2020 Argentina & Brazil Total Solar Eclipse Tour
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Argentina & Brazil Total Solar Eclipse Tour

December 6 - 18, 2020

Total Solar Eclipse Tour Destination: Argentina & Brazil

argentina total solar eclipse 2020TravelQuest last journeyed to these two beautiful countries in November 1994 to experience the total solar eclipse of the Sun. A quarter-century later, we look forward to once again sharing some of our favorite highlights, from the beaches and samba rhythms of Rio de Janeiro to the cosmopolitan elegance of Buenos Aires to some of the world’s largest waterfalls at Iguazu – which you’ll view from both Argentina and Brazil on platfo ...Show more

Highlights

  • Enjoy a 12-night adventure featuring three nights each at handpicked hotels and resorts in Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, Bariloche and Buenos Aires.
  • Experience nearly two minutes of darkness at our expertly chosen viewing site during the December 14 total eclipse of the Sun.
  • Discover the magic of Rio from our hotel fronting Copacabana Beach, with the opportunity to visit Sugarloaf Mountain and the iconic hilltop statue of Christ the Redeemer.
  • View magnificent Iguazu Falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides – and on an amazing powerboat excursion into the waterfalls.
  • Stroll the grand avenues of Buenos Aires, visiting historic and cultural sites, as well as an authentic tango performance.
  • As an added bonus, take a scenic river cruise on our optional pre-tour excursion to Brazil’s Amazon region.

When you land in Rio de Janeiro (airport code: GIG), our TravelQuest representative is on hand to arrange the easy transfer to your hotel. For the balance of the day, take a stroll on Copacabana beach – right outside your door – and explore this justly celebrated city on your own.

DATE(S): Sunday, December 6, 2020

MEALS: Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hilton Rio De Janeiro Copacabana

  

Our first full day in Rio begins with a train ride up to the top of Corcovado Mountain to take in remarkable views from the foot of the massive Christ the Redeemer statue – a gift from the French government that since 1931 has been an instantly recognizable symbol of the city. From there, we’re off to another stunning overlook at Dona Marta, which has panoramic views of the mountains, islands and beaches that create Rio’s spectacular setting. Our scenic drive continues through the historic Santa Teresa neighborhood, with a stop at Ruins Park for more superb vistas, followed by a short walk to the famous tiled Selarón Steps in the bohemian Lapa neighborhood. After lunch, relax back at the hotel or spend some more time exploring on your own.

DATE(S): Monday, December 7, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch

ACCOMMODATION: Hilton Rio De Janeiro Copacabana

 

Today our travels around Rio blend the old and the new. We first take the tram up Sugarloaf Mountain, eventually reaching 1,300 ft (400 m) above sea level, where you enjoy great views of Guanabara Bay and Rio’s Pacific beaches, lined with apartment towers and hotels. Then we travel to the historic city center and tour the new harbor built for the Summer Olympics of 2016. After lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, relax at the hotel or follow your curiosity to the beaches, cafes and shopping precincts of Rio.

DATE(S): Tuesday, December 8, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hilton Rio De Janeiro Copacabana

This morning we drive to the airport for our flight to Iguazu in the south of Brazil. Then it’s a quick transfer into renowned Iguazu National Park, where our historic hotel for the next three nights is just steps from lookouts offering magnificent views of the falls. Enjoy an afternoon by the pool or exploring the hotel’s beautiful grounds.

DATE(S): Wednesday, December 9, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

  

Head out after breakfast on a half-mile (1 km) walk through the Brazilian side of Iguazu National Park to view the breathtaking natural phenomenon at its heart. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, the falls span some 1.75 miles (3 km) where the Iguazu River drops vertically more than 260 ft (80 m) in a series of stunning cataracts. Your walk can easily stretch out to two or three hours as you take in the many overlooks above and at the bottom of the thundering water. And keep an eye out for colorful lizards and butterflies, along with exotic flowers and lush tropical vegetation at every turn. Iguazu – “big water” in the local Guarani language – is like no other place on Earth.

DATE(S): Thursday, December 10, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Now it’s time to get an entirely new angle on Iguazu – during a full-day visit on the Argentine side of the falls. Crossing the Brazil-Argentina border by motor coach (with some brief immigration formalities), we ride a scenic railway into the park, then walk a nature trail just above the fast-moving Iguazu River. Our destination is the most dramatic section of Iguazu, the Devil’s Throat, where you can look right down into the massive rush of water cascading over the canyon walls. From that lifetime highlight, you head straight on to another: After lunch we change into our swimsuits and then drive through rainforest to the river’s edge, where we board specially outfitted inflatable powerboats for an excursion to the underside of the falls. Starting out in calm waters, we cruise slowly upriver into the roiling base of Iguazu, snapping photos – and getting marvelously wet – as our boat passes through swirling clouds of spray. Don’t worry, the tropical daytime temperatures combined with the river’s warm waters keep things comfortable. The thrill of passing right through the world’s largest waterfalls is an experience you’ll never forget.

DATE(S): Friday, December 11, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch

ACCOMMODATION: Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Today we fly from Iguazu via Buenos Aires to the resort town of San Carlos de Bariloche, in Argentina’s pristine Patagonia wilderness. Our hotel offers excellent views of the nearest mountain peaks, Cerro Lopez and Tronador, while the surrounding landscape is dotted with beautiful glacial lakes such as Moreno and Nahuel Huapi.

DATE(S): Saturday, December 12, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Llao Llao Hotel & Resort

This morning we venture into the wilds around Barlioche, exploring the shores of Nahuel Huapi on winding roads and trails beneath the snowcapped peaks. After lunch, we visit an Alpine-style village founded by German and Swiss settlers, where you’ll find shops selling locally made crafts, outdoor apparel and artisanal chocolates. In the evening, join us for an expert briefing on tomorrow’s total solar eclipse.

DATE(S): Sunday, December 13, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Llao Llao Hotel & Resort

Rising before the Sun, we’re off to our specially selected eclipse-viewing site, where you can look forward to experiencing standing 1 minute and 52 seconds in the Moon’s shadow. A great day concludes back at our hotel, where we gather for dinner and a toast to our unforgettable adventure.

Argentina Weather Prospects for Total Solar Eclipse Viewing

by TravelQuest Eclipse Meteorologist Jay Anderson

The 2020 total eclipse comes in the Southern Hemisphere summer, when Argentina enjoys generous amounts of sunshine – in fact, the most of any location along the eclipse track. TravelQuest has selected a viewing site that not only capitalizes on the favorable climatology, but also takes advantage of the local terrain to maximize our chances for a successful eclipse experience. From 2000 through 2018, our site was clouded over only twice during this part of December. In thirteen of those years, the days were completely sunny; in the other four years, the area saw only thin cloud, through which an eclipse would have still been visible. December temperatures in Argentina are pleasantly warm. What’s more, the Sun will be almost directly overhead at the time of the eclipse – and our viewing site is protected from the strong winds for which Patagonia is well known.

DATE(S): Monday, December 14, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Llao Llao Hotel & Resort

After breakfast, say farewell to the Patagonian wilderness and transfer to Bariloche airport for our flight to Argentina’s elegant capital, Buenos Aires.

DATE(S): Tuesday, December 15, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: InterContinental Hotel Buenos Aires

    

Your city tour begins with visits to some of its most intriguing neighborhoods – including La Boca, with its colorfully painted houses and cafes, and San Telmo, whose bustling market is filled with local gods, souvenirs and foods where we will sample some of the region’s famed “open leg” empanadas. Then we’re off to the historic center of Buenos Aires, with its broad, European-style avenues and famed obelisk. We make the obligatory visit to Recoleta Cemetery to see the tomb of Eva Perón, celebrated in popular culture as “Evita”. We also visit Puerto Madero, the former port of Buenos Aires, which has been transformed into a fashionable neighborhood boasting luxury hotels, office and condo towers, and a yacht club.

DATE(S): Wednesday, December 16, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: InterContinental Hotel Buenos Aires

  

After breakfast we head north into the surrounding province of Buenos Aires, leaving the urban streets behind as we enter a landscape of meandering rivers and lush vegetation – home to more than 200 species of birds. Boarding a wooden ship, you’re immersed in the area’s natural beauty as you encounter villagers and get a taste of their island lifestyle – including the daily visits of the lancha almacen, or grocery boat. After a leisurely lunch, we head back to Buenos Aires to relax before our farewell dinner featuring a live tango performance – a must for any trip to one of the world’s most gracious and sophisticated cities.

DATE(S): Thursday, December 17, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: InterContinental Hotel Buenos Aires

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel, then we’ll arrange the quick transfer to Buenos Aires airport (code: EZE) for your journey onward.

DATE(S): Friday, December 18, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast

Optional Add-ons

If you’d prefer to arrive in Rio de Janiero a night or two ahead of your TravelQuest eclipse tour, we’re reserving a limited number of rooms at the Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, conveniently located on the avenue that overlooks famed Copacabana beach.


Pricing

Cost: $168 USD per person, per night double occupancy; $318 USD per person, per night single occupancy. Rates include airport-hotel arrival transfer in Rio de Janeiro, as well as daily breakfast and taxes.


Day 1 - Manaus, Brazil

When you arrive at Manaus International airport (code: MAO), you’re met by our TravelQuest representative, who arranges the easy transfer to our eco-resort hotel.

DATE(S): Tuesday, December 1, 2020

MEALS: No Meals

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotel Tropical Manaus


Day 2 - Manaus - Rio Negro Cruise

We take advantage of this morning to discover Manaus, learning about the large-scale rubber cultivation that made Brazil one of the world’s richest countries during the 19th century. After lunch, we board our river cruise ship (either the Amazon Clipper Premium or the MV Otter) to begin our journey up the Rio Negro. And then in the evening, we set off from the ship in boats to explore remote tributaries, accompanied by an otherworldly chorus of Amazon wildlife.

DATE(S): Wednesday, December 2, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: The Amazon Clipper Premium or the MV Otter


Day 3 - Rio Negro Cruising

Rising early, we once again head out in canoes, scanning the trees along the river’s edge for a diverse array of tropical birds, including parrots and toucans. Later, join us for a rainforest walk, with more chances to spot exotic wildlife while breathing in the scents of jungle flowers, succulent fruits and towering hardwood trees. Enjoy a swim off the ship before lunch, then relax on deck as we navigate through Anavilhanas National Park, one of the world’s largest freshwater archipelagos. Once again, our canoes enable us to venture deep into the labyrinth of waterways, encountering an amazing profusion of flowers, birds and aquatic life.

DATE(S): Thursday, December 3, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: The Amazon Clipper Premium or the MV Otter


Day 4 - Rio Negro Cruising

This morning you can have a close encounter (safely) with the famed piranha and other river fish. Next we visit a remote Amazonian village, where the friendly residents introduce you to fruits such as cupuaçu and tapereba, as well as the many local species of palm trees, including açaí, tucumã and pupunha. As our indigenous hosts prepare manioc flour, they talk about their way of life, including their health practices and how they educate their children. Then after a lunch of local specialties, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the river’s dark waters from one of the few white-sand beaches along its banks.

DATE(S): Friday, December 4, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: The Amazon Clipper Premium or the MV Otter


Day 5 - Rio Negro Cruising - Fly to Rio de Janiero

Today we explore Lake Janauari Ecological Park, an excellent place to spot seldom-seen Amazonian wildlife and perhaps encounter one of the region’s giant Victoria Regia water lilies. Then we cruise on to the famed Meeting of the Waters – the confluence of two of the world’s great rivers, the Amazon and the Negro. Arriving at midday back in Manaus, we lunch on regional cuisine before heading to the airport for our flight to Rio de Janeiro and a quick transfer to the Hotel Hilton Copacabana.

DATE(S): Saturday, December 5, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hilton Rio De Janeiro Copacabana


Day 6 - Rio de Janiero - Beginning of Eclipse Trip

After an enjoyable day exploring Rio on your own, join fellow eclipse travelers for dinner and the beginning of your remarkable 12-night eclipse tour.

DATE(S): Sunday, December 6, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hilton Rio De Janeiro Copacabana


Pricing

$1,885 USD per person, based on two people sharing a room. $3,465 USD per person for single occupancy.

Includes

  • Five nights land and cruise accommodations as per the itinerary
  • All activities, admissions and meals per the itinerary, including coffee and water at meals
  • All airport and hotel transfers as outlined in the itinerary
  • Services of an English-speaking guide

NOT INCLUDED

  • Your flight into Manaus, Brazil (Airport code: MAO) on December 1, 2020
  • Group flight December 5, from Manaus – Rio de Janeiro. This flight will be arranged by TravelQuest. Pricing details will be provided in 2020, when this flight cost will be added to your invoice
  • Any meals, activities and beverages beyond those mentioned in itinerary

All advance payments become non-refundable after June 10, 2020.

TRIP LEVEL

Level 2 – Easy/Moderate – short to medium walks over sometimes hilly terrain, in easygoing to moderate travel conditions, to elevations of 3,000 ft (915 m).

At TravelQuest, we want to be sure you choose a trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness.

Important

  • TravelQuest, working with our partners, makes every effort to follow the published itinerary. However, please keep in mind that it is subject to change depending on weather and other local conditions.
  • Viewing a total solar eclipse is particularly weather-dependent, and as such, we can offer no guarantee that local conditions will cooperate.

Prices are per person in US Dollars based on the number of people in a room.

Double

$8,880

Single

$12,380

Important:

  • TravelQuest, working with our partners, makes every effort to follow the published itinerary. However, please keep in mind that it is subject to change depending on weather and other local conditions.
  • On-tour group flights – from Rio de Janeiro to Iguazu on December 9, from Iguazu to Bariloche on December 12, and from Bariloche to Buenos Aires on December 15 – are not included in the tour price. The additional cost for these flights will be added to your invoice in 2020.
  • Please note that viewing a solar eclipse is particularly weather-dependent, and therefore we can offer no guarantee that local conditions will cooperate.

Includes

  • 12 nights accommodation as noted in the itinerary
  • Arrival (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Airport code GIG) and departure (Buenos Aires, Argentina – Code EZE) airport transfers as per the dates of the tour
  • Private motor coach transportation throughout your journey
  • All meals as noted in itinerary, including coffee, tea and bottled water
  • All activities and admission fees as noted in itinerary
  • Services of a local English-speaking guide and a TravelQuest trip leader
  • Services of a Trip Astronomer
  • Gratuities for local guides while on tour
  • Special December 14 eclipse day activities
  • Eclipse viewing safety glasses
  • One-of-a-kind digital 2020 eclipse e-sourcebook

Not Included

  • Air travel to Rio de Janeiro (airport code: GIG) and from Buenos Aires (airport code: EZE)
  • Meals and activities not specified in the itinerary
  • Airport baggage handling
  • Alcoholic beverages and drinks other than coffee, tea and water
  • On-tour group flights – from Rio de Janeiro to Iguazu on December 9, from Iguazu to Bariloche on December 12, and from Bariloche to Buenos Aires on December 15 – are not included in the tour price. The additional cost for these flights will be added to your invoice in 2020.
  • Items of a personal nature including highly-recommended travel insurance, passport and visa fees, laundry service, souvenirs, etc.
  • Travel Insurance

Payments & Terms

New payment terms effective July 8, 2020.

  • An advance payment of $1,800 USD per person, along with the completed reservation form, are required to secure your reservation. (After January 10, 2020, initial payment becomes $3,800 per person).
  • A second advance payment in the amount of $2,000 USD per person is due by January 10, 2020.
  • Final payment is due by September 28, 2020.

Cancellation Terms

Cancellations must be in writing, by email, fax or letter. New cancellation terms effective July 8, 2020.

  • All advance payments, less a $600 USD per person service fee, are refundable until January 10, 2020.
  • From January 11 to August 28, 2020, all advance payments, less a $2,200 USD per person service fee, are refundable.
  • All advance payments become non-refundable after August 28, 2020.
  • Air cancellation terms are additional.

Traveler Health

We at TQ want to be sure you find the trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Prior to submitting their booking, it is the responsibility of each traveler on the booking to thoroughly read the itinerary, acquire and understand all pertinent medical advice to determine whether or not they are of an appropriate physical and healthy state to undertake the trip. At minimum, participants must be able to climb into and out of buses, vans and trains without assistance, keep up with the pace of the trip, and carry their own luggage. If you have any questions about your trip’s itinerary or its level of difficulty, please contact us prior to booking.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance protects you from unexpected “what ifs” on your travels: What if your bags go missing? What if you have to cancel? What if you need medical assistance? At TravelQuest International, we highly recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help secure you and your trip investment against the unexpected. You can purchase this insurance on your own or contact our friends at Travelex, who are familiar with our trips and offer a selection of coverage options to suit your needs. To be eligible for the waiver of pre-existing medical condition exclusion, Travelex plans must be purchased within 21 days from the time you make your initial deposit to TravelQuest. Otherwise, you may purchase a plan anytime prior to departure.

For more information on these plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex Insurance Services direct at 1-800-228-9792, and reference location number 03-6043.

TravelEx Insurance

A Note About Fuel

In the uncertain, often volatile global oil market, it is difficult to predict long-term fuel costs and, more specifically, costs at the time of the trip. Our prices are based on the prevailing fuel rates at the time of brochure publication, which is well in advance of departure. While we will do everything possible to maintain our prices, if fuel costs increase significantly at or before the time of the trip, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge.

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