Argentina, High Desert by Drone
October 26 – November 6, 2027
Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses by Drone
1 Spot Left
At a Glance
Location
Brazil
Tuition
$8,995
Dates
July 17 – 22, 2028
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 8 Guests
Collections
Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses by Drone Photography Workshop
Drone Photography Above Brazil’s Desert of Lagoons
July 17 – 22, 2028
- Explore one of the world’s most visually extraordinary dune fields
- Receive highly personalized instruction with 4:1 guest-pro ratio
- Develop stronger aerial composition and drone-flying skills
From the air, Lençóis Maranhenses looks like a vast piece of abstract art.
Each year, seasonal rains fill the valleys between immense dunes of brilliant white quartz sand with thousands of blue and emerald lagoons. Seen from above, the landscape reveals sweeping curves, textures, subtle color transitions, and striking contrasts that are impossible to appreciate from ground level.
Designed specifically for drone photographers, this workshop will help you move beyond simply documenting the landscape from above and begin creating deliberate, carefully composed aerial images. You will learn how to recognize abstract compositions, simplify complex scenes, use negative space, and identify the patterns, lines, and colors that make an image “pop” from above. We will also cover practical drone skills, including flight planning, camera orientation, altitude selection, and flying smoothly and safely in changing conditions.
Over four days inside Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, you will photograph the landscape as its character changes throughout the day. Sunrise and late-afternoon light create long shadows and layered landscapes, while the harsh overhead light around midday can reveal luminous water, delicate pastel tones, and more graphic compositions. Each drone flight will present something different, from isolated emerald lagoons surrounded by untouched sand to the intricate patterns and dark, winding channels of the Rio Negro river.
This is an immersive aerial photography workshop in one of the world’s most visually extraordinary landscapes, designed to strengthen both your confidence as a drone pilot and your ability to photograph abstract compositions from above.
This workshop dovetails with our Peru’s Sacred Valley and High Andes workshop, pairing the sweeping dunes, turquoise lagoons, and abstract aerial landscapes of Lençóis Maranhenses with drone-friendly photography among the dramatic peaks, valleys, and glacial landscapes of Peru’s high Andes.
Your Pros
Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
July 17, 2028: Arrival in São Luís
Arrive at Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (SLZ), São Luís, Maranhão before 4:00 PM today. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
After landing, you’ll be transferred to our hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The remainder of the day is at your leisure, giving you time to recover from your journey, organize your equipment, and prepare for the adventure before gathering for a welcome dinner and an introduction to the workshop.
July 18, 2028: São Luís to Lençóis Maranhenses and First Sunset Shoot
After breakfast, we travel approximately four hours to Santo Amaro, our base on the edge of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.
Following check-in at a small boutique hotel, we make our first journey into the park for an afternoon and sunset photography session. As the light softens, the white dunes take on warm golden tones and cast long, sculptural shadows around the blue and emerald lagoons. This first flight introduces you to the extraordinary scale of Lençóis Maranhenses and the compositional possibilities created by its repeating curves, colors, textures, and patterns.
July 19–21, 2028: Exploring the Immense Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Over the next three days, we will explore different regions of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, traveling deep into the dune field to reach remote locations and avoid the busiest areas.
Our schedule will be shaped by the light and flying conditions. We will depart before sunrise to photograph untouched dunes illuminated by the first light of day, but we will not limit our photography to golden hour. Midday light can be particularly effective from the air, revealing luminous water, pale sand, subtle pastel tones, and quiet, shadowless compositions. Throughout the workshop, you will learn how altitude, camera angle, orientation, and changing light can transform the same landscape into entirely different images.
There will also be downtime between sessions to rest, edit your photographs, and take part in formal group image reviews.
July 22, 2028: Image Review and Departure
Our final morning begins with a group image review and post-processing session. Together, we select and discuss favorite photographs from the workshop, covering composition, camera settings, and the editing decisions that help aerial images reach their full potential. After brunch, we will head back to São Luís for onward flights home.
Flights out can be made after 5:00 PM today.
Drone Workshop Specifics
This itinerary has been designed specifically for aerial photography, with multiple opportunities to fly throughout each day. Depending on the light, wind, weather, and local conditions, we may visit as many as four or five different flying locations, allowing you to photograph the dunes and lagoons from a variety of altitudes, angles, and lighting conditions.
You are responsible for bringing enough batteries to support at least two hours of flying each day, along with all necessary chargers, cables, memory cards, spare propellers, and accessories. As most consumer drones provide approximately 30 to 40 minutes of flight time per battery under ideal conditions, several fully charged batteries will be essential.
Participants should arrive comfortable with manually taking off and landing their drone, controlling it confidently, and following a simple flight plan to reach a designated composition. This is not a learn-to-fly-from-scratch workshop, but both newer and experienced pilots will receive personalized instruction based on their abilities and creative goals. We will help you strengthen your flight planning, camera control, and aerial composition while working safely and efficiently in the field.
All flights are subject to weather, safety considerations, local restrictions, and the required permissions. We will operate only in locations where drone use is permitted and follow all applicable Brazilian aviation, airspace, and national park regulations. Your Pros will help assess potential flight paths and compositions before takeoff, but each participant remains responsible for the safe and lawful operation of their aircraft.
Fitness
Moderate: This workshop has a moderate activity level. Most locations are reached by 4×4 vehicle, but you should be comfortable walking across soft, uneven sand and climbing short sections of dune (less than 1/4 mile) while carrying your drone equipment. Heat, humidity, and repeated entry into and out of the vehicles can make the days feel more physically demanding.
Flights
Arrive at Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (SLZ), São Luís before 4:00 PM on July 17, 2028. Flights out can be made after 5:00 PM on July 22, 2028. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Single occupancy lodging.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- English-speaking local guide throughout the workshop.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from São Luís, Maranhão.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance including coverage from point of injury (required).
- Travel Medical Insurance (required).
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $3,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further payment of $3,000 is due by November 1, 2027.
- The balance is due not later than March 1, 2028.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply, including our cancellation and refund policy.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll learn to create deliberate aerial images by recognizing abstract compositions, simplifying complex scenes, and using negative space. The workshop also covers practical drone skills like flight planning, camera orientation, altitude selection, and flying smoothly and safely in changing conditions.
Yes, this workshop follows our standard refundable policy. Cancellations made more than 150 days before the start date receive a full refund. Between 150 and 91 days, refunds are given for payments exceeding 50% of tuition. From 90 to 61 days, refunds are for payments exceeding 75% of tuition. No refunds are available within 60 days unless we fill your spot, in which case a 100% refund is provided. All refunds are subject to a 5% administrative processing fee and are issued by the original payment method.
You'll need to be comfortable walking across soft, uneven sand and climbing short sections of dunes while carrying your drone equipment. The heat, humidity, and frequent vehicle entries and exits can make the days feel more demanding.
Bring enough batteries for at least two hours of flying each day, along with chargers, cables, memory cards, spare propellers, and accessories. Most consumer drones provide about 30 to 40 minutes of flight time per battery, so several fully charged batteries are essential.
You should fly into Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (SLZ) in São Luís. Plan to arrive before 4:00 PM on July 17, 2028, and consider arriving a day early to avoid any delays. Flights out can be scheduled after 5:00 PM on July 22, 2028.
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