FULL TESTIMONIALS

“Syler Peralta-Ramos and Pangea Expeditions exceeded all of my expectations. I knew the trip would be great because Syler is an awesome person and photographer, but I had no idea that it would be one of the best trips of my life. Syler's expert leadership, guiding, and instruction created an environment that fostered intimate moments with the Katmai bears, a fun, cohesive, kind group, and a strong learning environment. From the moment he picked us up at the Kodiak airport until we said goodbye in Anchorage, Syler put his clients first serving us at every turn - from safety and ethical guiding in the field to one-on-one Lightroom instruction on the ship. His encouragement and kindness to me will never be forgotten and helped me as a photographer and person. Because we were on the ship and could maneuver in the bays at all times of day and all types of weather, we had ample time with bears and I'm coming away with images I dreamed of making. I am so thankful I went on this spring bear trip with Syler and can't recommend him enough. It truly was a life-changing experience.”

— Jen R. (Katmai)

“I had an absolute wonderful experience with Syler. From start to finish it was above and beyond. Syler is extremely knowledgeable and talented. I highly recommend spending the day with him. Even after the tour I have been able to reach out with questions and he has gotten back to me. So impressed that I'm going to Alaska with him!”

— Misti C. (Private Tetons/Yellowstone, Katmai)

“If you want to see bears, live and up close, Syler is your guy. The Katmai Spring Bear's Workshop trip was a trip of a lifetime and an awesome experience for my wife and I. We connected with Syler Peralta-Ramos and Pangea Expeditions through Instagram, he answered a bunch of our questions and gave us some references to follow-up with (all had glowing reviews of Syler).

While we didn't have much photography experience, Syler was great in getting me comfortable with using a high quality camera we rented for the trip. He was also patient and taught me the the basics with Adobe Lightroom. We came away with some great images that we'll be hanging in our home.

Syler is an expert in guiding the group through the Alaskan wilderness, getting us close (but safe) to the bears and he is there with you every step from greeting you at the airport to saying goodbyes at the airport. I felt safe and well looked after the entire time. We saw bears everyday we ventured out except one due to bad weather. Highly recommend if you like bears or wildlife photography to book a trip with Syler!”

— Michael M. (Katmai)

Syler is an exceptional individual, both professionally and personally. He has extensive knowledge of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Specifically, he is adept at getting his clients to the wildlife and nature they are interested in viewing. He is also an accomplished photographer with terrific attention to detail. Finally, I was particularly impressed with Syler's client service. Safety is a top priority. He also listens exceptionally well, and ensures his clients are treated with the utmost courtesy and respect. In sum, my two-day photo tour with Syler was among the most rewarding trips I have ever taken. I highly recommend booking him for your next photo tour, workshop or expedition.

— Steve W. (Private Multi-Day Teton/Yellowstone)

Hands-down the best wildlife photography tour operator in Jackson! Syler is a fantastic guide and top-notch photographer who knows the area and wildlife extremely well. He’s super personable and funny and will make your trip unforgettable. I did the Yellowstone full-day and photographed bison, black bears, moose, pronghorn, hawks, and got lucky with a rare geyser way better than Old Faithful.

I was able to rent pro equipment through his company, which sets Pangea Expeditions apart from most others. Go with this company––you won’t regret it!

— KJ B. (Private Yellowstone)

“This trip with Pangea Expeditions to photograph coastal brown bears in Alaska was the trip of a lifetime! We planned with Syler's help well in advance. While neither my husband nor I were avid photographers, (we rented camera equipment for the trip) we had an amazing experience and took some great photos, too!

We learned about these bears in the Katmai National Park and Reserve, photography, and photo editing. We ate well and, most importantly, saw bears in the wild with an excellent guide. We safely got closer to them, than I had imagined. We saw moms with cubs, bears nursing, bears mating, boys squaring up against each other in their "cowboy walk", we saw eagles, seals, and otters too. It was a truly amazing way to experience bears in the wild.

The tour does require some decent fitness to ford streams and wading to land from the skiff at high tide. It requires patience because nature is wild. Being willing to follow directions to keep oneself and others safe is paramount. We will be processing pictures for ages and we have memories for a lifetime. Thank you Pangea Expeditions and Syler!!”

— Laurie M. (Katmai)

“Syler was an amazing photography guide on my morning session in the Grand Tetons. His tour is with you and not a group. That is what makes Pangea Expeditions unique among all the tour operators in the area. My specialty is wildlife photography and Syler gave great tips and tricks to getting me in the right place for some beautiful landscapes. Syler was professional, considerate, and accommodating to my every need during the tour. After our session, Syler took the time to review a map of the area so I could go off on my own the next day to continue my photography. I highly recommend Pangea Expeditions for your next visit to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.”

— Lee S. (Private Tetons)

Wow. Syler makes sure you get on your way early enough to see the good stuff, and his vehicle (for groups of four or fewer, but he will get what he needs to take larger groups) will take you some places some vans might have to skip. We saw two bull moose practicing their mating fight, pronghorn in a remote meadow, bears gathering berries for their upcoming nap, and, most amazingly, a herd of elk watched over by an enormous buck. After we watched for a few minutes, Syler said: "I think these guys want to cross the road up here," and he got the vehicle in prime viewing position. Sure enough, after a minute or two, the herd began to move, becoming almost a stampede, and crossed the road just a little in front of us. Syler is extremely congenial with a broad knowledge of the natural and human history of the region. A bonus is that he is a professional photographer, and one of the chief photo editors for Thomas Mangelsen ("Images of Nature"). If an animal is too distant, he'll set up his telephoto camera/lens and display the animal live and close up on the camera screen (much better than shaky binoculars). Pretty cool, and he'll lend some of his amazing equipment to let you take some shots if your camera isn't up to it and send you some of the better results. Now -- not every tour will see every cool mammal in the Park; success can be seasonal. But if Syler can't find what he's looking for, that animal just flat doesn't want to be found. Very highly recommended; can't imagine having had a more positive experience.

Steven L. (Private Tetons)

“If you're even a little curious about Alaska and have a love for wildlife and landscape photography, look no further than Pangea Expeditions. From the moment I reached out to Syler to sign up—nearly a year in advance—I was met with incredibly helpful and thorough communication. The pre-trip emails were packed with useful information, including detailed packing tips, which made preparing for the adventure stress-free.

Syler went above and beyond. Even prior to our meeting date, Syler stayed in touch with us after we landed in Alaska, checked in regularly to see if we needed anything, and even met us at the airport in person. That level of care and attention set the tone for the entire experience.

The accommodations were comfortable and well thought out, the landscapes we visited were jaw-droppingly beautiful, and the wildlife encounters—especially the bears—were nothing short of magical. Syler was constantly available to help with photography questions and even offered one-on-one time to review shots and give tips, which was incredibly valuable. His knowledge of both photography and Alaska’s wildlife made the trip all the more enriching.

Even after returning home, Syler has remained accessible and supportive, offering help with post-processing and answering questions. His dedication doesn’t end when the trip does.

I wholeheartedly recommend Pangea Expeditions and any photography workshops Syler offers. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and I’m already dreaming of the next one!”

— Donielle W. (Private Tetons/Yellowstone, Katmai)