Tenerife and La Palma, Canary Islands
Astrophotography Workshop
Tuesday 24th May - Tuesday 31st May 2022
7 days €1,500
Early bird offer €1,400 if booked before 1st March 2022
Imagine being able to see the stars in all their glory the way our ancestors did before the Industrial Revolution? There are few places left on Earth, and certainly in Europe, which offer the opportunity to view our Milky Way, the wider cosmos, and deep space objects in their true magnificence, than the Canary Islands. And none more so than Tenerife and La Palma. Read our blog A stellar time in the Canary Islands an astrophotography tour of Tenerife and La Palma for more details. Also see our short promotional video on the night skies of Tenerife and La Palma: Windows Onto The Universe: Astrophotography on Tenerife and La Palma
These sub-tropical volcanic islands lie close to the Equator which provides a perfect view of the skies over the entire Northern Hemisphere and part of the Southern Hemisphere. They also languish in the path of the northeast trade winds which provide fairly stable weather conditions and conjure pillow-soft layers of thin cloud that envelop the lower slopes of the islands, but leave the tops clear above the clouds, perfect for stargazing and astrophotography!
The quality of Tenerife’s night skies has earned it the Starlight Tourism Certification. Mount Teide (the island's main volcano and Spain's highest peak) is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site certified as a Starlight Tourist Destination.
The jet-black skies of La Palma make it even better for stargazing than its bigger neighbour, and it became the the world’s first Starlight Reserve in 2012. All of the island is deeply committed to astro-tourism and was one of the first places to implement the 1988 Sky Act, which help to reduce light pollution.
La Palma accommodates a wide array of cutting-edge international telescopes built at an altitude of 2,400 meters above sea level on the rim of the Caldera de Taburiente, the eroded remains of a massive ancient shield volcano. This includes the Gran Telescopio Canarias, the largest optical telescope in the world. The observatories look like something from a sci-fi set, and are extremely photogenic.
Access permitting, our trip will involve a guided visit to one of the La Palma observatories.
We will be bringing a small telescope for observing deep space objects such as nebulae, clusters, and the planets within our solar system.
After arriving at the airport in Tenerife South, we will take the ferry from Los Cristianos to La Palma where we will be based near Santa Cruz de la Palma for 4 nights. We will visit the best spots for astrophotography in the Caldera de Taburiente National Park.
We will then return on the ferry to Tenerife where we will spend three nights visiting the prime spots for astrophotography and landscape photography in the Teide National Park.
Accommodation in both islands is at private villas with single room occupancy, and both have good cooking facilities, a terrace and swimming pool.
The tour will include some uphill hiking, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
The tour is limited to a maximum of three participants to allow for freedom of movement and sufficient space per client at each location. Spouses/partners are welcome to join this tour at the same rate as photographers.
Accommodation
We will be staying in fully equipped self-catering private villas. Single occupancy rooms are guaranteed.
What’s included?
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7 nights accommodation
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Transportation for the duration of the tour
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Return ferry Tenerife-La Palma
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Visit to one of the observatories (subject to accessibility)
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Tuition throughout
What’s not included?
What level of Photography is required?
Whether you are a beginner looking to improve your photography skills, or an advanced photographer wanting to be taken to prime locations, our trips are open to all. Our only criteria is that you have a great passion for astro-photography, and have the energy and motivation to 'be on the go' all night! On-the-spot tuition will be provided to ensure that you get the best results from your camera.
What camera equipment do I need to bring?
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DSLR camera with full manual mode
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A fast (f2.8 or better) wide angle lens (ideally 12mm to 20mm range)
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Sturdy tripod
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Remote timer or inbuilt timer for timelapse (optional)
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Filters for day use
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Laptop with Lightroom and Photoshop installed (optional but recommended)
What clothing/footwear do I need to bring?
The weather in the Canaries is dominated by the Trade Winds; temperatures at sea level in May will be in the early to mid-twenties. We will be undertaking our night photography at altitudes above 2,000 metres, where it can get very chilly when sitting around. You must be well-equipped for warm and sunny daytime weather, and chilly nights. We recommend the following:
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Sturdy walking boots (the volcanic terrain is rugged)
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Sun hat
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Sun cream and glasses
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Warm coat for night time
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Hat and gloves
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Small stool or something to sit on
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Headtorch with red bulb setting
Book this tour
The cost is €1,500 euro per person. A non-refundable deposit of €250 euro is required to secure your place. Stage payments of balance by arrangement.
The tour begins and ends at Tenerife South/Tenerife Sur (TFS) Airport. As this is one of the main European holiday airports, there are numerous scheduled flights from all over Europe. Ryanair flies from Dublin, Cork, Belfast, all main London airports, and most regional British airports. Easyjet fly from all London airports and many main regional airports. Jet2 fly from Belfast.
In the event of the trip being cancelled, we will refund deposits in full. However, we will not be liable for any flight costs incurred by you.
Don't forget to check our other tours and workshops.
Flights
Please arrange to arrive at Tenerife South airport by 16:00 at the latest on 24th May as we need to get the ferry to La Palma at 19:00. On the 31st May we will return to Tenerife South airport at 9:00 AM. Please arrange your flights accordingly.
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