2020 total solar eclipse tour
Hot Spring MTB Tour - Edition: Total Solar Eclipse
time until eclipse
Where can I see the solar eclipse reach totality? Pucon Chile !
Day one: Sunday 12/13/20 - Arrive in Valdivia, Chile +
Today is Sunday, December 13th, 2020. You will fly into Valdivia Airport, and we will be waiting for your arrival. We will drop you off at a five-star hotel located right on the riverwalk and in the center of the city. Once you’ve had a chance to settle in, we will take you to the best microbrewery in South America. This brewpub has 15 beers on tap and the hops are grown right on the patio. Finding a better IPA on this side of the planet would prove to be a fun drinking game.
After, time to relax and get rested for the eclipse tomorrow.
Sea lions in Valdivia, Chile
Day two: December 14, 2020 - watching eclipse from an active volcano….then biking down it!
You will shuttle high up Volcano Villarrica. Here you will have perfect views of the total solar eclipse. After taking some once in a lifetime photos you will start the 13-mile descent. This ride takes you through old lava tubes and 3 different types of forests, all while being on the side of the most active volcano in Chile. After the amazing singletrack and eclipse, it's time to soak in a ‘locals’ favorite hot spring.
Today is quite possibly THE PERFECT DAY:
Viewing the 2020 total solar eclipse from the best spot ( on the path of totality).
Mountain biking down a trail that is located on a volcano that is currently ranked in the top 10 most-active-volcano list ( last erupted in early March of 2015).
Soaking in a “locals” favorite natural thermal spring while being in the Chile Lake District of northern Patagonia.
Watching the sunset from the shores of Lake Villarrica.
Viewing the glow of the sky created from the lava lake. This volcano is only 1 of 7 that contains a lava lake. The status of the outer crust will determine the probability of witnessing the glow.
This picture was taken shortly after reaching totality. Andrew Preble (the photographer of this photo) said: “one of the most amazing sites in my life”.
interesting eclipse info
How often does a total eclipse happen?
According to NASA, about once every 1.5 years somewhere on planet Earth. The same location gets a total-eclipse (solar) about once every 375 years.
The chance of seeing an eclipse is rare. Three primary factors must be aligned.
It must be on the sunny side of the planet.
Needs to be in the path of the Moon’s shadow.
Location. Most occur in remote places of the planet that are impossible to reach.
As you can see from the NASA ECLIPSE WEBSITE, Villarrica National Park is directly in the path of totality.
What is totality?
“During totality, you are standing on a planet, observing another heavenly body cross paths with a third” - Kate Russo from the book “Total Addiction - The Life on an Eclipse Chaser”
“The simple act of standing within the shadow of the Moon affords the rare and unprecedented opportunity to gaze directly at the halo of million-degree plasma surrounding our star. Twisted, tortured, and constrained by the Sun’s enormous magnetic fields, the solar corona is revealed to the naked eye only during the brief seconds when the Moon completely blocks the brilliant disk of the Sun” - from the book “Total Addiction” by Kate Russo
Do other planets have eclipses?
“Earth’s Moon is about 1/ 400th the diameter of the Sun, but it is also 1/ 400th as far from us, making the Sun and the Moon the same size on the sky—a coincidence NOT SHARED BY ANY OTHER PLANET-MOON COMBINATION (emphasis from Pedal Chile) in the solar system, allowing for uniquely photogenic total solar eclipses.” - from the book “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” by Neil deGrasse Tyson
interesting facts
7.5 minutes is the longest duration of a total-solar-eclipse *
Temperates drop 20+ degrees near totality *
The path of totality is at most 167 miles wide *
Partial eclipses can be seen up to 3,000 miles from the track of totality *
* all 4 of these facts are from NASA.gov website
Day Three: Single-track near Pucón & Termas Geométricas +
Today you will enjoy some flow-style single-track along with some technical sections in a bike park outside of Pucón.
After, you will shuttle back up the volcano and will bike down to Los Termas Geométricas. This hot spring is widely regarded as the prettiest in South America!
After the soak, we will all shuttle 20 minutes to the little quaint town of Coñaripe. This town has beautiful beaches and the warmest water of any of the lakes of Chile Patagonia. Here you will be spending the evening. Chile Aasdo for dinner.
Termas Geométricas in Chile, South America.
This special event tour is a modified version of our Guided Hot Springs MTB itinerary
All our tours include the use of the Giant Trance 2 (27.5) full-suspension bike
This special tour takes place in Patagonia. Do you know the exact location of Patagonia? If not, read our article.
Day Four: Soak + Single-track in Nature Preserve +
Today we will drive to the Huilo- Huilo Biological Reserve. This is a 232mi2 eco-tourism paradise, with a plethora of single-track trails to choose from. This reserve straddles the Chilean-Argentina border, and offers views of 4 volcanoes!
After the ride, time to soak in a private hot spring, then grab a craft beer at the microbrewery right in the reserve.
Tonight you will spend the evening in fairytale style lodging.
One of many unique lodging options near Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile.
Day Five: Single-track on Chile/Argentina border + evening at hot spring/hotel +
We will start the day with one more single-track ride before departing Huilo-Huilo. This area has the most extensive network of single-track trails in southern Chile.
After, we will be spending the night at a hot spring and hotel. Enjoy the stars, and the all-night soak.
One of a handful of single-track trails in or near the biological reserve in the Chile Patagonia.
Day Six: Rustic Hot spring in a National Park +
Today will be no bike riding. We will commute about one hour to a very rustic and underutilized hot spring located in Villarrica National Park.
After, time to drive to Licán Ray. This is your last full of this trip, so we will all enjoy southern Chilean BBQ.
Playa Chica (Girl Beach) is a black sand beach located right in town and is a perfect place to catch your last Patagonian sunset. We will be spending the night here.
This area is loaded with pristine black sand beaches, perfect for relaxing, and swimming during the summers months.
Day Seven: Saturday, December 19th, 2020. Departure Day
You will be departing from the Pichoy Airport (Aeródromo Pichoy). We will depart Licán Ray in the morning and drop you off at the Pichoy Airport (airport close to Valdivia, Chile). This drive is a little over an hour. Our departure time is based upon your flight time.