Wendy Wu Tours has unveiled a ‘Total Eclipse South America’ holiday, offering the chance to view next July’s solar phenomenon from the best vantage point in Chile.
The long-haul operator has chartered a private aircraft to take guests on a one-hour flight from Santiago to the Chilean coastal town of La Serena.
Guests will be taken to a viewing point in La Higuera, the closest point to the centreline of the eclipse, making it the best place in Chile to witness the event on July 2.
Astronomer and writer Dr Stuart Clark will give guests a briefing on the eve of the eclipse and accompany the guests during the eclipse day.
Clark said: “It’s a great honour to be working again with Wendy Wu Tours. They expertly put together a comprehensive and detailed escorted tour for the China eclipse in 2009 and I’m confident that this South America tour will reflect one of the greatest spectacles of all time, played out against the backdrop of the spectacular Chile terrain.”
The 17-day trip also includes visits to Rio de Janeiro, Iguacu Falls, Buenos Aires, Valparaiso, Santiago and Machu Picchu, and costs from £5,990 per person.
Wendy Wu, founder of Wendy Wu Tours, added: “Dr Stuart Clark is the leading authority when it comes to astronomy and in particular the science behind a total eclipse. Our guests will benefit enormously through Stuart’s detailed knowledge and expert tuition, a factor that was very important to us when designing this tour.”
Wendy Wu Tours has two shorter eclipse holidays, which also include the charter flight to La Serena and eclipse briefing with Dr Clark.
The seven-day ‘Chile Eclipse’ holiday, from £3,790 per person, includes time in Santiago and Valparaiso while the 12-day ‘Eclipse & Atacama’ holiday, from £5,990 per person, features the Atacama Desert and Andes Mountains.