Expedition overview

This photographic expedition offers a professional guide to one of the most spectacular astronomical events that can be witnessed, an annular solar eclipse, which occurs on October 2, 2024 in an incredible location for photography, Parque Patagonia in Argentina. Experience this once-in-a-lifetime event as you learn how to capture it, as well as the beautiful landscapes, with photographers Fefo Bouvier and Matías Villegas.

About Parque Patagonia (Patagonia Park)

The Parque Patagonia, located in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, is a natural refuge that extends over two hundred thousand hectares, an ideal place for hiking and wildlife watching.

These canyon lands are home to key natural ecosystems of the Patagonian steppe, allowing the development of a rich native flora and fauna. Among its most emblematic inhabitants are the puma, the guanaco, the Andean condor, and a great variety of birds and mammals that live in harmony with the environment.

What's an annular solar eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, completely or partially obscuring the Sun for a viewer on Earth.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is at its farthest point from the Earth in its orbit, making it appear smaller than the Sun. In this case, the Moon does not completely cover the Sun, but leaves a ring of visible sunlight around its silhouette, creating an effect known as a "ring of fire".

After the annular solar eclipse on October 2, 2024, the next such eclipse in South America (visible in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay) will be in February 2027.

  • Duration

    4 days, from September 30 to October 3, 2024 (eclipse occurs on the 2nd)

  • Place

    Parque Patagonia, Santa Cruz, Argentina

    See official website 

  • Transportation

    Van during the whole expedition (pick up and drop off at Comodoro Rivadavia Airport CRD)

  • Accommodation

    La Posta de los Toldos, a shelter within Parque Patagonia

    All meals included

  • Limited to 8 participants

    Expedition open to the general public, especially photographers, but no previous experience is necessary

  • Level of physical demand

    The activities of the expedition require an intermediate level of physical fitness, and prior preparation is recommended

Your guides

Fefo Bouvier

Fefo, Uruguayan, is an astronomy enthusiast turned landscape astrophotographer whose photographs have been highlighted by NASA on multiple occasions.

He is an eclipse chaser, having witnessed and captured dozens of eclipses—both solar and lunar—during his more than 10 years of experience as a photographer. This will be his first annular solar eclipse, the only type of eclipse he has not yet documented, and he's excited to share the experience with the rest of the group.

His astrophotography workshops not only teach photographic techniques and astronomy lessons, but also encourage reflection and contemplation.

@fefobouvier

Matías Villegas

Matías is a Uruguayan photographer with seven years of experience in landscape photography and astrophotography.

Throughout these years, he has combined his training in photography with his deep love for adventure and trekking, which has allowed him to explore remote corners and document the majesty of different natural landscapes, including Parque Patagonia on four occasions.

He has conducted over fifteen successful workshops, sharing his knowledge and passion for photography with enthusiasts from all over the world.

@mativillegas.ph

Itinerary

Day 1 - Monday 30 September

Welcome dinner & stargazing

The expedition begins with the transfer of participants from Comodoro Rivadavia Airport (CRD) to the accommodation at Parque Patagonia (departing at 2pm on time).

Participants will be greeted with a welcome dinner.

Afterwards Fefo will conduct a stargazing session from the park's star viewpoint, a meeting place for observing the night sky, sheltered from the wind and cold.

Day 2 - Tuesday 1 October

Trekking in Parque Patagonia & astrophotography session

After breakfast, Mati will give an introductory talk about Parque Patagonia and plans for the day's activities.

In the morning we will visit Cañadón del Río Pinturas, which shelters the wildest nature of the steppe: basaltic plateaus, hills and coloured lands inhabited by guanacos, pumas, choiques, orange chinchillones and Andean condors. There we will visit the archaeological site Cueva de las Manos, one of the oldest expressions of rock art in South America—with paintings more than 9500 years old—and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After lunch, we will venture to the La Guanaca trail, which offers a panoramic view of the Cañadón del Río Pinturas and the surrounding steppe, and enjoy the sunset from the Tierra de Colores trail, characterised by its multicoloured landscapes, product of the oxidation of minerals, which create a unique visual spectacle.

After dinner, Fefo and Mati will lead an astrophotography session in the Badlands for the group photographers, taking advantage of one of the darkest skies in the world.

Day 3 - Wednesday 2 October

Annular solar eclipse & astrotourism

After breakfast, Fefo will introduce us to the science of the eclipse with a short talk for a better enjoyment of the event. He will explain what the phenomenon is all about and give instructions for safe observation and photography.

In the morning, we will enjoy a visit to the Parque Patagonia Interpretation Centre and Planetarium. Here, a permanent exhibition will guide us through the fascinating geological history of the region, the evolution of its biodiversity and the creation of its vast natural landscape. In addition, we will have the opportunity to admire projections that will offer us a captivating interpretation of the Patagonian sky.

After lunch, we will devote the whole afternoon to viewing and photographing the annular solar eclipse.

After dinner, Fefo and Mati will lead another astrophotography session.

Day 4 - Thursday 3 October

Farewell

Farewell breakfast and transfer of the participants to Comodoro Rivadavia Airport (CRD) in the early hours of the morning.

Your registration to the expedition

  • Includes

    ✅ Advice and planning of the expedition from the moment of registration (how to get to Comodoro Rivadavia, what to bring and more).

    ✅ Pick-up and drop-off at Comodoro Rivadavia Airport CRD

    ✅ Transfers within Parque Patagonia

    ✅ 3 nights accommodation in single or double room at La Posta de los Toldos.

    ✅ All meals as detailed in the itinerary

    ✅ All activities detailed in the itinerary

    ✅ Professional guide in nature, photography and astronomy (Fefo speaks English)

    ✅ Certified glasses for safe viewing of the solar eclipse

  • Does not include

    ❌ Airfare (participants must arrive on their own to the meeting point at Comodoro Rivadavia Airport or directly to Parque Patagonia)

    ❌ Alcoholic beverages

    ❌ Medical assistance

    ❌ What is not mentioned in "Included"

  • Subject to changes in the itinerary

    The itinerary presented here is tentative and may be modified depending on the weather forecast. Although we would like to, we cannot control the weather, therefore the conditions for viewing the solar eclipse are not guaranteed, and participants are not entitled to make any claims against the organisers in the event of not being able to see the solar eclipse.

    What we do guarantee is that we will make every effort to be able to witness the event in case of predicted heavy cloud cover, moving participants to a point outside the park if necessary.

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Cover photos: Annular solar eclipse, by Dpickd1, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons and Parque Patagonia by Matías Villegas.