About this Event
4-Day Nature & Wildlife Photography Retreat
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
February 20–23, 2026
(Welcome Circle: February 19)
Investment: $1,099 USD
(Limited to 12 participants)
🌺 Immerse Yourself in the Wild Beauty of Vallarta
Discover the extraordinary biodiversity of Puerto Vallarta through your lens. From vibrant butterflies and exotic birds to cascading waterfalls and lush botanical gardens, this four-day photography retreat blends artistic technique with immersive nature experiences.
Each day brings a new adventure — capturing motion, light, and life in Mexico’s most stunning natural settings. You’ll explore color, texture, and composition in the field and refine your images through guided Lightroom and Photoshop editing sessions.
With small-group instruction, personalized guidance, and over 20 hours of hands-on learning, this retreat will expand both your technical skill and your creative vision.
📸 Retreat Highlights
- Butterfly Garden Excursion
- Botanical Garden & Macro Workshop
- Bird Photography in the Jungle
- Cascada Adventure — Motion & Landscape
- Food, Lightroom & Photoshop Workshops
- Sunset Seascape Session
- Welcome Circle & Farewell Dinner
🗓️ Course Itinerary
Thursday, February 19
Optional Welcome Circle
Join us for a relaxed evening meet-up to connect with your group before the retreat begins. We’ll discuss goals, gear, and creative intentions for the days ahead.
Friday, February 20
Morning: Butterfly Garden — Macro & Motion Photography
Photograph butterflies in their natural habitat while learning to capture movement, focus, and detail in constantly changing conditions. We’ll explore color balance, patience in the field, and techniques for isolating your subject in busy backgrounds.
Afternoon: Lightroom for Nature Photography
Learn how to bring your images to life through color correction, tone balance, and selective editing. This hands-on session will guide you through building a cohesive editing style that enhances the natural beauty of your wildlife shots.
Saturday, February 21
Morning: Botanical Garden — Composition, Color, and Texture
Explore one of Puerto Vallarta’s most breathtaking locations as we photograph tropical flora, jungle trails, and scenic overlooks. Focus on composition, depth, and storytelling through natural details.
Afternoon: Food Photography Workshop
Enjoy lunch surrounded by the garden’s vibrant atmosphere while learning techniques for capturing rich textures, authentic light, and the essence of Mexican cuisine.
Sunday, February 22
Morning: Cascada Adventure — Waterfall & Motion Photography
Journey to a hidden waterfall and practice long exposures, motion blur, and landscape composition techniques. Learn to use tripods and filters to create ethereal, fine-art images.
Evening: Sunset Seascape Workshop
Photograph the golden light of Puerto Vallarta’s coastline while mastering dynamic exposure and lens choice for professional-quality landscape imagery.
Monday, February 23
Morning: Bird Photography — Patience, Precision & Focus
Capture native birds in flight and in their natural environments. Learn tracking techniques, focal settings, and timing for stunning wildlife portraits that tell a story.
Afternoon: Photoshop for Wildlife Photography
Learn post-processing techniques specific to nature imagery — refining detail, balancing contrast, removing distractions, and building cohesive wildlife compositions.
Evening: Farewell Dinner & Critique
Share your favorite captures and reflections from the week as we close our retreat with a group celebration dinner in the Romantic Zone.
💻 What’s Included
- Over 20 hours of guided instruction and editing
- All excursions, transportation, and sanctuary admission fees
- Lightroom and Photoshop sessions
- All location and model fees
- Course handouts & creative exercises
- Welcome Circle (Feb 19), Food Photography meal (Feb 21), and Farewell Dinner (Feb 23)
- Continued community through a private alumni group
🧭 Who It’s For
This retreat is open to photographers of all levels and camera types — from DSLR and mirrorless users to mobile photographers. Whether you’re a hobbyist, traveler, or aspiring wildlife photographer, you’ll develop new technical skills and a deeper connection with the natural world.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
What skill level is this workshop for?
All skill levels are welcome! Group instruction is paired with individual coaching so each student receives guidance suited to their experience and goals.
Are phones or point-and-shoot cameras allowed?
Absolutely. Many of our students use compact or mobile cameras and still walk away with incredible results.
What subjects will we be learning?
Lightroom, Photoshop, macro and wildlife techniques, food and landscape photography, composition, motion control, and more.
What gear should I bring?
After registering, you’ll receive a detailed packing list and gear recommendations. Loaner tripods and accessories will be available in limited quantities, and we can help arrange rentals locally.
Do I need to bring a computer?
For the editing sessions, laptops with Lightroom and Photoshop are ideal, but you’re welcome to follow along and take notes if you prefer to edit later.
💰 Investment
$1,099 USD per person
$300 deposit to reserve your spot (refundable until February 1, 2026)
Balance due by February 10, 2026
Early Bird Rate: $999 — available until January 10, 2026
Included in the Workshop fees are all instruction, transportation for scheduled excursions, admission to sanctuaries and gardens, class critiques, and handouts for each course. After the retreat, you’ll be invited to our private alumni group for continued creative growth.
🌿 Join Us
Capture the magic of Puerto Vallarta’s wildlife — from butterflies to birds, from waterfalls to the sea.
Immerse yourself in nature, refine your craft, and reconnect with creativity through the beauty of Mexico’s coast and jungle.
📩 — limited to 12 photographers.
Event Venue
MXN 20540.86
