2022 Vaya Photo Contest Winners

Nothing delights us more than receiving photos captured by our travelers throughout the year. Whether it’s up close encounters with wildlife, sunsets over remote and little visited corners of our natural world, or new friends made while traveling, your images transport us—and we look forward to seeing each and every one!

To all of you who sent us your travel photos in 2022, we thank you. It has been our pleasure to relive some of our favorite destinations through your eyes.

It was challenging to narrow it down to just three images from among all the submissions. But the votes are in (it was a tie!) and the three images with the most votes are below, presented in no particular order.

All winning photographers will receive a new Patagonia Better Sweater. An additional selection of images meriting Honorable Mention have also been showcased below for everyone to enjoy.

Thank you to all who participated. We look forward to seeing your trip photos in 2023!

2022 WINNERS

Steve Neptune

Photo Location: Pantanal, Brazil (June 2022)

One of three 2022 Vaya Photo Contest Winners: sunset enjoyed by canoe over glassy waters in Brazil’s wildlife-rich Pantanal. (photographer: Steve Neptune)

The Pantanal spreads across three countries and more than 42 million acres, and is the largest tropical wetland in the world. Visiting it can be a surreal experience.  Seasonal floodplains fed by the tributaries of the Paraguay River produce a highly productive fish nursery that in turn supports an estimated 650 bird species along with a wealth of other wildlife, from caiman to jaguars, giant anteaters, giant otters, and more. According to photographer Steve Neptune, one other profound power is also at work here: “It can be challenging to inspire awe in a 15-year-old boy, but the Pantanal delivered.”

VISIT THE PANTANAL

Max Liszkowski

Photo Location: Serengeti, Tanzania (August 2022)

One of three 2022 Vaya Photo Contest Winners: a close encounter with a cheetah while on safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. (photographer: Max Liszkowski)

There is a reason the name Serengeti is practically synonymous with the notion of safari. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in Tanzania and covers just under 6,000 square miles of premiere game viewing terrain, including open grasslands, Acacia woodlands, and seasonal rivers. Bordered to the north by the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Serengeti offers ideal year-round habitat for all kinds of game (including big cats!) and is home to the world-famous Great Migration, an annual – and deadly – trek undertaken by millions of wildebeest and other herd animals between the two parks.

VISIT THE SERENGETI

Ken Cohen

Photo Location: Pantanal, Brazil (August 2022)

One of three 2022 Vaya Photo Contest Winners: a jaguar discovered amid the lush greenery of Brazil’s Pantanal. (photographer: Ken Cohen)

Although not quite as famous as the Amazon rainforest to the north, South America’s Pantanal is one of the planet’s most biologically rich environments and quite remarkable in its own right. Sprawled across Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, the tropical wetlands are a veritable haven for wildlife, providing a home to more than 4,700 plant and animal species, including high concentrations of iconic regional species like jaguar and caiman. Intimate river safaris offer the chance to spot wildlife along the water’s edge while exploring the wetlands by boat. For those as lucky as Ken, it may also mean a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to photograph jaguars in the wild!

VISIT THE PANTANAL

Honorable Mentions

Jen Becker
Galapagos Islands (July 2022)

A rainbow-infused moment captured in the Galapagos Islands. (photographer: Jen Becker)

Rex Niles
Antarctica (November 2022)

Icebergs and penguins, two of Antarctica’s most quintessential sights. (photographer: Rex Niles)

Atacama Desert, Chile (January 2022)

Enjoying quiet roads and reflective skies amid the otherworldly terrain of the Atacama Desert, Chile. (photographer: Rex Niles)

Caroline Himmelman
Peru (January 2022)

The lush green trails of Peru, many ancient Incan paths, are only made more spectacular by the snow-capped Andean peaks that surround them. (photographer: Caroline Himmelman).

Christie Gorsline
South Africa & Zimbabwe (September 2022)

A curious giraffe surrounded by grazing zebra in the Eastern Cape Reserves of South Africa. (photographer: Christie Gorsline)

You never know who will visit you while on safari, even when you’re relaxing back in your room at Rhino Sands Safari Camp. (photographer: Christie Gorsline)

Hal Shaw
Galapagos Islands (July 2022)

A sally lightfoot crab – one of the many local friends you might meet in the Galapagos Islands. (photographer: Hal Shaw)

Tom McDermott
Amazon, Ecuador (August 2022)

The rainforest is alive with creatures big and small. (photographer: Tom McDermott)

And So Many More

A variety of other wonderful images were submitted (and received votes). Our job is a tough one! We’ve included a few more below for your enjoyment.

A gathering of penguins on an iceberg in Antarctica. (photo: Alison & Bryan Adams)

Patagonia's Southern Crested Caracara is an impressive sight to behold. (photo: Robert Martin)

A perfect afternoon mountain biking to the Moray ruins in Peru's Sacred Valley. (photo: Corinne Noyes)

When the kids are sun-soaked, tired, and full of smiles, that's when you know you've had a great trip. (photo: Ricarda Ruecker)

There are few places where you can get as up close and personal with wildlife as the Galapagos Islands. (photo: Alice Edmondson)

What a way to wrap the day: sunset at Table Mountain in South Africa. (photo: Katie Fischer)

When your photobomber looks this cute, it's hard to get too upset with his antics. (photo: Marna McDermott)

Among the many wonderful ways to experience the Peruvian Amazon, wildlife spotting from a kayak or boat ranks among our favorite. (photo: Lisa Holley)

A beautiful sunny day to take in Cerro Torre and the many peaks of Patagonia from the trails in Argentina. (photo: Lauren Campbell & Andrew Lane-Lawless)

Many of the species that live in the Galapagos Islands do not exist anywhere else on this Earth - like the Giant Galapagos Tortoise! (photo: Michelle Roll)

A bird's-eye view of snow-covered Villarica Volcano in Chile. (photo: Rex Niles)

Breathtaking views of Torres del Paine as seen from the W Trek route in Patagonia. (photo: Bill Harr)

The Amazon is full of adventure (and creatures!) big and small, and an extraordinary place to explore with the family. (photo: Marna McDermott)

A glass of wine with a view is never a bad idea, but there is something particularly special about the experience when overlooking the South African savannah. (photo Katie Fischer)

The Galapagos Marine Iguana is the only lizard in the world with the ability to live and forage at sea and is endemic to the Galapagos Archipelago. (photo: Robin White)

A sunset walk is the perfect way to take in the scenery and relax into the rhythm of South Africa. (photo: Tania Di Tommaso)

The road to Rainbow Mountain is colorful and chock-full of epic Andean views. (photo: Justin Schwantes)

That smile says it all - the Galapagos Islands were a hit! (photo: Julie Thure)

Its strikingly bright red head ensures the Magellanic Woodpecker is one of Patagonia's most well-known species. (photo: Robert Martin)