2010 solar eclipse tour from Journeys Worldwide - recommended by Mark Sukhija

Please mention MarksTravelNotes.com when contacting eclipse tour operators.

Journeys Worldwide still have some places available to see the Solar Eclipse from Easter Island. Please contact Journeys Worldwide directly for more information

Journeys Worldwide, a Brisbane (Australia) based firm, have been specilised in eclipse tours for a number of years. I've travelled with Journeys Worldwide for the 2006 Solar Eclipse in Libya and will be doing so again for the 2009 solar eclipse.

While this schedule shows flights to and from Australia, Journeys Worldwide does offer a land-only option and you arrange your own flights.

TUE 29 JUNE AUSTRALIA / SANTIAGO / LIMA

Most Australian tour members will connect via Sydney on flight LA 800 to Santiago 1055/1305. Queensland tour members will depart on flight QF 115 to Auckland 0945/1450 to join this flight. Upon arrival in Santiago you will remain in transit and join flight LA 530 to Lima 2005/2250. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2-night stay. Faraona Grand Hotel (Breakfast)

WED 30 JUNE LIMA

Morning free. Lunch today in a typical restaurant, prior to your afternoon City Tour, including the Presidential Palace, the Catacombs and the world-famous Larco Herrera Museum. Faraona Grand Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch)

THU 1 JULY LIMA / CUZCO

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cuzco, the ancient city and former Inca capital. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for a 4-night stay. Balance of morning free. This afternoon you will be taken on a City Tour, including the Main Square and Cathedral as well as the impressive ruins of the Sacsayhuaman Fortress before returning to your hotel. Ruinas Hotel (Breakfast)

FRI 2 JULY MACHU PICCHU

Morning departure by train for the fabulous site of Machu Picchu. We disembark at Aguas Calientes and continue by bus to the entrance of this remarkable Lost City of the Incas. These world-famous Inca ruins are not visible from the base of the mountain and remained hidden until 1911. Lunch is included; and after sightseeing with our guide we return to the railway station for our afternoon train back to Cuzco, where we arrive early evening. Ruinas Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch)

SAT 3 JULY CUZCO

Today is a free day for you to explore this former Inca city renowned for its handicrafts. The city’s markets offer a variety of goods including weavings, ponchos and interesting silverware. There are also some reasonably priced restaurants where you might like to have lunch. Ruinas Hotel (Breakfast)

SUN 4 JULY PISAQ

After breakfast we depart by coach for the famous market town of Pisaq in the Sacred Valley. The Sunday market is considered the best market day of the week, and apart from local shopping such as fruit and vegetables a variety of handicrafts is also available. Panama hats are also sold at the market. Lunch is at a local restaurant. We also visit the Inca ruins around Pisaq before returning to Cuzco, where we arrive late afternoon. Ruinas Hotel (Breakfast)

MON 5 JULY CUZCO / PUNO

After breakfast we depart by coach and, travelling to a height of over 4,300 metres, cross the Altiplano to Juliaca and continue to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Lunch is provided en route, and attractive local handicrafts such as rugs and ponchos are available for purchase. Intiqa Hotel (Breakfast & Lunch)

TUE 6 JULY PUNO / COPACABANA

Early morning departure for the famous floating islands of Lake Titicaca, where you will have an opportunity to stop on one of the islands and visit the local Uros Indians. We then travel by coach to Copacabana, a small attractive town on the shores of the lake. After lunch we visit the local church. Balance of day free. Rosario Del Lago (Full Board)

WED 7 JULY COPACABANA / LA PAZ

After breakfast we join our motor cruiser and sail to Sun Island, the legendary birthplace of the Incas, before returning to Copacabana, where we rejoin our coach and continue to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. Presidente Hotel (Breakfast)

THU 8 JULY LA PAZ

Morning tour of the city, including the colonial sector and the Witchcraft market, where many of the women stall holders still wear bowler hats which were introduced by the British. From here we continue to the spectacular landscape of Moon Valley, which has been planted with eucalypt trees to prevent further soil erosion. Afternoon free. Presidente Hotel (Breakfast)

FRI 9 JULY LA PAZ / SANTIAGO

Mid-morning transfer to the airport, which is one of the highest in the world and is located above the city, for our flight to Santiago, where we arrive late afternoon. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. Hotel Galerias (Breakfast)

SAT 10 JULY SANTIAGO / EASTER ISLAND

Early morning departure for the airport for your flight to Easter Island, where you will arrive late morning for a 3-night stay. The island is currently known as Rapa Nui and was named by Dutch navigator Jacob Roggeveen when he discovered it on Easter Sunday. This afternoon you will be taken on a sightseeing tour of part of the island, including a visit to the extinct Rano Kau volcano. Return to our hotel late afternoon. Chez Joseph Hotel (Dinner & Breakfast)

SUN 11 JULY ECLIPSE DAY

This morning you will be transferred to the eclipse viewing site, and there will be ample opportunity to set up astronomical equipment. The eclipse is at 1933 Universal Time, which is 1333 local time. Return to our hotel late afternoon. Chez Joseph Hotel (Breakfast & Dinner)

MON 12 JULY EASTER ISLAND

After breakfast we depart on a full-day excursion of the island, including a visit to the “Ahus” (burial platforms) of which 260 have thus far been discovered. A typical Ahu was a wall of 100 metres running parallel to the sea and 4.5 metres in height. Each Ahu contains between one and 15 statues which are between 3 and 6 metres in height, with the heaviest statue weighing more than 50 tonnes. We will also visit the Rano Raraku Quarry where the existing Moais (statues) were sculpted. Lunch is on Anakena Beach. Return to our hotel mid-afternoon. Chez Joseph Hotel (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

TUE 13 JULY EASTER ISLAND / SANTIAGO

Mid-morning transfer to the airport for your flight back to Santiago, where you will arrive in the evening. Here our friends from various parts of the world will leave us to return to their respective destinations, and Australian and New Zealand tour members will depart on flight LA 801 at 2305. IN FLIGHT

WED 14 JULY IN FLIGHT

Today you will cross the International Date Line.

IN FLIGHT

THU 15 JULY AUSTRALIA

Arrive Sydney at 0720. After clearing Customs & Immigration tour members will return to their respective destinations. Queensland passengers will disembark in Auckland , where they will remain in transit before connecting to flight QF 116 to Brisbane 0700/0850.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

TOUR COSTS

Twin Share $ 11,975.00 per person

Single Supplement $ 1,975.00

Land Only $ 8,775.00 per person

• The Single Supplement includes all hotels throughout the tour except for Easter Island where, due to the shortage of accommodation, single rooms are not available.

• All prices quoted are in Australian dollars based upon the prevailing exchange rate as at 19 March 2009 and are subject to fluctuation

TOUR COST INCLUDES

• International return airfares from Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane on Qantas and Lan Chile. Tour members travelling from other Australian destinations will be subject to a domestic supplement.

• Quality hotel accommodation throughout. (Please refer to the Easter Island notes regarding accommodation on Easter Island)

• 14 breakfasts, 4 lunches & 4 dinners

• All sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary

• Services of an Australian Tour Leader & local guides

• All transportation by coach, train & mini bus as per itinerary

• Boat cruise on Lake Titicaca

• Porterage of one suitcase per person

TOUR COST EXCLUDES

• Airport taxes & fuel surcharges (approximately $900.00)

• Cost of meals not specified in the itinerary

• Travel insurance. We have arranged for a group travel insurance policy with AussieTravelCover which entitles you to 15% off the published premium

• Tips and gratuities. A tips kitty of US$120.00 per person will be collected by your Tour Leader upon arrival in South America. This will cover all tips and gratuities for local guides, drivers, game rangers, boat crew, hotel & restaurant staff.

• Items of a personal nature

• Cost of Landing Card in Santiago (approximately US$61.00)

HOW TO BOOK

A non-refundable deposit of $500.00 per person is required together with a completed Booking Form before a booking can be accepted. Deposits may be paid by credit card but the balance of the arrangements must be paid by cheque or direct bank transfer. Payment of the balance by Visa or Mastercard will attract a surcharge of 1.5%.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Tour members who book on a Land Only basis should arrange return flights to Lima. Lan Chile fly to Lima from Madrid, Los Angeles, New York and Miami. Journeys Worldwide can assist in obtaining an Air Pass for the sectors Lima/Cuzco/Lima and La Paz/Santiago/Easter Island/Santiago at a reduced rate.

We also have various pre and post tour options, including the Galapagos Islands (pre-tour only), a Chilean Fjord Cruise, Southern Argentina, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

All flights quoted are based upon schedules operating in 2009. Schedules for 2010 will be available approximately 300 days prior to departure and tour members will be notified of any timing changes.

A stopover is available in Auckland at an additional cost of $150.00 per person plus airport taxes and accommodation.

EASTER ISLAND ARRANGEMENTS

As has been the case with past Eclipse Tours, accommodation prices and the scarcity of hotel rooms has escalated accommodation rates to nearly three times their normal level. Journeys Worldwide has been fortunate enough to secure 30 beds with a possibility of a further 10 beds becoming available at a later date. Taking advantage of the eclipse, Easter Island hotels have insisted upon a minimum 3-day package, including some meals, transportation and sightseeing, at a cost of more than AUD$3,000.00 per person.

The island, which measures approximately 166 sq. kms, will be very crowded for this unique event. Although our accommodation is classified as a 2.5 to 3-star hotel, please note that hotel standards on Easter Island are not commensurate with those applicable in other countries.

All food and drinks must be imported from the mainland. Therefore they are expensive, and choices are limited. We have therefore arranged for most of your meals to be included in the package price.

Single rooms are not available on Easter Island during the tour.

Further reading