Chile Eclipse | Total Solar Eclipse Tour 2020 - TravelQuest International
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Wonders of Chile Total Solar Eclipse Tour

December 6 - 15, 2020

Eclipse Tour Destination: Chile

From the southern mountains and glaciers of Patagonia, to the renowned vineyards of the Central Valley, to the desolate beauty of the Atacama Desert in the north, Chile offers a remarkable range of travel experiences. Best of all, December – early summer south of the Equator – is the perfect time to visit.

TravelQuest invites you to join us on a unique Chilean adventure coinciding with the total solar eclipse on December 14, 2020. Setting out from the country ...Show more

Highlights

  • Two nights in Chile’s capital city of Santiago
  • Spend three nights in the famed Atacama Desert with prime dark-sky stargazing opportunities
  • VIP tour of the Operations Support Facility for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory
  • Visit Chile’s picturesque Lakes District with eclipse viewing planned from the shore of Lake Villarrica
  • Optional post-eclipse add-on tour to stunning Torres del Paine National Park

When you land in Santiago (airport code: SCL), your TravelQuest representative is on hand to arrange the easy transfer to our hotel. For the balance of the day, you’re free to relax and explore Chile’s intriguing capital on your own.

DATE(S): Sunday, December 6, 2020

MEALS: Meals on your own

ACCOMMODATION: Marina Las Condes Hotel or similar

After breakfast, our local expert escorts you on a tour around Santiago, a dynamic and cosmopolitan city set at the foot of the Andes. Highlights include the Plaza de la Constitución, bordered by the national palace, Le Moneda, and various ministry buildings, all built in the Spanish Colonial style. Discover the Plaza de Armas, with its impressive neoclassical cathedral dating from the 18th century, as well as Santa Lucía Hill, which has ornamental fountains and staircases leading to an overlook with panoramic views of the city. Lunch is at Santiago’s historic marketplace, the Mercado Central, famed for its seafood. Then return to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon, followed by dinner on your own.

DATE(S): Monday, December 7, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch

ACCOMMODATION: Marina Las Condes Hotel or similar

We’re up early this morning and transfer to board our flight north to the high desert mining town of Calama, gateway to the Atacama Desert. Heading into the arid landscape by private coach, we stop in the village of Toconao to see the 18th-century church of San Lucas, with its distinctive bell tower, along with the artisan’s market in the town square. Next we journey to the Atacama salt flats, a vast expanse of about 3,150 sq km (1,200 sq mi), where the extraordinarily dry air makes the vistas spectacular. Here and there across the salt plain, subterranean lakes emerge through the crust in small ponds that are home to a variety of waterfowl, including flamingos, Andean gulls, geese and coots. The largest and most accessible is Chaxa Lagoon within Los Flamencos National Reserve, famed as a breeding ground for Chilean and Andean flamingos. We then journey on to our home for the next three nights, San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis-like village at an elevation of 7,900 ft (2,408 m) above sea level. Despite its stark setting, San Pedro has a charming and relaxed atmosphere, its picturesque streets lined with colourful adobe buildings that house a wonderful selection of shops, restaurants and cantinas. With only about 5,000 inhabitants and no significant city lights, the village is also an ideal base for stargazing. After dinner, join our TravelQuest astronomer for your first night of scanning the skies from the hotel grounds.

DATE(S): Tuesday, December 8, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Tierra Atacama or similar

Today we travel back in time along the San Pedro River, discovering early traces of the Atacama civilization at the 2,400-year-old archaeological site of Tulor. Returning through the Ayllu de Coyo, enjoy superb views of the Pukará de Quitor, a 13th-century fortress. Your day ends in beautiful Moon Valley, one of Chile’s most renowned national parks, where the enormous dunes and dramatically eroded rock formations create a stunning landscape in which to share the sunset views.

   

DATE(S): Wednesday, December 9, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Tierra Atacama or similar

Heading west toward the town of Matancilla, we reach the Domeyko mountains and Rainbow Valley, whose multi-hued rock formations were created over many millennia through the impact of environmental forces on their high mineral content. After a scenic hike, we carry on to the town of Hierbas Buenas, where a natural shelter of compacted volcanic ash once provided refuge to itinerant farmers traveling in caravans – and where you can examine petroglyphs carved into the soft stone by the area’s ancient inhabitants. Back at our hotel, enjoy a relaxing afternoon on your own, then join us for our final night of stargazing from the hotel grounds.

DATE(S): Thursday, December 10, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Tierra Atacama or similar

Our destination this morning is the Operations Support Facility for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory. We’re welcomed by our expert hosts to the support facility, including the laboratories and antenna control room. Due to the high elevation of the facility, visitors are not permitted to tour ALMA’s telescopes on Chajnantor Plateau. But in fact, most of the action takes place in the operations area, which serves as the brain for ALMA’s telescopic eyes. With luck, your visit will include chances to see antennas undergoing maintenance, as well as close-up views of their transport machinery in action. After a late afternoon check-in at our hotel, enjoy dinner in Antofagasta, a seaside city at the desert’s edge.

ALMA Array Telescope

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a collection of 66 high-precision radio telescopes situated atop the arid Chajnantor Plateau in the Chilean Andes. Thanks to its elevation – more than 16,000 ft (5,000 m) above sea level – ALMA scans remarkably clear skies, allowing professional observers to investigate a wide range of significant astronomical phenomena. The array is one of our best tools for studying the earliest stars and galaxies that formed in the universe over 13 billion years ago, during a period known as the Cosmic Dark Ages. Because their light has traveled for so long through the expanding universe, it has been stretched (or red-shifted) into the millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths that ALMA is designed to observe. But the array isn’t only used to study distant objects; it is also ideal for investigating newborn stars and young planets within our more immediate cosmic neighborhood. Even though visible light around these nascent objects is obscured by gas and dust, ALMA can reveal details that would otherwise remain shrouded in mystery.

DATE(S): Friday, December 11, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Enjoy Antofagasta

After breakfast, we head to Antofagasta airport for our flight to Temuco, then wind our way through the Chilean Lake District toward the imposing volcano that overlooks beautiful Lake Villarrica – our home base for viewing the December 14 eclipse.

 

 

 

DATE(S): Saturday, December 12, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Enjoy Park Lake Villarrica

Today’s explorations begin in the stunning landscapes around Lake Villarrica. On the eastern shore, we will stand at the foot of the majestic, snow-capped Villarrica Volcano, where you can photograph the nearby lake, lava valleys and native flora and fauna. Later, join us for a journey into the lifeways of the region’s indigenous Mapuché culture in the community of Curarrehue, where we will learn of their language and customs, and sample the local flavor with a light lunch. After dinner, join us for an expert briefing on tomorrow’s total solar eclipse.

DATE(S): Sunday, December 13, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Enjoy Park Lake Villarrica

After breakfast we’re off to our specially selected eclipse-viewing site, where you can look forward to experiencing 2 minutes and 7 seconds in the Moon’s shadow. A great day concludes back at our hotel with a farewell dinner, and toast to our unforgettable adventure together.  

Weather prospects for eclipse viewing at Villarrica

by TravelQuest Eclipse Meteorologist Jay Anderson

The 2020 total eclipse comes in the middle of Chile’s summer, when sunshine is abundant, and precipitation tends to be light. Airport observations near Villarrica at the time of the eclipse show clear skies or only scattered clouds on two-thirds of December days. These findings are mirrored by 18 years of downward-looking satellite images, which indicate that even on cloudy days there are often openings through which it’s possible to view the sun. Our eclipse viewing also benefits from the influence of Lake Villarrica, which cools the surrounding landscape and restricts the formation of convective clouds that typically form from daytime heating.  The eclipse itself will increase our chances of experiencing favorable weather, as the Moon’s shadow approaches, the temperature drops, helping to dissipate any clouds that could obstruct our view.

DATE(S): Monday, December 14, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Hotel Enjoy Park Lake Villarrica

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel, then make the transfer to Temuco airport (code: ZCO) for your journey onward. Or continue with your TravelQuest to experience our special add-on program in Patagonia’s famed Torres del Paine National Park.

DATE(S): Tuesday, December 15, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast

Optional Add-ons

If you’d prefer to arrive in Santiago a night or two ahead of your TravelQuest eclipse tour, we’re reserving a limited number of standard rooms at the Marina Las Condes Hotel (or similar).


Pricing

Cost: $110 USD per person, per night double occupancy; $200 USD per person, per night single occupancy. Rates include airport-hotel arrival transfer in Santiago, as well as daily breakfast and taxes.


Day 1 - Villarrica - Punta Arenas, Chile

Bid farewell to your fellow eclipse travelers and transfer to Temuco Airport for the flight to Punta Arenas, gateway to Chile’s famed Patagonia region, where your TravelQuest representative will get you quickly to our hotel for the night.

DATE(S): Tuesday, December 15, 2020

MEALS: Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: Cabo de Hornos, Punta Arenas or similar


Day 2 - Magdelana Island - Puerto Natales

After breakfast and checkout, we drive to the pier and board the ferry that will carry us into the Strait of Magellan. On Magdalena Island, home to a colony of some 50,000 Magellanic Penguins, enjoy superb photo opportunities as these fascinating creatures dive and swim in the sea, then tend to their families on shore. Returning to Punta Arenas, we head next to Torres del Paine National Park, stopping en route to visit Milodon Cave, where 19th-century explorers discovered the remains of a prehistoric Milodon – an extinct genus of ground sloth that used to inhabit this region. Our final destination is the windswept fishing village of Puerto Natales, near the entrance to the park.

  

DATE(S): Wednesday, December 16, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: Costa Australis Hotel or similar


Day 3 - Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers - Torres del Paine

This morning we drive to the wharf at Puerto Bories to begin our boat cruise along beautiful Ultima Esperanza Fjord to Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. The three-hour journey includes breathtaking views of both Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers and icebergs – and if we’re lucky, chances to spot sea lions and cormorants. Landing at Port Toro, we make a short trek to the foot of the massive Serrano Glacier. En route back to Puerto Natales, we stop for a traditional Patagonian lunch before driving on to our hotel within the rugged surroundings of Torres del Paine National Park.

DATE(S): Thursday, December 17, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hosteria las Torres or similar


Day 4 - Torres del Paine National Park

   

After breakfast, we set out on a full day’s adventure in Torres del Paine, beginning with a scenic drive through the eastern section of the park to take in remarkable views at Laguna Amarga and Laguna Azul. The latter is home to many species of water birds, as well as condor and other raptors. Both lakes attract an abundance of animal life, including guanaco: a camelid native to South America that is closely related to the llama. Throughout your journey, there are incredible views of the Paine Massif mountain range, ranked by many travelers among the most beautiful on Earth, along with waterfalls on the Paine river and shifting perspectives of the three granite towers for which Torres del Paine is named.

In the afternoon, enjoy a hike from Laguna Amarga ranger station to see the herds of guanaco that typically graze along the trail. As you walk through the pristine landscape, keep an eye out for foxes, condors and flightless rheas. We also include an intriguing glimpse of the area’s human history: pictographs etched into large rock formations by the indigenous Aónikenk people. After such a rich and varied day, there are many experiences to share over dinner back at our hotel.

DATE(S): Friday, December 18, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: Hosteria las Torres or similar


Day 5 - Torres del Paine - Punta Arenas

This morning we visit Lake Nordenskjöld, named for the Scandinavian polar explorer Otto Nordenskjöld. Once again, the views are incredible as you walk part of the famous “W” Trail stretching from the lake’s north shore to the glaciers and snow-covered slopes of Monte Almirante Nieto, which anchors the southeastern corner of the Paine Massif. Then, after a hearty Patagonian lunch in Puerto Natales, we head back to Punta Arenas for our farewell dinner and final evening together.

DATE(S): Saturday, December 19, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

ACCOMMODATIONS: Cabo de Hornos, Punta Arenas or similar


Day 6 - Travels Onward

After breakfast, transfer to Punta Arenas airport (PUQ) for your journey homeward.

DATE(S): Sunday, December 20, 2020

MEALS: Breakfast


Pricing

$3780 USD per person, based on two people sharing a room. $4680 USD per person for single occupancy.

Includes

  • 5 nights hotel accommodation
  • All meals including coffee and water, activities and admissions as described in itinerary
  • Private chartered bus transportation
  • Services of an English-speaking guide

NOT INCLUDED

  • Flights to and from Punta Arenas, Chile
  • Any meals, activities and beverages beyond those mentioned in itinerary

Payment in full due with final payment for eclipse tour. Cancellation terms are the same as eclipse tour.

TRIP LEVEL

Easy/Moderate – Short to medium walks over uneven hilly terrain – including dunes – in easygoing to rugged travel conditions, with varying elevations up to 8,000 ft (2,410 m). We at TQ want to be sure you find the trip that best suits your interests and level of fitness. Please email or call if you have any questions regarding the itinerary.

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 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

$8,380

Single

$9,880

IMPORTANT:

  • On-Tour group flights Santiago-Calama on December 8 and for Antofagasta-Temuco on December 12 are not included in this tour cost. The additional cost for these flights will be added to your invoice in 2020.
  • All tour prices, taxes and airfares quoted in this brochure are based on tariffs, costs and United States dollar exchange rates that were in effect at the time of publication. Consequently, prices herein are subject to change. Due to fluctuations in global oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your tour fee. You will be advised of details and costs prior to departure.
  • Viewing a solar eclipse is particularly weather-dependent, and as such, we can offer no guarantee that local conditions will cooperate.

 


Includes

  • 9 nights accommodation as noted in the itinerary
  • Arrival (Santiago, Chile) and departure (Temuco, Chile) 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 an English-speaking guide and a TravelQuest trip leader
  • Services of a Trip Astronomer
  • Gratuities for local guides while on tour
  • Eclipse viewing safety glasses
  • One-of-a-kind digital 2020 eclipse e-sourcebook

Not Included

  • International flights into Santiago, Chile (airport code: SCL) and from Temuco, Chile (airport code: ZCO)
  • 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: Santiago-Calama (December 8), Antofagasta-Temuco on (December 12). The additional cost for these flights will be added to each invoice prior to final payment in 2020.
  • Items of a personal nature including highly-recommended travel insurance, passport and visa fees, laundry service, souvenirs, etc

Payments & Terms

New payment terms effective July 8, 2020.

  • An advance payment of $1,600 USD per person, along with the completed reservation form, are required to secure your reservation. (After January 4, 2020, initial payment will be $3,500 per person).
  • A second payment in the amount of $1,900 USD per person is due by January 4, 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 $650 USD per person service fee, are refundable until January 3, 2020.
  • From January 4 to August 28, 2020, all advance payments, less a $2,000 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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