argentina: vision & vine - travel vision...

Travel Vision 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 1

ARGENTINA: VISION & VINE 2018Ability Level: Beginner / Duration: 9 days / 8 nights

Argentina: Vision & VineAn exclusive pairing of mindful travel photography and the high altitude wines of NW Argentina with Ossian Lindholm Do you love taking pictures but would love to learn more about your camera’s settings and practice those skills in one of the world’s most photogenic and intriguing places? Would you like to learn how to get off your camera’s auto setting and learn how to take better photos? Want to dive into your photo passion and explore your personal vision? Would you like to learn how to take extraordinary travel photos? If you answered yes, then join renowned native Argentinian photographer, teacher, scholar and documentary filmmaker, Ossian Lindholm (www.ossian.com.ar), and Ciclismo Classico founder, Lauren Hefferon, on the world’s only high altitude wine and photography adventure of Northwest Argentina. Ossian, one of South America’s finest photographers, masterful (continued on next page)

ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Outline / Page 2

Trip Essence / Page 3

Daily Itinerary / Page 4-10

Photography Guide / 1

Arrival & Departure / Page 12

Terms & Conditions / Page 13

Reserve Your Space! / Page 13 TRIP CONTACTLauren [email protected]



teachers, and naturalist will ignite your visual wisdom and inspire you to joyfully and mindfully learn about and connect with the nature and culture of the Andes of Northwest Argentina. Each day he will share the very special light, angles, and colors of this photogenic region and teach you valuable technical lessons, engage you fully in daily lessons and one-on-one instruction. In addition to the daily “classroom” instruction at our boutique hotels, there will be plenty of hands-on field instruction and practice in vineyards, on canyon hikes, dune walks, while enjoying the finest Argentinian specialties in estancias or at a sunset in salt flat over 10,000 feet! A true Renaissance spirit, Ossian, using the camera as his teaching instrument, will immerse and connect us to his beloved landscapes, the wildlife, cuisine and the magical Andean culture of Northwest Argentina. Participants will travel in a small group on a perfectly planned route and take daily hikes in one of the worlds most peaceful and diverse landscapes. This landscape photography adventure is suitable for all levels of photographers, from absolute iPhone aficionados to DSLR experts. Come compose, capture and create spectacular photos while learning about the nature and culture of Northwest Argentina.

ITINERARY OUTLINE Northwest Argentina is a highly photogenic and pristine region consisting of the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán. The highlight of this exclusive Northwest Argentinian photography adventure is its incredible landscape diversity consisting of five distinct biomes: the sub-Andean humid sierras of the east, fertile valleys, and the canyons, the high mountains of the Andes and the Altiplano or Puna.

The mountain ranges of this little known region tucked into the eastern Andes, slope and unfold dramatically from west to east. Each rolling range is unique and every valley in between has its characteristic settings, vegetation, traditions and cultural expressions. This stunning and multi-multi-faceted educational photography adventure, designed exclusively by Ossian for Travel Vision Journeys will capture the essence and reveal the soulful beauty of one of the world’s best-kept landscape paradises!

This is subtropical South America, a land as rich in culture as it is beautiful, with high plateaus designed by volcanoes, salt flats, dry desert valleys with multi-colored mountains and cactus forests. The highest vineyards in the world thrive here and yield grapes that will become full-bodied red wines. The temperate green valleys, where cattle and farming sustain life, have led to the existence of a strong gaucho culture that you will experience and photograph up close! For this exclusive tour, you will sample all the special dishes of the region: empanadas, Locro Vallisto, Andean potato soup, Asado, Budin de pan con Dulce de Leche and much more, all paired with the fine altitude wine of the region. This exclusive journey will cover all these regional flavors, provide an insight to local culture and unveil and release the photographers’ eye and sacred spirit deep inside each of us.

Feel free to reach out to our director, Lauren Hefferon at 617-640-4837 or [email protected], as she has created, scouted and will be co-guiding all departures of this exclusive photo adventure.



TRIP DETAILS 2018 Trip Dates• Feb 6-14• Oct 4-12

Ability Level• Beginner

Trip Price• $4,800• Single Supplement: $900

EQUIPMENTFor Hikes• Shorts and warm weather

clothing• Sweater and long pants for

chilly nights and high altitude walks

• Good and solid trekking shoes

For Photography• Body SLR or compact digital

camera• Wide-angle lens• Laptop (for selecting images)• Tripod

TRIP ESSENCE• Incredible landscape diversity consisting of five distinct biomes

resulting in a visual feast, this intimate journey into senses

• Daily photography power point instruction at our boutique hotels and abundant photo opportunities throughout the day

• Visit to the Piatelli Vineyards in Cafayate

• Traditional lunches and homemade feasts in estancias

• Empanada cooking lesson

• Sunrise and sunset photo sessions

• Photo safari through Quebrada Las Flechas

• Visit to traditional weavers of Seclantas

• 2 nights in the magical colonial town of Cachi

• National Park “Los Cardones,” a cactus forest on an ancient Inca trail

• Condor viewing

• Hike the archaeological Humahuaca Indian site of Tilcara

• The Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage site

• Salinas Grandes, a expansive salt flat at over 10,000 feet

• Stroll the layers of time in Purmamarca

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• A 12-person van

• Water and dried fruits to snack on board

• Two informative guides throughout the entire program

• All breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 6 dinners

• Select wine tastings

• All accommodations

• Entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites

• Hours of photography instruction and practice



DAY 1 SALTA TO CAFAYATE

Activities - Walking photo hikes in the Canyons of the Calchaquí Valley, power point photo talk and wine tasting

Hotel - Hotel Los Patios Boutique Hotel and Spa• Location: Cafayate• Duration: 3 Nights• www.patiosdecafayate.com/• A country mansion with

elegant dark wood furniture and red- tiled floors and river views. The hotel rooms overlook the courtyards, gardens, vineyards and mountains surrounding the Valley Calchaquí. Amenities include hairdryer, minibar, and Wi-Fi. There is an outdoor pool and the restaurant serves qality cuisine

HighlightsMorning departure from Villa Vicuna (pre-night hotel) with Lauren Hefferon and Ossian Lindholm, your host, guide and photography expert during your journey in this landscape paradise. Head south paralleling the Andes and go from the temperate Valle de Lerma to the higher and drier Calchaquí Valley. Stop for lunch at a goat farm, just after the small village of Talapampa. Leave the green agriculture fields behind and dive into red mountains. Here our hearts start to pound and our souls start to soar! With Ossian slowly guiding you on foot, step into and are at once surrounded by magnificent colors and surreal shapes that are magnified by the pink afternoon sun. Your eyes are wide open as you take it all in, adjust your lenses and click the first of a thousand precious moments you will capture on this visual feast, this intimate journey into senses. Arrive at the hotel by early evening relaxed, satiated and inspired. After a rest in your luxurious room overlooking the vineyards and Cafayate Canyon, gather for cocktails and enjoy an intro talk by Ossian about the region and the important role that photography plays in protecting and conserving nature and culture. Learn and connect with your new photographer friends while enjoying Argentina’s finest high altitude wines and local cheeses. With all of this sensory stimuli and learning you will be ready for a bounteous feast of Argentinian specialties at the Patios de Cafayate’s lovely restaurant where the chefs will prepare a feast of indigenous dishes. Rich in culture, wine, and tradition, Patios de Cafayate Wine Hotel embraces spectacular views of the Calchaquíes Valleys vineyards.



DAY 2 CAFAYATE

Activities - Sunrise and sunset hike, power point photography talk Hotel - See Day 1

HighlightsBegin the morning with a sunrise hike to La Punilla to capture the first light over the Calchaquí Valley, the mountains that embrace the Cafayate area. Ossian will teach how to photograph the landscape’s best angles and subtle lighting.

After breakfast, gather at the hotel for the first power point lecture. The themes of the talks throughout the week will focus on the key areas of the travel photographic experience: perception, imaging, composition, understanding and using our camera settings to best capture the magical light of every situation. Ossian will share his years of photographic wisdom and technical experience. Explore the Piatelli vineyards and enjoy a traditional lunch in their delightful restaurant. In late afternoon, visit the tiny village of Cafayate, its wine museum and lively plaza.

DAY 3 CAFAYATE Activities - Hiking in La Yesera

Hotel - See Day 1

HighlightsThe dunes at sunrise await our camera lenses and creative eye, now fine-tuned thanks to Ossian’s experienced teaching and sensitive eye. After breakfast there is a power point lesson customized around each “student’s” interests and spend a bit of time reviewing our photographic creations with Ossian. There’s a multi-course asado (Argentinian BBQ) in Estancia Chimpa followed by folkoric surprises. In the late afternoon, when the light is perfect, hike in La Yesera to photograph this magnificent ancient canyon with colors, shapes, textures & formations that tell millions of years of the geologic history of this ancient lake that was uplifted and transformed by the Andes. Before dinner, stroll through the village of Cafayate where you can purchase traditional handicrafts or simply enjoy a lovely stroll around the lively main plaza, the hub of life in every Argentinian village.



DAY 4 CAFAYATE TO CACHI

Activities - Hikes in Quebrada Las Flechas

Hotel - Hotel La Merced del Alto• Location: Cachi• Duration: 2 Nights• www.lamerceddelalto.com• Set in the Calchaqui valleys,

just 2km from the historic town of Cachi. The hotel has breathtaking views of the surrounding hills, rivers, and streams. Enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, terrace, restaurant and wine cellar, and full spa

Highlights Drive north along the famous National Route 40, the backbone of the Calchaquí Valley. Route 40 is one of the longest roads in the world and is the longest continual road in Argentina that stretches from north to south along the Andes, from Bolivia to the Magellan Straight. Route 40 is also the highest wine route in the world with both traditional and modern wineries throughout the region. Enjoy the early morning light as it paints La Quebrada de Las Flechas (Gorge of Arrows), a geological masterpiece formed 15-20 million years ago when the Andes morphed the seabed into granite and quartz. Walking through the gorge, you’ll see massive rocks that have eroded over the eons into tall peaks and bizarre shapes. Lunch is at a family farmhouse, Finca del Carmine, overlooking a spectacular valley. Drive through a section of this road called Route of the Artisans and stop at the quiet village of Seclantás, the spiritual home of the Salta poncho. Stop at the home of Senor Tero who wove a poncho worn by Pope John Paul II. Geological formations, unending mountains, adobe buildings and colonial churches are all part of today’s spectacular photo safari with Ossian. By day’s end, arrive at Hotel La Merced del Alto, a welcomed luxury oasis in the midst of a spectacular cactus desert.



DAY 5 CACHI

Activities - Hike through a cactus grove at the base of Mountain Cachi in an ancient Incan ruin, group photo review, night photography

Hotel - See Day 4

HighlightsEarly morning hike to practice composition, aperture settings and shutter speed in an Inca settlement at base of the Cachi Massif, a snow-capped mountain towering 19,000 feet above sea level. From its summits, water rushes down creating a distinct micro-climate resulting in a rich farming culture dating back to pre-Inca times. Ossian will share his knowledge about the Inca’s sophisticated irrigation systems that are still evident in the terraced hillsides covered in cactus. Set your camera to its highest speeds to capture the abundant hummingbirds that feed on cactus flowers. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Bodega Isasmendi, a family run winery, then continue our exploration of the village of Cachi. This area of Salta is an arid yet fertile land, hospitable to a range of vegetable and legume crops and best known for colorful peppers. Here we get our lenses close to the earth, photograph the native plants, lichen covered rocks, colorful hummingbirds and learn from the hard-working agricultores (farmers) who till the soil and carefully nurture crops. A delightful place for history and nature lovers, Cachi offers an array of architectural structures from pristine white buildings of colonial aristocracy to modest adobe houses. Walk the quiet streets and absorb the slow pace of village life with our cameras and all our senses. The highlights of this village includes the Cachi Church and the Cachi Archeological Museum. Discover the remains of native civilizations before the days of Columbus. The town of Cachi, with simple whitewashed village walls framed by brilliant mountains, provides an excellent opportunity to learn how to capture architectural details and colorful landscapes. After dinner, gather for a special session on night photography and to capture the moon rising over the Cachi mountains.



DAY 6 CACHI TO PURMAMARCA

Activities - Hike in National Park Los Cardones, condor viewing and telephoto photography

Hotel - La Comarca• Location: Purmamarca• Duration: 2 Nights• http://www.lacomarcahotel.

com.ar/• Located in the beautiful

Purmamarca, La Comarca has unique architectural style that is inspired by the landscape and culture of the region. It also has a roof terrace and veranda overlooking the valley and the hills that surround it.

HighlightsTravel from the high dry valley down to a temperate landscape. First, explore the myriad of contrasting colors in the “Valle Encantado” (Enchanted Valley), with its astounding erosion-sculpted rock formations, and the National Park Los Cardones. Located in the central western Salta Province, Los Cardones National Park was established in 1996 to protect the high-elevation vegetation of the colorful sierras and dry gorges that characterize this area. It is crossed by ancient Inca trail the straight line of Tin-Tin. From Valle Encantado descend down the Cuesta del Obispo, a winding road of many micro-climates that connects high and dry climates with a mountain forest. Here is Ossian’s favorite spot to view and photograph soaring Andean Condors, considered a symbol of power and health by many Andean cultures. With a wing span of over nine feet, if these birds get close enough, you will also hear the rustle of their magnificent wings! Picnic along the river and then a drive to Purmamarca in the Jujuy region, located in the extreme northwest of the country, at the borders with Chile and Bolivia. Hotel El Manantial del Silencio (The Silent Spring) is tucked at the foot of Purmamarca’s multicolored mountains. This destination is as much about landscapes as it is about people and culture. This is the gateway from Argentina into the Altiplano, a region with its unique ways and culture that encompass southern Peru, western Bolivia and the Northwest tip of Argentina. Your day will be full of special photographic moments: In your viewfinder, you will compose llamas, woven rugs, hundreds of varieties of potatoes, salt flats, and an array of Andean musical instruments.



HighlightsExperience color as you never have before and Ossian will teach you how to capture the colors you see and feel. Today will also be a lesson about light because you will be practically on the Tropic of Capricorn, which is close to vertical sunlight. Study the special qualities of dawn and dusk and how to capture the different colors reflected from the mountains. In the morning, walk through the Pucará de Tilcara, a pre-Inca fortification or located on a hill just outside the small town of Tilcara, in the province of Jujuy. The location was strategically chosen to be easily defensible and to provide good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca. The Pucará de Tilcara was declared a National Monument in 2000. It has been partially rebuilt, and is the only publicly accessible archaeological site in the Quebrada de Humahuaca. You will have time to peruse the markets and have lunch before a very special sunset drive to Las Salinas Grandes, a huge expanse of salt that defies perspective and distance. At 3,350 feet, it is one of the highlights of the region. Photograph Vicunas, one of two wild South American camelids which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes; the other being the guanaco. It is a relative of the llama, and is now believed to be the wild ancestor of domesticated alpacas, which are raised for their coats. The inhabitants of the Argentinian Puna, in the northwest, still proudly maintain numerous ancient traditions. Here they maintain the cult of “Pachamama” giving thanks to Mother Earth who makes the “maize grow and livestock multiply“. The native peoples sing and dance to the rhythm of their folkloric instruments. Your ears will savor the sounds while eyes and cameras will stay very busy! By day’s end reach Quebrada de Humahuaca, located in the Province of Jujuy. It is a narrow and arid mountainous valley, flanked by the high plateau of the Puna and the eastern wooded areas.

DAY 7 PURMAMARCA

Activities - Village and archeological ruins of Tilcara, Quebrada de Humahuaca, Salinas Grande

Hotel - See Day 6



DAY 8 SALTA

Activities - Hike around Paseo de Los Colorados Hotel - Hotel Solar de la Plaza• Location: Salta• Duration: 1 Night• www.solardelaplaza.com.ar/• With a colonial, sophisticated

and personal style in its 30 rooms, Solar de la Plaza Hotel combines the tradition of a mid-twentieth-century mansion with the elegance of a contemporary high-end hotel building. Solar de la Plaza Hotel is located right in the city center, opposite Güemes square.

HighlightsIn the morning stroll around Paseo de Los Colorados (7 colors mountain), one of the most beautiful and famous hikes in Northwest Argentina, then head to Salta. En route enjoy an outdoor lunch of fresh fish at Dique La Cienaga. Nicknamed Salta la Linda (“Salta the beautiful”), Salta is in the heart in the heart of gaucho country and it has become a major tourist destination due to its old, colonial Spanish architecture, traveler friendly culture, delightful weather and the natural scenery of the valleys westward. Explore the history and culture of Salta.

The tranquil city is an eclectic collection of Spanish colonial, neo colonial, French, Italianate and contemporary style architecture. The hotel is located four blocks away from the main square, which, as in all town of Spanish origin, is the hub of city life. Attractions in the city proper include the 18th century Cabildo, the neo-classical style Cathedral, and the 9 de Julio central square along with San Bernardo hill, and its surroundings. The city’s museums exhibit a wide range of artifacts and art work from the native civilizations that flourished in the area, as well as from the 16th century Spanish conquest and the colonial and post-colonial periods.

The final dinner together will celebrate this wonderful region that we have captured with our cameras and that has painted a picture on our hearts.

DAY 9 ADIOS!

HighlightsAfter breakfast around 9am we part ways. Taxis are available from the last hotel to Martin Miguel de Guemes International Airport.



MEET YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE Ossian Lindholm is a renowned nature photographer from Tucuman, Argentina. Trained as an Agronomist, many years ago he turned his deep passion for nature to photography. In his work as a photographer, teacher and documentary filmmaker, he is dedicated to capturing, preserving, conserving, sharing and sustaining the landscape, nature and culture of Argentina in its most pristine state.

Ossian has published five books, 14 calendars and he teaches photography courses throughout the year. Since 1998 he has been leading groups of photographers and naturalists on photographic journeys throughout his native Argentina. For the past four years has been the host of a very popular weekly nature TV documentary called Travesia Fotograficas. In each show He hopes to educate and inspire people to love, protect and keep sacred the places where they live using use images, words and music to touch peoples’ emotional core. Born in Tucuman in northern Argentina, he was raised in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina and attended primary and secondary school there. His father, now deceased, was a construction engineer and his mother is a writer and historian. Both his father and mother were also passionate amateur photographers and travelers. His parents traveled with him throughout Argentina and they were the ones who instilled a love of exploration. As a young 7-year old boy he fell in love the wonderful landscapes of Argentina and began carrying a camera everywhere, which at the time, was not the not normal behavior of a young boy. As a teenager, he turned his photography hobby into a passion. At the age of 14 years he created a black and white photo lab in his home and with a group of friends, some experienced photographers he began his first serious steps in photography. To finance this hobby, he began taking pictures at family parties and weddings.

During his early years he loved reading National Geographic Magazine; it had a profound impact on him. It was his first inspiration and he became continually was drawn by nature photography. He went to college to pursue a career in agricultural engineering and here he began to develop a strong connection with the biological sciences that continues to be a strong influence in all his work. After obtaining his degree he worked for many years as a scientist but in 1998 he decided to dedicate himself to nature photography.

At this time he began working as a photography and nature guide which allowed him to travel around Argentina and connect with other photographers and biologists in the world.

In 2001 he published his first photography calendar that he does every year. His simple desire has been to share his love and concern for nature. As he evolved as a photographer he clarified his mission in one sentence: Para Conservar, primero hay que Conocer. “To conserve, first you must know.” At that point he had a personal revelation: He discovered that my life’s work was not only photography, it was to carefully craft and deliver an important message about conservation and sustainability: He discovered his calling. He needed, through photography, teaching and film making, to show and teach his fellow Argentinians and the world that Nature is sacred and our relationship to Mother Earth is a symbiotic one. This maxim and personal philosophy threads through all his work.



ARRIVAL & DEPARTUREGETTING TO SALTAFly to Salta, Martin Miguel de Guemes International Airport (SLA). Take a taxi (approx. 35 minutes) to the pre-night hotel, Villa Vicuna. You will be met met by Ossian on the morning of Day 1 to begin your epic photo tour.

DEPARTING FROM SALTATake a Taxi from the last hotel to Martin Miguel de Guemes International Airport, approximately 15-20 minutes and up to $10.

OTHER INFORMATION For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson TravelCall: 1-855-780-2022 or E-mail: [email protected]

Travel Insurance MH RossCall: 1-800-423-3632http://bit.ly/MHRoss_Insurance

Transportation Rome2riohttp://www.rome2rio.com

VISA INFORMATIONHolders of normal passports issued to nationals of USA must pay a reciprocity fee online, in advance via: www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles/. A printed payment receipt containing a bar code must be presented at check-in and upon arrival to immigration authorities.



INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONSInsuranceCiclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via email once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice. Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as followed: Days before departure – Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit*91-120 days - 100% of the deposit* 61-90 days - 30% of the trip price 31-60 days - 60% of the trip price31-44 days - 100% of the trip price

*You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied. Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group.

To review our policies, please visit http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/plan-your-trip/policies/

RESERVE YOUR SPACE!To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at 800-866-7314 or Lauren Hefferon at 617-640-4837. Or, mail your deposit and contact information to:

Ciclismo Classicoattn: Rosa 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA 02474 At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form.

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