Become a champion of collective conservation through storytelling.

Did you know that every year, 50,000 tons of plastic fishing nets end up in the oceans? That is the same weight as 50,000 cars. Did you know that most of these are made of plastic that takes hundreds of years to degrade, never going away and instead ending up in our water, fish and even in the air we breathe?

In 2026 we present a Storytelling School workshop in one of the most beautiful and biologically-diverse UNESCO sites in the world–a place where volcanic jungle meets the ocean. Linked by mangroves, which are nurseries for thousands of species including sharks, shrimp, crustaceans, fish and more, this is an experience you will never forget.

We partner with Guardiens del Mar (Guardians of the Sea), a collective conservation effort amongst Colombia’s coastal communities in what could be one of the most ecosystems on the planet. Guardiens del Mar is leading the effort to tackle the problem of ghost nets from industrial fishing vessels and other unsustainable fishing practices, which threaten this precious ecosystem.

The intention behind this workshop: To support anyone who is in the storytelling/photodocumentary/photojournalism space or is making their way into it. We incorporate elements of solutions and relationship-based journlism and documentary work into this workshop. Each participant will contribute to the ongoing sustainability of Guardiens del Mar by creating complete, visual stories that are intended to create an intentional impact. The organization will then be able to use not only the stories but various images created during the workshop for their ongoing use and impact.

By the end of the workshop, we are confident participants will be able to weave together a coherent, multi-image visual story no matter what level or background they have.

TRIP DATES: FEB 16-28, 2026

COST: $5,999 USD (SHARED)

$6,499 USD (PRIVATE)

Deadline to register: December 1, 2025

Mariana Rivera Uribe (she/her) is a biologist, conservation photographer and filmmaker from Colombia who has experience working with the IUCN, Conservation International, and has broad experience working with NGOs, governments and private institutions in the efforts to protect our natural and cultural treasures. She has worked with multiple Indigenous communities in the Amazon, Chocó, Sierra Nevada and Chingaza, supporting grassroot, community-led initiatives standing for the defence of human rights and the territories. Mariana's work has been exhibited at the Siena Drone Photo Awards, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Mangrove Photo Awards among others. She has directed and collaborated on several award-winning impact films and is co-founder and producer at Coral Studio, an underwater and conservation film company based in Colombia.

Physical Rating: Moderate

The intention behind this workshop: To support anyone who is in the storytelling/photodocumentary/photojournalism space. We incorporate elements of solutions and relationship-based journlism and documentary work into this workshop. Each participant will contribute to the ongoing sustainability of Guardiens del Mar by creating complete, visual stories that are intended to create an intentional impact. The organization will then be able to use not only the stories but various images created during the workshop for their ongoing use and impact. Various activities with the Guardiens are set up with the intention of creating photographic storytelling opportunities. The intention of the three assignments and feedback throughout the workshop is keep building on a story about the Guardiens del Mar until the final presentation.

*All activities are dependent on the daily weather conditions and tides, which might affect the order of the itinerary.

*While an underwater housing is not required for this workshop, you won’t regret bringing it if you have one (in fact we highly recommend it). Diving certification is also not necessary (plenty of storytelling can be done on land) but it is also useful if you wish to dive with the Guardiens.

DAY 1 

Fly into Medellín and meet anytime during the day. Make your way to the 4-star hotel we have arranged for you in a taxi that will be provided. Get some rest or take the chance to meet up with the rest of the group to walk around the city, enjoy some local Colombian cuisine and get to know your fellow travellers.

DAY 2 

MEDELLÍN

Opening Ceremony

We will visit the Anthropology Museum of Antioquia to deepen ourselves into the history, culture and context of Colombia’s Indigenous and local communities. We will get to know each other a bit through a photo exercise, followed by a delicious local lunch at the botanical gardens, where our first assignment will take place.

LESSON 1: Ethics of Storytelling

We will discuss why it is a priority to maintain an ethics code while working with communities and the importance of working collaboratively, as well as reviewing examples of how colonization in storytelling can lead to more damage than good.

LESSON 2: Camera Refresh

For the beginners in the group, or for anyone who wants to refresh their camera skills, we’ll go over basic manual settings with some fun exercises so that you feel in control of your camera throughout the journey. This is simply to ensure that everyone has a good understanding of light and basic camera functions such as ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed so that we can all deepen our storytelling practice together from here.

We will meet for dinner in the evening where we will learn more about the context of the place we will be traveling, the communities and the itinerary, and we will have the chance to answer any questions you might have. We will give an idea of what we each expect from the workshop. We will share our intentions in an intimate ceremony and prepare for our flight the next day.

DAY 3

TRIBUGÁ

We will have breakfast at the hotel before heading to the airport to catch our flight and fly over the vast rainforest of Choco to land in Nuqui, where we will try some local “empanadas” before catching our small boat to our hotel in an exquisite part of the Gulf of Tribugá in a small village on the beach where we will be spending the next few days (transfer lasts 45 minutes approx). We will stay at a hotel and pollinator reserve that is operated by one of the Guardiens.

LESSON 3: Impact Storytelling

Learn our coveted “Storytelling for Change” formula, which is truly everything you need to start creating a compelling story We will further develop our ideas and discuss how to materialize them into a compelling and powerful project. We will discuss the creative process behind a photo series and how these projects can lead to a positive, intentional impact.

Participants will begin work on their first of three assignments.

After the lesson, participants are welcome to wander and get to know the territory. We will have dinner together, share our impressions, questions and learnings.

DAY 4

MEET THE GUARDIENS

We will spend the majority of our time with the Guardiens, and so it’s important we meet them! Guardiens del Mar is comprised of “Guardiens” from each of the 8 “corrigimientos” or villages that make up the Gulf of Tribuga. Together we will discuss the background of the organization, get to know the different Guardiens and their stories, and start to get a sense of the overall story we are telling. We will learn about the issue of ghost nets and other challenges they face, as well as their triumphs and joys. Speaking to the communities that have lived here for generations, you will learn how to ask meaningful questions in about the challenges and understand what the main environmental challenges the communities are facing and the grassroot initiatives led to face them. We will learn about the relationship of the communities with their land, their state-recognized system of self-governance, and local traditions such as artisanal fishing, local cuisine, agriculture, and sustainable tourism, including the preparation of “viche,” a traditional, and emblematic sugar cane drink of the Pacific coast, which has been used for more than 300 years for medicinal purposes and was recently declared a cultural heritage of Colombia.

Our first activity will be snorkelling with the Guardiens and seeing some local coral while starting on our first assignments.

After a hearty lunch, we will introduce ourselves to the territory and listen to what she has to share with us (an easy beach hike to a waterfall and only some good water shoes needed, swimsuit, sunscreen, hat and a drybag).

We will walk back to the hotel to work on our stories, reflect on the day, and ask any questions.

DAY 5

TRIBUGÁ

We will put into practice the lessons learned so far through various activities organized with the Guardiens to support participants with their stories. Today we might look at the ghost nets more closely, or accompany the Guardiens to a site for ghost net extraction. We can even learn about what they are doing with the ghost nets they have removed from the coral reefs.

LESSON 4: Working with Natural Light for Maximum Impact

Photography is painting with light and light can help us make our stories all the more powerful, too. Learn a variety of light types found all around us to create works of art, how perspective, composition, and eye movement can help you strengthen your stories and have a stronger impact. We will also talk about portraiture and long exposures, with plenty of opportunities to practice along the journey.

DAY 6

TRIBUGÁ

A 30-minute boat ride will take us to Cabo Corrientes with some of the Guardiens, where we will have the chance to snorkel or dive and if we are lucky, we might get to see some interesting wildlife. We will get a chance to learn from the communities how community-based projects have been a sustainable alternative to halt major industrial projects imposed by the governments and private entities.

We will head back to the hotel for lunch and afterwards, participants will have the opportunity for some free time to work on assignments or take part in other activities.

Participants will receive feedback on the first of three assignments, and begin work on their second assignment.

DAY 7

TRIBUGÁ

Participants will share their assignments from the night before, receive feedback and discuss their projects to further develop their stories and photography skills.

We will head to Coquí, a small village located a few minutes by boat from the hotel. We will have a special lunch at Zotea (“zoteas” are traditional beds to grow herbs and local plants in the communities), an etno-gastronomic hub where local men and women are working to recover the traditional knowledge related to recipes, local plants, fruits, and ingredients which are found only here, and are combining them with modern techniques to impulse their economy and preserve their customs.

After lunch, we will go on a canoe ride through the mangrove forests, known as some of the best preserved in Colombia and the world, which includes seven of the world’s 12 species. Here you can spot rare birds, crabs, crustaceans and unique tropical plants, and learn how communities have transitioned from cutting down the mangrove forests to reforesting them and benefiting from local tourism as a way to protect them, and how these mangroves protect the communities from erosion and hurricanes, which have become more frequent with climate change.

DAY 8

TRIBUGÁ

Today will be another day to hang out with the Guardiens del Mar, visiting the nearby town of Termales where some of the Guardiens live. We can make photographs of them surfing and see how the community sustains itself with fishing.

We will be back for lunch and have the afternoon to rest, continue working on our stories, and finalizing our ideas for our final projects.

Participants will receive feedback on the second of three assignments, and begin work on their final assignment.

DAY 9

TRIBUGÁ

Today will be another day to hang out with the Guardiens del Mar and visit another town such as Jovi where we will prepare activities based on the group’s needs.

LESSON 5: Sharing Your Story

You now know how to craft powerful images and tell a story–what next? We will discuss how to take your social media, website and speaking game to the next level in this portion of the workshop. We will also share how to make an effective pitch deck for your story.

DAY 10

TRIBUGÁ

Today is a day to do some editing and enjoy your last day in this lush landscape.

We will have a free afternoon to complete our stories. We will have a special closing dinner to integrate what we have learned and felt during the last few days, share our perspective, experiences and challenges.

Participants will have 10 minutes to share their final visual story with the Guardiens presentation-style, and will receive feedback on this last assignment.

DAY 11

RETURN TO MEDELLÍN

Travel back to the trip’s starting point for some rest and last-minute shopping or sight-seeing and discussions around what’s next! We want to see you and your stories thrive. After all, it takes all of us to champion collective and local conservation efforts!

DAY 12

DEPARTURE

We will organize your taxi to the airport (any extra days must be covered by each participant).

what’s not included

• International air fare to/from Medellín, Colombia and applicable tourist visas or airport taxes.

• Medical insurance for travellers (required)

• Tips or gratuities

• Incidentals (e.g. alcoholic beverages, snacks, souvenirs, etc.) or optional tours or activities (e.g. yoga, massages, etc.)

what’s included

• Orientation and tours

• All transportation between program activity destinations and to/from all included activities

• Accommodations

• Most meals are included (please allow $200-400 USD for additional meals, drinks and gratuities)

• Staff & experts: PWB Staff, Local Staff

My bags are packed. Sign me up!

Please select the workshop of your choice below.

You will be required to make a $1000 USD, non-refundable deposit to secure your space.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: DEC 1, 2025 OR WHEN FULL (MAX 6-8 PARTICIPANTS).