Solar Eclipse in Quellón
Witness the annular solar eclipse of 6 February 2027 from Quellón, at the southernmost tip of Chiloé Island, directly in the path of annularity.
Chiloé Island, Chile
Witness the Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse in Chiloé.
On 6 February 2027, a rare annular solar eclipse blazes across Chiloé Island. Positioned perfectly in Quellón, at the edge of the world, you will watch the Ring of Fire appear above the rugged southern coastline with views of Corcovado Volcano. This 4-day expedition combines one of the most extraordinary celestial events on Earth with ancient temperate rainforests, Humboldt and Magellanic penguin colonies, and the rich cultural heritage of one of Chile's most distinctive islands.
Trip Dates
5 - 8 Feb 2027
Location
Chiloé Island, Chile
Duration
4 Days / 3 Nights
Group Size
Max 12 Guests
Guides
Bilingual Naturalist Guide
Limited Places. Once in a Generation.
Why This Expedition
Why the Chiloé eclipse expedition is a once in a generation journey
Annular solar eclipses are rare.
Witnessing one from Quellón, at the very end of the Pan-American Highway on Chiloé Island, surrounded by ancient temperate rainforest and a rugged southern coastline, is something else entirely.
This expedition places you directly within the path of annularity for the maximum Ring of Fire duration, while immersing you in the rich cultural heritage, distinctive wildlife and pristine natural landscapes that make Chiloé one of the most compelling destinations in South America.
Small Groups
An intimate small-group expedition
Expert-Led
Professional Bilingual Naturalist guide with International WFR
What You Will Experience
The Ring of Fire Eclipse, ancient Chiloé rainforest, and penguin colonies.
Four days on Chiloé Island: penguin colonies at Puñihuil, ancient Tepuhueico rainforest, exclusive private dining, and the annular solar eclipse viewed from Quellón, directly in the path of annularity.
Wildlife Navigation
Set sail to observe the thriving, protected colonies of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nesting side by side at Puñihuil, the only such site in the world.
Tepuhueico Park
Explore the ancient temperate rainforest of this pristine private nature reserve, a sanctuary for Darwin's Fox and the Pudu, the world's smallest deer.
Cultural Legacy
Discover the distinctive folklore, wooden architecture and rich heritage that define Chiloé Island, with a private dining experience at the home of a renowned local chef.
- Solar eclipse in Quellón on 6 February 2027
- Positioned in the path of annularity for maximum Ring of Fire duration
- Humboldt and Magellanic penguin boat tour at Puñihuil
- Ancient temperate rainforest walk in Tepuhueico Private Reserve
- Gourmet lunch at El Cazador restaurant
- Private dining experience at the home of a renowned local chef
The Expedition
4 days. 3 nights. One extraordinary celestial event.
Trip dates: 5 - 8 February 2027. Start and finish at Puerto Montt Airport (PMC), Chile. Small group expedition with a professional bilingual naturalist guide. Eclipse date: 6 February 2027. £1,949 / US$2,495 per person.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Chiloé Island
Collected from El Tepual Airport (PMC) in Puerto Montt, you board a ferry across the Chacao Channel to arrive on Chiloé Island. Visit the traditional market in Ancud, then head to Puñihuil for a guided boat tour around the islets to observe Humboldt and Magellanic penguins nesting side by side. Lunch at a traditional local restaurant before continuing to your hotel in Castro. Accommodation: Palafito Sizigia (or similar). Meals: Lunch.
Day 2
The Solar Eclipse in Quellón
Travel to the southernmost tip of the island, Quellón, the end of the Pan-American Highway, to witness the annular solar eclipse. While awaiting the celestial alignment, enjoy the rugged beauty of the southern coastline and views of Corcovado Volcano across the gulf. Accommodation: Palafito Sizigia (or similar). Meals: Breakfast and box lunch.
Day 3
Nature's Heart and Gourmet Delights
Immerse yourself in the ancient temperate rainforest of Tepuhueico Private Reserve, a sanctuary for Darwin's Fox and the Pudu. Afterwards, experience the best of Chiloé's gastronomy at El Cazador, renowned for its modern take on traditional local ingredients. Accommodation: Palafito Sizigia (or similar). Meals: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 4
End of Adventure
Transfer back to Puerto Montt Airport (PMC) for your flight home, carrying the magic of Chiloé with you, or continue to Puerto Varas to keep exploring the south of Chile. Meals: Breakfast.
Palafito Sizigia, Castro, Chiloé Island
Where You Stay
Your Accommodation in Chiloé
Three nights at Palafito Sizigia (or similar), a distinctive palafito-style hotel perched above the waters of Castro. These iconic wooden stilt houses are one of the defining images of Chiloé Island, and staying in one places you at the heart of the local culture, with the warmth and intimacy that only a small boutique property can offer.
- Nights 1, 2 and 3: Palafito Sizigia (or similar), Castro, Chiloé Island
- Breakfast included from Day 2 onwards
- Lunch and additional meals included as per itinerary
- Private ground transport and ferry included
Optional Upgrades and Supplements
- Upgrade to the Bledford Hotel£190 / US$350
- Single supplement: Palafito Sizigia£390 / US$510
- Single supplement: Bledford Hotel£440 / US$576
Traveller Reviews
What travellers say about Encounters Travel
This eclipse expedition is a brand new departure, so here is what travellers say about exploring the world with Encounters Travel, from reviews posted on TripAdvisor and TourRadar.
4.7 out of 5 from over 1,700 traveller reviews of Encounters Travel tours
Absolutely fantastic
“It was awhile ago that I took this tour but it was absolutely fantastic! Wonderful guide and driver. It was very well organized and I can't say anything but great things about it.”
Super knowledgeable, capable, and friendly
“Excellent introduction to Classical Greece. Our guide, Georgina, was super knowledgeable, capable, and friendly.”
The tour staff were so helpful
“The sites were incredible! The tour staff were so helpful and wonderful, ensuring that we had everything we needed. I especially appreciated how they met us personally at the airports and helped us navigate our way through each step. The tour leader checked on us throughout our journey. I would highly recommend taking this trip.”
Very organized trip
“Encounters Travel was excellent! Everything was well organized. The guides were excellent and easy to get along with, and took good care of us along with a host of drivers and others. I recommend this trip and this company.”
Amazing service
“We enjoyed this tour very much! Our guide was very helpful throughout our journey, always explaining the itinerary and making sure we felt safe and comfortable. He was very knowledgeable and explained everything very well, which helped us appreciate the sites much more. Thank you for a great experience.”
Absolutely incredible
“As a first time solo female traveler, my trip was absolutely incredible. My tour guide was so knowledgeable about everywhere we were and made it a really good atmosphere for the group to all get to know each other. Every stop was worthwhile and every accommodation blew me away. I had an amazing time!”
Smooth and right on time
“We loved the tour. Our guide was excellent, funny, kind, very knowledgeable and took good care of us. Every detail of the tour was smooth and right on time. Our time in each place was enough for the explanation, sightseeing and the pictures. Can't thank enough all the people involved: drivers, guides and logistics coordinators.”
A fantastic tour
“A fantastic tour of some of the most beautiful parts of South Korea. Our trip leaders were so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I absolutely recommend this tour.”
I highly recommend this tour agency
“Wonderful tour with emphasis on historical and environmental sights. Our guide and driver were professional, friendly, and quite knowledgeable. Accommodations were comfortable, clean and centrally located. I highly recommend this tour agency.”
Met and exceeded all expectations
“This was an excellent tour. It met and exceeded all expectations. The tour company was very responsive, helpful and did everything they could to make it an enjoyable experience. Our guide told stories to really bring history alive. The hotels were lovely, clean and well appointed.”
Beyond expectations
“Beyond expectations. The tour was flawless from the airport connections to the lodges. Our guide was superb. Mariska was extremely helpful and they arranged our side trips without any issues whatsoever. I would highly recommend to anyone. This was a trip of a lifetime.”
Safe and well taken care of
“Thank you so much. I felt safe and well taken care of. Our guide was one of the best and most personable tour guides I have ever had!”
“An annular eclipse viewed from the edge of the world in Chiloé is not the kind of experience you want to leave to chance. I am here to make sure every detail is right, so that when the Ring of Fire appears above the southern coastline, all you have to do is look up.”
Mariska Knoesen, Sales Manager at Encounters Travel
Questions about the eclipse viewing position in Quellón, the Palafito Sizigia hotel, what to pack for Chiloé in February, or international flight connections into Puerto Montt? Chat directly with Mariska.
Some events only happen once. Be in the right place.
Practical Details
Everything you need to know.
- Expedition
- Chile Eclipse Adventure
- Trip Dates
- 5 - 8 February 2027
- Eclipse Date
- 6 February 2027, Annular Solar Eclipse
- Duration
- 4 days and 3 nights
- Start and End
- Puerto Montt Airport (PMC), several daily direct flights from Santiago
- Price
- £1,949 / US$2,495 per person
- Accommodation
- Palafito Sizigia (or similar), Castro, Chiloé Island
- Region
- Chiloé Island, Chile: Castro, Quellón, Tepuhueico, Puñihuil
About the Annular Solar Eclipse
What the Ring of Fire is, and why Chiloé Island is where you want to be when it happens.
The Science
What is an annular solar eclipse, and what is the Ring of Fire?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun. In a total eclipse, the moon completely covers the sun. An annular eclipse is different, and in some ways more striking. It occurs when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it appear slightly smaller than the sun. The result is that the moon cannot completely cover the solar disc.
Instead, a brilliant ring of sunlight blazes around the lunar silhouette, the phenomenon known as the Ring of Fire, or annulus. Unlike a total eclipse, which plunges the landscape into darkness, an annular eclipse maintains daylight while producing this extraordinary halo effect, visible to the naked eye through certified eclipse glasses.
The annular eclipse of 6 February 2027 will trace a narrow path across South America. Quellón, at the southernmost tip of Chiloé Island, sits directly within the path of annularity, making it one of the optimal viewing locations on the planet for this event.
6 Feb 2027
date of the annular solar eclipse
Ring of Fire
the blazing halo visible only during annularity
Why Chiloé
Why Chiloé Island is the right place to witness this eclipse.
◎
Directly in the path of annularity
Quellón, at the southernmost tip of Chiloé Island, is positioned within the narrow path of annularity for the maximum duration of the Ring of Fire phenomenon.
★
One of the most distinctive and storied islands in South America
Chiloé Island is a place apart, with its own folklore, wooden churches, palafito stilt houses, and a cultural identity that sets it apart from the rest of Chile. There is nowhere else like it.
⌂
February is summer on Chiloé Island
Early February brings the best conditions to Chiloé, longer days and clearer skies, maximising your chances of an unobstructed view of the eclipse.
✓
A professional naturalist guide throughout
Your bilingual naturalist guide with International Wilderness First Responder certification is with you for the entire expedition, from the penguin colonies at Puñihuil to the eclipse at Quellón.
Good To Know
Your eclipse expedition questions, answered
When is the eclipse, and where do we watch it from?
The annular solar eclipse happens on 6 February 2027. You watch it from Quellón, at the southernmost tip of Chiloé Island and the end of the Pan-American Highway, directly within the path of annularity for the maximum Ring of Fire duration. The expedition runs from 5 to 8 February 2027 so you are in position the day before.
Is it safe to look at an annular eclipse?
Only through certified eclipse glasses. Unlike a total eclipse, the sun is never fully covered during annularity, so proper eye protection is essential for the entire event. Your naturalist guide will brief you on safe viewing before the day.
How do I get to the start of the expedition?
The expedition starts and ends at El Tepual Airport (PMC) in Puerto Montt, which has several direct flights a day from Santiago. International flights are not included, and our specialists can advise on the best connections from your home airport.
What are the chances of clear skies?
Early February is high summer on Chiloé, with the longest days and the most settled weather of the year, which is exactly why this eclipse window is so attractive. Island weather is never guaranteed, but the viewing position on the southern coastline gives you wide open skies over the Gulf of Corcovado.
What is included in the price?
The price of £1,949 / US$2,495 per person includes 3 nights at Palafito Sizigia (or similar), meals as described in the itinerary, all protected area and attraction entrance fees, private ground transport plus ferry and boat navigations, and a professional bilingual naturalist guide with International Wilderness First Responder certification.
What is a palafito hotel?
Palafitos are Chiloé's iconic wooden stilt houses, built out over the water in Castro. Your hotel, Palafito Sizigia (or similar), is one of these, a small boutique property that puts you at the heart of island culture. An upgrade to the Bledford Hotel is available, along with single supplements for solo travellers.
What is the weather like on Chiloé in February?
Mild summer conditions, with daytime temperatures usually between 12 and 22 degrees. Chiloé is a green island for a reason, so pack layers and a waterproof jacket alongside your sun protection. Evenings by the water can be cool.
How active is the expedition?
Comfortably moderate. The rainforest walk in Tepuhueico Private Reserve follows good trails, the penguin colonies are visited by boat, and travel days are broken up with stops. A reasonable level of everyday fitness is all you need.
Can dietary requirements be catered for?
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-intolerant options are available on request for the included meals, including the private dining experience. Just tell us your requirements when you book.
Still have a question? Our travel specialists are happy to help.