Chile: Total Solar Eclipse - Cancelled
The total solar eclipse will cross one of Chile’s most stunning regions – laden with lakes and volcanos. Explore Santiago and Valparaiso. See Volcan Villarrica, and soak in the healing mineral-rich hot springs of the Termas de Huife. Enjoy three nights at our comfortable tented camp directly in the “path of totality” of the total solar eclipse. Enjoy and optional extension to Patagonia.
Itinerary
Depart on overnight flights to Santiago, Chile, arriving at the beginning of the southern summer.
Arrive at Santiago's International airport and check in to our centrally located boutique hotel. Rest or explore the pedestrian area during the day and in the late afternoon we will meet for a walking tour of the city to learn more about Santiago and our colorful host country for the week. In the evening, head to the Observatorio Astronomico Andino for a welcome reception at one of the world's largest private observatories. Cumbres Vitacura (D)
Start the day with a morning lecture before heading to the Planetarium. Enjoy a private welcome and orient yourself with the southern sky with a special presentation. Spend the rest of the day exploring the best of Santiago: the pre-Columbian art museum, the bustling city market, and the home of famous Chilean poet and politician, Pablo Neruda. After a discussion with the curator, finish the day with a group dinner featuring traditional Chilean food, music, and exceptional local wines. Cumbres Vitacura (B,L,D)
Take a 90-minute ride to Valparaiso, one of the most colorful and historic port cities on the planet. Wander the narrow streets and ride the funiculars as you explore the unique city, After lunch and meeting with local artists, travel back through the wine region of the Casablanca Valley, Chile's most important grape-growing region, for a private tour and tasting at one of the finest wineries. Cumbres Vitacura (B,L)
After our morning flight to Temuco, arrive for lunch and a warm welcome at our magnificent eclipse campsite. Enjoy a sunset soak at the nearby Huife Hot Springs followed by a campfire and cookout at our camp under the stars. Explore the southern heavens through a guided talk with an expert astronomer. Lago Villarrica Campsite (B,L,D)
Take a drive through breathtaking surroundings, and witness the stunning panoramic lake views from the summit of Villarrica Volcano. After a picnic lunch, embark on a catamaran to explore one of the stunning lakes that makes this region famous. Upon returning to our campsite, prepare for the total solar eclipse with a series of interactive presentations followed by celestial wonder; tonight, the Geminids meteor shower will be happening in the skies above! Lago Villarrica Campsite (B,L,D)
Total eclipse day! Avoid any surrounding traffic and spend the day with eclipse experts, guest speakers, and members of the native communities from around the region. In the late afternoon, behold the mind blowing experience of over two minutes of totality, followed by a delicious Chilean farewell feast and fiesta at the campsite. Lago Villarrica Campsite (B,L,D)
After breakfast, depart the glorious lake region to catch your flight back to Santiago and connect to your final flights home, arriving in the United States the following day. (B)
From Santiago, we fly south to Torres del Paine, where our base for the next three days is the spectacularly situated Rio Serrano Hotel and Spa. Throughout our stay, we bask in unobstructed views of the Torres del Paine massif. On day excursions, we enjoy a walk through Magellanic Lenga forest, explore the Lago el Toro on a three-hour journey aboard an expedition vessel, and experience iconic Patagonian landscapes by hitting the famous Torres del Paine trails (all hiking levels available). In the evening we are treated to beautiful views of the southern constellations from one of the largest dark sky reserves in the world. Our farewell dinner will feature a lecture from a local geologist and pisco sours made from 12,000-year old ice! The next morning, we take in the final views of the idyllic Lake Nordenskjold and the Hornes of Paine before catching a flight back to Santiago to connect to flights back home, arriving in the U.S. the following morning.
Cost and Details
All prices quoted are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy.
Trip Cost
$6,999 per person, double occupancy
$1,325 single room supplement
Included
All activities as specified; Airport transfers on designated group dates and times; Internal flights; Transportation throughout; Accommodations as specified (or similar); Meals per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner): 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners; Bottled water on buses and during tours; Astronomer and other special guest speakers. Local guides, gratuities to local guide, driver, and for included group activities; Predeparture materials; Commonwealth Club representative with 20 travelers. Tour director throughout.
Not Included
International air; Meals not specified as included; Optional outings and gratuities for those outings; Alcoholic beverages beyond welcome and farewell dinners; Travel insurance (recommended, information will be sent upon registration); Items of a purely personal nature.
Optional Patagonia Extension:
$4,350 per person, double occupancy
$849 single-room supplement
Included in Extension
Round-trip air from Santiago to Torres del Paine; Airport transfers on designated group dates and times; Transportation throughout; All activities as specified; Accommodations as specified (or similar); Meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners; Bottled water on buses and during tours; Special guest speakers; Local guides; gratuities to local guide, driver, and for included group activities; Tour director throughout.
Not Included in Extension
International air; Optional outings and gratuities for those outings; Alcoholic beverages beyond welcome and farewell dinners; Travel insurance (recommended, information will be sent upon registration); Items of a purely personal nature.
To enjoy this program, travelers must be in overall good health, able to walk several miles a day (on average), and able to stand for several hours during touring. Participants should be comfortable walking on uneven surfaces such as dirt paths and cobblestone streets, and getting on and off tour buses without assistance. Tents at our eclipse campsite have beds on platforms above ground and their own electricity. There are no sink or bathroom facilities in the individual sleeping tents. Private bathrooms and showers for the campsite are located a short walk from each tent. There will also be common areas for lectures, workshops, games and meals.
Educational Highlights
A journalist, author, and umbraphile, David has spent most of his career in public radio as a science reporter for NPR, WBUR, and PRI's The World. As an eclipse enthusiast, he has traveled the world to witness seven total solar eclipses, from the Americas to Europe, Asia, and Australia. His popular TED talk about eclipse chasing has been viewed more than 1.9 million times. David’s passion inspired his award-winning 2017 book, American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World, the true story of a total eclipse that crossed the Wild West in 1878. His first book, The Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature, won the Colorado Book Award and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. David is now writing a history of Mars, a book that will explore how America’s love affair with the Red Planet propelled science fiction and launched the space age.
Terms and Conditions
The Commonwealth Club (CWC) has contracted with Insider Expeditions (IE) to organize this tour. Below is a summary of our terms and conditions. Please review the full terms and conditions on the CWC website.
Reservations:
A $1,000 per person deposit, along with a completed and signed Reservation Form, will reserve a place for participants on this program. The balance of the trip is due 150 days (5 months) prior to departure.
Eligibility:
We require membership to the Commonwealth Club to travel with us. People who live outside of the Bay Area may purchase a Worldwide membership. To learn about membership types and to purchase a membership, visit our membership page or call (415)597-6720.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
Notification of cancellation must be received in writing. At the time we receive your written cancellation, the following penalties will apply:
- $1000 deposit: Non-refundable
- 150-90 days prior to departure: 50% of tour price
- 90 days or less prior to departure: 100% tour price
Tour pricing is based on the number of participants. Tour can also be cancelled due to low enrollment. Neither CWC nor IE accepts liability for cancellation penalties related to domestic or international airline tickets purchased in conjunction with the tour.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance:
We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation and baggage insurance through a company of your choice. Information will be sent upon registration and can be viewed at the Ripcord website.
Medical Information:
Participation in this program requires that you be in good health and able to walk several miles each day. The “What to Expect” outlines what is required. If you have any concerns see your doctor on the advisability of you joining this program. It is essential that persons with any medical problems and related dietary restrictions make them known to us well before departure.
Itinerary Changes & Trip Delay:
While we endeavor to operate all trips as described, we reserve the right to change the trip itinerary. We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events, it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control, refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or nonrefundable flights.
Claims & Complaints:
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating in any way to these Terms and Conditions, to the Responsibility clause, to the brochure, website, or any other information relating in any way to the trip, or to the trip itself, shall be settled solely and exclusively by binding arbitration in Washington, DC, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then existent. By submitting the deposit, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants and accepts the terms and conditions of this contract.
Limitations of Liability:
CWC and IE, its Owners, Agents, and Employees act only as the agent for any transportation carrier, hotel, ground operator, or other suppliers of services connected with this program (“other providers”), and the other providers are solely responsible and liable for providing their respective services. CWC and IE shall not be held liable for (A) any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such other provider, and (B) any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders, or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. The participant waives any claim against CWC/IE for any such loss, damage, injury, or death. By registering for the trip, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical, or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants. CWC/IE shall not be liable for any air carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket to or from the departure city. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the traveler. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the passengers.
Eclipse Visibility:
The CWC and IE can not guarantee that the total solar eclipse will be visible, given weather conditions or other unforeseen natural events.
Registration
Commonwealth Club of California-CST# 2096889-40 AHI: CST Registration No. 2028271-20. Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST-33300 Iowa Seller of Travel No. 520 Ohio Seller of Travel Reg. No. 8889139. Washington State Seller of Travel Reg. No. 601-820-781. PARTICIPATING AIRLINES-all IATA and ARC Member Carriers.
