Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley Photo Expedition

A Photographer's Journey into the Ancient Wonders of the Inca Civilization

Photographers have long been captivated by the mystical ruins of Machu Picchu. High in the Peruvian Andes, the stone city sits among vertical peaks draped in emerald jungle. Built on a granite mountaintop close to the sun, its intricate architecture reveals the ingenuity of its 15th-century Inca designers. Massive blocks of stone were cut to fit together so precisely that no mortar was necessary. The site also reflects the Incas' extraordinary knowledge of astronomy, with many elements aligning with heavenly events such as the solstice sunrise. On two separate visits, shoot Machu Picchu in varied light, capturing iconic wide shots with llamas in the foreground, and detailed studies of fine stonework. Cultural photography rounds out your portfolio, with village visits, traditional market scenes and tableaus of agricultural life in the Sacred Valley.

What makes our Photo Expeditions different?

Trip Highlights

In-Depth Photography on Two Visits to Machu Picchu

No hurried jostling for shots among hordes of visitors—we spend extended time on two trips to the ruins, for varied contexts and a range of light and sky conditions

Master Andean Light in the Sacred Valley

Explore timeless landscapes as we work with changing light, texture and scenes of local life in traditional Andean villages and agricultural settings

Capture Peru’s Living Heritage on Our Immersive Itinerary

At the market in Urubamba and in other cultural encounters, shoot portraits and document daily rhythms, vibrant colors and local artisans at work

[MUSIC PLAYING] Being in Peru, it touches the inner fibers of being an early explorer. We all came from nomads. Being there and moving and exploring, you feel like an early nomad. If you see the map and you point where you are, you're in the middle of nowhere. You are part of the new explorers. It's a very special feeling. In every step, you don't know what you're going to find, but everything you find is going to be something that will blow your mind in a nice way. Our wildlife, our plants, our archaeological sites, anything can just pop out. You never know. And we get excited when those things happen. That's a "Nat Hab moment". [LAUGHS] I was born and raised in Lima, Peru. My father was a professor. His field was dairy farming. So I basically grew up between the city and the ranch. I remember when I was young, and visitors would come to the ranch, I would tour them around and tell them, "Oh, these are the cows, these are the pigs..." But at a certain time, I ran out of more things to identify in the livestock kingdom. But there were things that were free, That attracted me. You know, the birds, they are not in a cage, They can do whatever they want. And that was a whole window that opened that, oh, this is another way of being an animal. And that's what really interested me. I said, I want to do this. How can I become a birder? But at that time, in Peru, we were not thinking about nature preservation. We were thinking about surviving as a country, a terrible civil war, and it was mandatory to serve. So I was forced to enroll. We were almost turning into adults, fighting against people that didn't want to become a democratic country. Through the '80s, it was complicated, but we were able finally to defeat this guerrilla group and we reopened our doors to the world. And I wanted to work in tourism to develop a way in which nature can be preserved through having visitors, because I wanted to share my passion with people. And eventually I was in the Amazon as a bird guide. Since I was very young, I always heard about the Amazon, you know, and how mysterious it was. You never know what to expect until you arrive. For someone that loves nature, it's like an amusement park, because this is one of the most diverse places on earth. Like, oh my God, look at this color of this caterpillar, or look at the color of this bird, it's amazing and rarely found, or look at the family of monkeys and see that, okay, that's a father, that's mama with a baby, and she's pregnant already. It's the Amazon, with all its amazing and charming creatures. And then you change, going from the Amazon to the Andes. We are in the heart of the Incan Empire. The first time I went to Machu Picchu, I went with my mother, I was 13 years old, and I've been probably more than 80 times. I still feel amazed on how our ancestors were able to develop something like that there. And I get excited again because I know all our travelers had this particular place in their bucket list, probably since they were in elementary school. It's like, wow. (upbeat music) (birds chirping) For me, always, the thing about birds, it's like a healthy envy because they can fly. What I absorbed from the birds was their lifestyle. That's what inspired me. We have so many interesting things to do in this world that why not try to do most of them? So nature, music, sports, and I try to find time to do everything. Sometimes at the same time. I feel like, "Oh yeah, I'm in the mood of playing. I wanna do some loud sounds, play some loud sounds. Let's make some noise." but also probably in the early morning I want to be quiet just watching birds waking up. For me, it's just different energies that add to who I am. I was born in this country. I feel blessed being a Peruvian. We were very proud of our country and when people understand how diverse it is and how important it is and how passionate are the people that want to preserve it. It's like, oh, happy, happy, to the point of breaking into tears of happiness when you feel like your travelers are living with an amazing experience. You know, okay, now they can go back home, free as a bird. (upbeat music)

Free as a Bird

a Peru Guide Story

Why Choose Nat Hab?

A Full Photography Immersion in Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

We've designed this itinerary to give you in-depth exposure to the natural grandeur, Inca history and enduring culture of Peru's Andes, including South America's most famous cultural site—Machu Picchu, the fabled Lost City of the Incas. In the company of an outstanding photographer Expedition Leader who is also an expert in the natural and cultural history of the region, you'll get images you would never get on your own. Read more about the features that set this Photo Expedition apart:

In-Depth Photography at Machu Picchu on Two Separate Visits Most visitors to Peru’s most famous archaeological site spend just a few hours on a single day. Our itinerary visits the ruins on two different occasions, with extended time for multiple angles, careful compositions and shooting in varied light conditions. We also offer an optional hike up Wayna Picchu to get the classic view of the Lost City from on high.

Document Andean Culture Up Close Meet local artisans and farmers, hear their stories, and get portraits during village visits and at the Urubamba market. You’ll gain insight into Peru’s living heritage, turning your photos into stories that transcend mere images.

Photograph Beauty & Biodiversity in the Cloud Forest In the extensive gardens of Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel, shoot an array of orchids, butterflies and hummingbirds—an ideal setting for macro photography in soft, diffuse light.

Luxury Accommodations in Natural Settings away from Crowds We choose our accommodations to enhance your experience of Peru's mountain culture in peaceful settings. After each day in the field, retreat to our carefully selected boutique hotels and ecolodges that combine comfort and conservation—perfect places for photographers to rest, recharge and review their work. Near Machu Picchu we stay at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a luxury lodge secluded in lush cloud forest. The hotel enjoys a private setting surrounded by 11 acres of flower gardens containing more than 300 orchid species. In the Sacred Valley, we hand-pick our accommodations for ambience and privacy, away from crowds.

Travel Seamlessly by Train, Electric Van & on Foot Our itinerary is coordinated to flow smoothly with a mix of transportation that’s perfectly suited to our needs. From the scenic Vistadome train along the Urubamba River to our transfers by electric van and intimate walks through villages and small farms, our travel mode fits the context and logistics are smooth, giving you more time behind the camera and less time in transit.

Travel the Sacred Valley in Our New All-Electric Vehicle Nat Hab has set a new standard in Cusco Province with the rollout of Peru's first electric vehicle (EV) used for tourism. Introduced on our trips in 2025, our spacious, comfortable electric van provides our small groups the opportunity to ride in quiet, zero-emissions style. And don't think the lack of a diesel engine means any compromise in power: our EV navigates the high, winding mountain roads with plenty of get-up-and-go. When you travel with us, you are part of raising the bar on sustainability for tourism in Peru!

Learn from Our Expert Photographer Guide You’ll be traveling with a genuine pro who is as capable an instructor as an accomplished. photographer. Learn composition, exposure and storytelling techniques tailored to the high Andes—from landscapes and wildlife to candid portraits of local life. If you’re already highly facile with your camera, you’ll get local insight to make your images even better—and if you’re a keen intermediate or avid novice, our Photo Expedition Leader will tailor tips and techniques to suit your personal needs. And our guides’ expertise in both natural and cultural history makes all the difference when it comes to gaining a richer understanding of the sites we explore. See Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.

A Small Group Ensures More Meaningful Encounters Machu Picchu offers one of the world's most captivating travel experiences. But it's also a world-renowned destination, and trying to navigate the site in a big group with multitudes of tourists jostling for photos and competing to hear the guide, your visit to this World Heritage Site can lose its magic. Our groups are limited to just 12 guests, allowing for in-depth exploration and greater access to places that larger groups can’t go.

Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Machu Picchu Photo Expedition With Natural Habitat Adventures, you receive our exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.

Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.

Natural Habitat Adventures is WWF's Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat Adventures its worldwide travel partner—a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!

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