Christine
GBClear eclipse but logistical problems The venue for the actual eclipse was great and we had a very clear day! Although it was not on the exact central line (about 40 seconds off), we did see totality. The logistics for the trip kept changing, including the eclipse site, hotels, flights and tours. The tour company did not help at all with transfers in Santiago. As a single, older adult, I had a great deal of problems. The airport was chaotic given that Santiago received 800,000 more visitors than usual. That is likely to happen for the next eclipse. ET personnel did not monitor our group in airports or give clear directions for how to go through customs, find gates etc.. The tour company focused on the eclipse and had 3 astronomers with the tour but their time was unevenly split between 4 bus loads of passengers. I won't travel to Chile again or to another eclipse with this company. I would discourage singles, esp. adults older than 60 to travel to Chile or with this company. But I did see a total eclipse, Silla Observatory and Easter Island (Rapa Nui) so am satisfied!!.
JAS
GBAnother amazing trip ! Another excellent total solar Eclipse Trip with Eclipse Traveler. This was my third total solar eclipse with them. We had astronomers with us during the entire trip. Not only did we get to see a spectacular total solar eclipse in the Atcama desert with a big white tent filled with tables and chairs. We were treated to appetizers, multiple meals with fabulous food, desserts, wine and champagne to celebrate. I was completely surprised when we walked to a nearby restaurant and had a wonderful sit down lunch of multiple courses. It was a first class event in the Atcama desert!! Throughout the trip when he had lectures and went out at night to view the southern hemisphere sky with the astronomers. We got to go to the Silla and ALMA observatories. We also had a wonderful tour through Chile( Santiago, La Serena, Valparisio, San Pedro de Atcama , Santa Rita winery ) and Easter island. Easter island history of the Moai & Birdman cultures was fascinating. I could not believe the size of the Moai. Easter island is beautiful with all of its volcanoes and Rapa Nui people!
Jessie Norris
GBThis was the best trip by far This was the best trip by far. It was a total solar eclipse , so we could see all the phases. We were given eclipse glasses, a pinhole viewer, and a solar filter for a telescope . The eclipse lasted for about half an hour.We had an amazing weather for the eclipse, and it was best experience of my life.
Intrepid travelers
GBToo big to handle well This tour was way beyond ET's logistical capacity, with way too many people for them to handle. The Eclipse site was great (with bathrooms for the first time, apparently). But everything else on the itinerary was changed continuously. Some "included" items were now extra. They left late and arrived late, causing dinners as late as 8:45 PM, followed by an early morning launch. Multiple times the buses had busted toilets and desperate riders. The day trip to Valparaiso was a long bus ride through town, lunch (nice!) and visit to a poet's house, then back, not much there. The Elqui Valley visit started so late, some missed the Pisco factory tour and others got back very very late. General disorganization many days. Once the bulk of the group left after 6 days, things went much smoother. The hotels and food were great - chops for that. If ET sticks to smaller groups they should be fine. (PS, even the staff got stressed out trying to handle the mob of guests.)
Maureen Stone
GBThe trip was OK The trip was OK, but almost every item on the itinerary was changed without prior notice. For example, cities visited were changed; no trip was made to the penguin island. Also, the trip was expected to be a small group, but had over 100 people. Finally, an inordinate amount of time was spent on the bus. I didn't rate it worse because there were explanations for all of this. The season made the water around the island choppy. More people signed up than expected. The trip did not live up to expectations because of these unexpected changes.