2019 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

The Total Solar

ECLIPSE CRUISE IN TROPICAL POLYNESIA WITH SPECIAL GUEST JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU AND ASTRONOMER ALEX FILIPPENKO, PHD DECEMBER 5 - 19, 2020

ETHAN DANIELS RICH CAREY

For our ship-based program, we travel the South Pacific aboard the luxurious 332-passenger Paul Gauguin . The benefits of being on a ship include flexibility to maneuver to the ideal viewing position on Eclipse Day as well as superb comfort. The eclipse in Polynesia is relatively short—totality will be 38 seconds —but a shorter eclipse provides rare features such as the fiery red chromosphere being visible the entire length of totality. Our veteran team of eclipse experts will be with us: astronomers Alex Filippenko, PhD, and Rick Fienberg, PhD , and cultural anthropologist Mark Eddowes, joined by special guest Jean-Michel Cousteau, explorer, environmentalist, and educator. The eclipse is reason enough for the journey, but we’ll also visit some of French Polynesia’s most celebrated islands, including the Marquesas, Bora Bora, and enchanting Mo’orea.

December 15-17 The Tuamotus / Fakarava / At Sea Explore the clear waters of Fakarava, a sanctuary for rare birds, plants, and crustaceans in the remote and pristine Tuamotu Islands. Stroll the pink-sand beaches and perhaps visit the island’s black pearl farm or the ruins of the first church in French Polynesia, built entirely of coral. December 18-19 Mo’orea / Papeete After we visit the charming island of Mo’orea, with its spiky green peaks and symmetrical bays, we continue to Papeete and disembark. Our Guest Speakers Jean-Michel Cousteau, an impassioned diplomat for the environment, is the founder of Ocean Futures, a marine conservation and education organization. He has produced more than 80 films, including the IMAX film Secret Ocean 3D in 2015. Alex Filippenko, PhD, is a leading authority on exploding stars, active galaxies, and black holes. He was voted “Best Professor” at UC Berkeley a record nine times. This will be his 12th eclipse with Wilderness Travel, and his 17th in total. Rick Fienberg, PhD, has done research on aurora borealis, asteroids, active galaxies, and the Milky Way. Eclipse 2020 will be his 15th voyage to totality. Mark Eddowes is an authority on Polynesian anthropology and in 2016 was named a National Geographic Expert in the archaeology of French Polynesia.

Our Itinerary December 5-6 Papeete, Tahiti / Taha’a Embark aboard the Paul Gauguin in Papeete and sail to Taha’a, with a full day on this idyllic, isolated island and a delicious barbecue lunch. December 7-9 Bora Bora / At Sea Bora Bora’s legendary lagoon is a must-see—and a great place for a swim or snorkeling. After a day of exploration, we continue our voyage to the eclipse path. Our days are enriched with presentations by our Special Guests on astronomy, Polynesian culture, and the ocean environment. December 10-13 The Marquesas / Hiva Oa / Nuku Hiva / At Sea With breathtaking vertical peaks reach- ing into the clouds, the Marquesas are one of the most beautiful island groups in the South Pacific. On Hiva Oa, final resting place of artist Paul Gauguin, we visit the ruins of Tiu. We explore Nuku Hiva, with its impossibly blue bays, sky-high waterfalls, and ancient ruins.

December 14 Eclipse Day! Our viewing of the Total Solar Eclipse today includes the unusual opportunity to see the partially eclipsed sun rise from the ocean. Being on a ship provides us the opportunity to maneuver to an ideal location between any clouds.

Program Cost: TBA

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