December 2020 Eclipse tour with Hilary Bradt

Day 1
Depart the UK this evening on overnight flights to Argentina, arriving into Buenos Aires in the morning. No meals are included today other than those served on your international flight.

Day 2
Arrive into Buenos Aires this morning where the group is met from the airport and driven to the hotel where rooms are ready for you to check in. You have some time to settle into your room, before this afternoon you are collected by your local guide and taken on a tour through the centre of Buenos Aires, past the city’s main highlights.

Day 3
This morning you are collected from your hotel and driven to Buenos Aires domestic airport in time for your flights to the Argentine Lake District town of Bariloche. On arrival into Bariloche your local guide travels with you via the beautiful ‘route of the seven lakes’ to San Martín de Los Andes, your base for the next three nights. This afternoon's journey takes in lakes, Nahuel Huapi, Espejo, Correntoso, Villarino, Falkner, Machonico, eventually ending on the shores of Lago Lácar at San Martín de los Andes.

Day 4
This morning leave San Martín to go to Junín de los Andes, visiting the town centre with the church and the Mapuche cultural museum. You then continue out of the town towards the Lanín National Park. Here you stop at the mouth of the Chimehuin River, one of the most famous trout fly-fishing spots in the world and a viewpoint across the largest lake in the park, Huechulafquen. Stop for lunch in a local Mapuche community before then continuing to Puerto Canoa, a beautiful spot on the volcanic sandy shores of the lake. Here there is the opportunity to cross Lake Epulafquen to see the 6km of solidified Escorial lava field or continue overland to the meeting point of the Paimun and Huechulafquen lakes, and a chance to swim in the emerald green waters. Throughout today you have views of the snow-capped peak of the Lanín volcano, and you return to your hotel in the evening.

Day 5
Today is the day of the Solar Eclipse, and the local guide collects the group early this morning as you are transported to a private lodge at Spring Creek. You are based here for the day in your group of fellow tourists, with food and beverages on offer throughout the day. The lodge is located within the Eclipse zone of totality, and on 60 hectares of private land with a maximum of 150 other tourists based in the same viewing point.

Day 6
Today you depart Argentina and travel overland into Chile. The group crosses the border close to Villa La Angostura, and after a drive of around 5 hours you arrive into Puerto Varas, on the shores of the Llanquihue Lake, with views across the water towards the Osorno Volcano. Your dinner is included this evening at the group hotel.

Day 7
This morning you are collected from your hotel to head towards the mystical island of Chiloé. Having crossed the channel between the mainland and the island you first visit the northern part of Chiloé, and the penguin colonies of Puñihuil, where unusually both Magellanic and Humbolt penguins are found together. This is also a good spot to see a range of marine wildlife from birds to sea lions. Continue by road to Chepu, home of the sunken forest and the result of a 1960 tsunami that flooded a valley of native forest and left a unique landscape. There is a short 3km hike through part of reserve, followed by lunch with a panoramic view of the river and the surrounding sunken forest. From here drive to the group hotel located across the bay from Castro, the largest town on the island.

Day 8
Today visit two different conservation initiatives set up with the aim of preserving the delicate local eco-systems and traditions. First visit the ‘Bosque Piedra’, a private nature reserve where you are guided through three different types of native forest, and introduced to the wide variety of flora, fauna and geology of the area. Later you continue to ‘Terra Lluvia’ and follow the ‘murta berry route’ to learn about the berry native to this region. Lunch is served up in the smokehouse of a local family farm before you return to your hotel later this afternoon.

Day 9
You have the morning at leisure in your hotel on Chiloé Island before you are taken back to the mainland of Chile in time for your flights from Puerto Montt, down south to Punta Arenas. You arrive into southern Patagonia and are met at the airport to be transported to your hotel for the night.

Day 10
This morning transfer to Punta Arenas airport in time for your flights out to the Falkland Islands, and to Mount Pleasant. On arrival you take a short domestic flight to Pebble Island, one of the larger outlying islands with landscapes varying from large ponds to vast sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. This diversity offers shelter to a wide-ranging population of birds and mammals. Thousands of Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellanic Penguins breed each summer along with Southern Sea Lions. The ponds on the east of the island, many within walking distance of the group accommodation, are home to a great range of water birds.

Day 11
Today the group is based on Pebble Island with a guided tour offered according to your interests. There is ample opportunity to see the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery further afield as well as hunting for the semiprecious stones that give the island its name. Pebble Island also has something for the historian having played an important role in the 1982 conflict.

Day 12
Today is a second day with a guide on Pebble Island to take in the variety of landscapes, from large ponds to vast sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. This diversity offers shelter to a wide-ranging population of birds and mammals. Thousands of Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellanic Penguins breed each summer along with Southern Sea Lions. The ponds on the east of the island, many within walking distance of the lodge, are home to Chiloe Wigeon, Grebes, Black-necked Swans and a multitude of other waterfowl.

Day 13
This morning return to the Pebble Island airstrip to take another short flight to Sea Lion Island. On arrival you are given an introductory tour of the island to point out areas of interest. You are then free for the remainder of the day to explore independently.

Day 14
Sea Lion Island is one of the smallest islands in the Falklands archipelago and the most southerly inhabited. The sheer abundance of wildlife in such a small area makes it a must on any Falklands itinerary. Everything is in easy walking distance of the lodge – a map and guidelines for safe wildlife viewing are given out on arrival, and today is spent exploring the areas close to your accommodation. The internationally endangered Striated Caracara, Antarctic Skuas, Southern Giant Petrels, and a host of passerines can all be seen on this island. Not to be missed are the Southern Sea Lions at East Loafers, and the Elephant Seals which bask on the white sandy beach at the appropriately named Elephant Corner. The Gentoo penguins meanwhile are close enough to be seen and heard from the lodge bar, whilst there is also a chance of seeing Killer Whale off shore.

Day 15
Today fly from Sea Lion Island to Port Stanley and on arrival head straight out for a full day tour of Volunteer Point. Volunteer Point is home to the largest breeding colony of King penguins along with Magellanic and Gentoo species. The white sandy beach and turquoise waters give the area a tropical feeling, until the cacophony of penguin of noise reminds visitors of their remote location in the south Atlantic Ocean. Aside from the penguins many other wildlife species can be spotted along the beach and on the lagoons, as well as spectacular scenery as you traverse the north of East Falkland. At the end of your visit you are taken to your group accommodation in Stanley.

Day 16
Today celebrate Christmas in the Falkland Islands, with a traditional Christmas dinner based at your hotel. You are at leisure for the rest of the day. Please note that the Christmas dinner is payable locally.

Day 17
This morning transfer to Mount Pleasant airport, for flights back towards mainland Chile, with a brief stopover in Punta Arenas before the plane continues north to Santiago. On arrival in Chile’s cosmopolitan capital city you are met and transferred to your hotel for the evening.

Day 18
This morning prior to your flights back to the UK or other destinations you are taken with a local guide on a tour through Santiago, Chile’s cultural and financial hub. Start out with a visit to the centrally located urban park at Cerro Santa Lucia, before continuing the La Moneda Palace presidential offices, and the traditional Plaza de Armas square. Amongst other impressive buildings, you pass the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Museum of History and the Central Post Office. Next walk through the Parque Forestal for a refreshing break from the urban jungle of the city centre, before finishing in the Barrio Bellavista, Santiago’s bohemian district, with some of the best bars and restaurants in the city. You are later taken to the international airport for your flights back to the UK arriving into London tomorrow morning. If you wish to extend your trip then please enquire for details.