-on, you can also visit the iconic Galápagos Islands. Capture the essence of nature, culture, and wildlife in some of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth. Up to 12 participants only!
Price per person: $3,950 USD
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Quito – Hotel and Debriefing
Welcome to Ecuador! Upon arrival at Quito’s airport, your local guide will be there to greet you with a warm smile and help you settle into the rhythm of the Andes. From the airport, it's about a one-hour scenic drive to your charming hotel nestled in the capital's historic area or just on its peaceful outskirts.
We recommend arriving in the early afternoon so you can take your time to unwind after your flight. At 6:00 PM, we’ll gather for a welcome briefing where you’ll meet your fellow travelers and our photography guide. Over a relaxed dinner featuring Ecuadorian dishes and local ingredients, we’ll go through the week ahead and highlight some tips and techniques for the coming days. Quito, with its colonial heart and vibrant neighborhoods, is a photographer’s dream. If you arrive early enough, you may want to take a short walk and begin capturing the city’s contrasts: the cobbled streets, baroque churches, and bustling plazas.
Accommodation: Mama Cuchara
Estimated Total Drive Time: 1 hour
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Main Land Tour Includes:
All transport
All accommodation in upscale/luxury hotels
Breakfast
Box lunch or regular lunch depending on the day
Bilingual Guide
Drinking Water
Entrance to pools/churches/parks
All transfers from and to airports
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Not Included:
Flights to Ecuador
Alcoholic Beverages
Dinner
Tips
Personal Expenses
Laundry
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Sunglasses
Rain jacket
Trekking boots
Sun cream
Warm layers clothing
Mosquito Repellent
Swim Suit
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Price per Person: $3,950
PPOC Members Discount: $400
Day 2: Quito Old Town – Pichincha Volcano – Local Markets
We start the day with golden morning light in Quito’s Old Town, one of the best-preserved colonial centers in Latin America. Expect dramatic church interiors, narrow alleyways, and daily life unfolding in the plazas. From there, we ride the Teleferico cable car to the slopes of Pichincha Volcano for breathtaking high-altitude views over the city and surrounding valleys. In the afternoon, we explore a vibrant local market filled with colorful produce, handmade crafts, and everyday Ecuadorian life—a fantastic opportunity for candid shots and portrait photography.
Accommodation: Mama Cuchara
Estimated Total Drive Time: 1.5 hours
Photography Focus: Colonial churches, portraits, and market life
Day 3: Cotopaxi National Park – Andean Landscapes & Night Sky
We head south along the Avenue of Volcanoes to Cotopaxi National Park, home to one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. The landscape here is wide open and dramatic, perfect for capturing the raw beauty of the Andes. We’ll visit Limpiopungo Lake, trek up to the refuge for panoramic views (weather permitting), and look for wild horses, llamas, and native birds. After sunset, we stay overnight in a cozy lodge inside the park for a special night photography session under the stars, with Cotopaxi’s snowcapped cone looming in the background.
Accommodation: Tambopaxi: Our stay at the only hotel located inside the National Park gives us exclusive access and a rare opportunity for evening and night sky photography when all other visitors must leave before the gates close at 6 PM.
Estimated Total Drive Time: 2 hours
Photography Focus: High-altitude landscapes, wildlife, volcanoes, and night sky photography
Day 4: Baños – Waterfalls, Cloud Forest & Volcanic Views
Today, we travel down into the lush cloud forest to the lively town of Baños. Our main stop is the famous Pailón del Diablo waterfall, where water crashes through a narrow canyon, creating misty, dramatic scenes perfect for long-exposure photography. The walk through the forest is filled with photo opportunities—exotic plants, cliffs, and distant views of Tungurahua Volcano. There’s also time for optional adventure shots: people ziplining, biking, or crossing swinging bridges.
Accommodation: Luna Volcán (Top Tier- most exclusive hotel in Baños)
Estimated Total Drive Time: 3 hours
Photography Focus: Waterfalls, cloud forest, adventure landscapes
Day 5: Into the Amazon – Waterfalls, Jungle Trails & Birds in Flight
We venture deeper into the Amazon foothills today. One of the highlights is a set secluded waterfalls hidden deep in the jungle, accessible by cable car and a short walk upriver. Expect to get your feet wet and your camera busy—this is nature at its best, with moss-covered stones, crystal-clear pools, and jungle textures all around. Later in the day, we arrive at our rainforest lodge. In the evening, there’s an optional nature walk through a park where birds return from the jungle to roost—a magical time for capturing movement and silhouettes.
Accommodation: Hamadrayde (Top Tier – Most exclusive hotel in this area)
Estimated Total Drive Time: 3.5 hours
Photography Focus: Jungle waterfalls, lush vegetation, river life, and bird flight at dusk
Day 6: Amazon Culture & Hidden Waterfalls – Back to the Andes
We begin our day gliding through the heart of the Amazon in traditional wooden canoes as the forest awakens around us. With each quiet paddle stroke, we scan the lush canopy and riverbanks for glimpses of curious monkeys, vibrant birds, and the hidden life of the jungle on our way to a local nature reserve teeming with even more incredible creatures.
We continue with a visit to a Kichwa indigenous community, where a group of midwives will share stories and knowledge about the region’s medicinal plants. This is an intimate moment, excellent for capturing expressive portraits and cultural interaction shots. Afterward, we head to a hidden canyon with a waterfall tucked inside a cave—a stunning and unusual setting for creative compositions. In the afternoon, we begin our journey back up the Andes to relax in the soothing Papallacta hot springs, set among misty mountains. This whole area was named only a few days ago Geopark by UNESCO.
Accommodation: Termas de Papallacta (Top-Tier hotel and one of the most well-known in the country. You will get a private thermal pool outside or a hotel cabin.)
Estimated Total Drive Time: 3.5 hours
Photography Focus: Indigenous portraits, jungle details, canyon photography, and mountain twilight
Day 7: Transfer to Quito Airport
We offer our transfer service from Termas de Papallacta to Quito Airport.
Accommodation: Continue your experience in the Galapagos Islands or transfer to Quito Airport for your flight.
Estimated Total Drive Time: 1 hour
Meet the Team
Join us on a photographic adventure through Ecuador and the Galápagos, guided by a team that combines international expertise with deep local knowledge. Leading the journey is acclaimed, award-winning photographer Dee Potter, whose global photo tours are celebrated for their creativity, inspiration, and hands-on guidance. Alongside Dee, Eric van Maasdijk and the Dutchman Adventure team bring years of experience exploring Ecuador’s wild corners—ready to help you capture its landscapes, wildlife, and culture like never before.
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Dee Potter is a professional landscape and travel photographer based in Toronto, Canada. As a Nikon Professional and Branch Chair of the Professional Photographers of Canada, he combines artistic vision with technical mastery and a passion for teaching. In 2025, as a proud member of Team Canada at the World Photographic Cup, Dee earned recognition as a World Top-10 Nature Landscape Photographer, a distinction that reflects both his artistry and international impact.
Beyond the accolades, Dee is dedicated to helping others elevate their photography. His immersive workshops and guided photo tours lead participants through some of the world’s most breathtaking destinations, where he shares his creative process, insider techniques, and hands-on guidance to help you capture portfolio-worthy images and see the world with fresh perspective.
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Co-owner of Dutchman Adventure, Eric is an adventurer at heart with a lifelong passion for photography. When he's not crafting unforgettable journeys across Ecuador, you’ll find him behind an old medium format camera, capturing light the classic way—on film he still develops and prints by hand. With a deep love for nature, people, and storytelling through images, Eric brings both local insight and artistic flair to every tour he guides.
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