Here - Wisconsin Alumni Association
Transcripción
Here - Wisconsin Alumni Association
In partnership with the Wisconsin Alumni Association The Skies of the Southern Hemisphere: An Exclusive Invitation to tour the Renowned Observatories and the Andean North of Chile March 15-26, 2015 Santiago, Chile HIGHLIGHTS: THE SKIES OF THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE AND THE ANDEAN NORTH ● Enjoy dramatic scenery of the Andean north and its unusual wildlife, including the Andean flamingo, vicuña and viscacha. ● View the world’s highest major geyser field, El Tatio, against the snow-capped Andes. ● Enjoy a day in Chile’s wine country, with lunch at the historic Santa Rita winery. ● Learn from lectures by distinguished faculty members from the University of Wisconsin Department of Astronomy about the skies of the Southern Hemisphere and cutting-edge research. ● Go behind the scenes of some of the most advanced and largest observatories in the world: ALMA, Paranal, Gemini and Las Campanas (the Magellan Project). ● Observe the skies with amateur telescopes in the Atacama Desert and at the Collowara Observatory, near the scenic town of Andacollo. ● ● Vicuña Atacama Desert Flamingo Moon Valley, Atacama Desert ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel Torremayor is a three-star hotel conveniently located near the airport in Santiago (Providencia), close to Mall Panoramico, Sernatur and Clinica Santa Maria. Also nearby are San Cristobal Hill and Sculpture Park. Hosteria San Pedro is a colonial-style hotel built from volcanic rock. If offers pleasant accommodations and an outdoor pool, and it is only a 10-minute walk from central San Pedro. Hotel Radisson is located on the main coast avenue of the city, facing the Pacific Ocean, approximately 19 miles from the Cerro Moreno Airport. Amenities include a business center, mobile phone rental, health club, meeting space, the Brick Restaurant and a cocktail lounge. Room amenities include work desks, minibars, dual-line telephones, wireless Internet access, complimentary bottled water, complimentary coffeemakers, ironing boards, safe deposit boxes and cable televisions. Hotel Costa Real is widely regarded as the best and most sophisticated hotel in La Serena. Its location in the city center near the coast makes it the perfect place for professionals and tourists alike. The hotel offers 51 rooms, meeting rooms, a pool, bar and business center. Its El Gran Gabito restaurant is an unforgettable experience thanks to its innovative menu based on ingredients from the area of the Elqui. Atacama Desert Itinerary Day 1 • Sunday, March 15 DEPART U.S. / SANTIAGO Depart from your home city for Santiago, the capital of Chile. Overnight flight Meals aloft Day 2 • Monday, March 16 SANTIAGO Arrive this morning in Santiago and transfer to our fourstar hotel, located in the area of Providencia. An afternoon city tour will introduce us to this city at the foot of the Andes. Late afternoon, gather for an orientation and welcome dinner. Hotel Torremayor D Day 3 • Tuesday, March 17 SANTIAGO / CALAMA / SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA This morning, fly north to Calama and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama for a three-night stay. On the way, we will stop at Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains). Shaped over time by the rain, wind and sun of the Atacama Desert, its form as we know it today is full of natural sculptures, different types of stratifications and varied colors due to its mineral diversity. In the evening, we visit the Moon Valley, with its extraordinary landscape caused by the erosion of the Salt Mountains. This evening, we have our first introduction to the Southern skies under astronomer Alain Maury’s expert leadership. Hosteria San Pedro B, L, D Paranal Observatory springs. Enjoy lunch at La Estaka restaurant before returning to the hotel for an afternoon lecture. We will have the remainder of the day at leisure until dinner. Hosteria San Pedro B, L, D Day 5 • Thursday, March 19 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA This morning, visit the largest astronomical project in existence, the Atacama Large Millimeter / submillimeter Array, or ALMA. Following a lecture and lunch, we’ll explore the immense Salar de Atacama, with its various species of flamingos. Here we’ll see lagoons of beautiful colors and many volcanoes. Look for vicuñas, viscachas and other wildlife of the area. Hosteria San Pedro B, L, D Day 6 • Friday, March 20 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA / ANTOFAGASTA Today we turn our attention from the celestial heavens to the ancient past, with a visit to the archaeological site of Pukará de Quitor. Savor one last lunch at La Estaka before transferring to Antofagasta via private motor coach. Dinner will be served at the hotel upon arrival. Hotel Radisson B, L, D Day 7 • Saturday, March 21 ANTOFAGASTA / PARANAL / LA SERENA This morning we’ll drive to the Paranal Observatory, home of the VLT (Very Large Telescope), often described as the worlds largest. Located on top of Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert, it has four 8.2-meter telescopes. The Paranal Mountain was chosen because Day 4 • Wednesday, March 18 of its excellent atmospheric conditions and remote location. After touring the facilities, we will have a SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA snack on the bus ride to the airport in Antofagasta for a Early this morning, we depart on an excursion to El Tatio, the world’s highest major geyser field, to see the flight to La Serena. We will be met at the airport and great outflow of geysers at sunrise. Afterward, relax in transferred to our hotel in La Serena. B, L, D the warm mineral waters of the Termas de Puritana hot Hotel Costa Real El Tatio Geyers Day 8 • Sunday, March 22 LA SERENA Take a guided city tour of La Serena this morning. Then, in the early afternoon, travel to the picturesque town of Vicuña to visit a Pisco distillery. We’ll learn about this Chilean liquor and enjoy a Pisco tasting in the cellars of Pisco Elqui. Have lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure until dinner. Depart on a nighttime excursion to the one of the newest public-observation centers in Chile, the Collowara Observatory. Located 1,300 meters above sea level on the summit of Cerro Churqui, this observatory offers us an up-close look at the planets and constellations via a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Hotel Costa Real B, L, D Day 9 • Monday, March 23 LA SERENA Today we travel north of La Serena by road to Las Campanas Observatory in the Chilean Andes for a daylong tour of the Magellan Project site and the two 6.5-meter telescopes housed there. On arrival at the observatory, we’ll have a special boxed lunch before our exclusive tour of the inside of the installations. Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure until dinner. Hotel Costa Real B, L, D Day 10 • Tuesday, March 24 LA SERENA / SANTIAGO This morning, visit the Gemini South Telescope, an 8.1-meter telescope located at an elevation of 8,900 feet, in a region with some of the clearest skies in the world and surrounded by the snow-capped Andes. Afterward, visit the adjacent Southern Observatory for Astrophysical Research Telescope, a high-performance, modern, 4.1-meter-aperture astronomical Magellan Project Baade Telescope telescope. On the return to La Serena, tour the fertile Elqui Valley and stop at a Pisco distillery. In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport for an evening flight to Santiago. Enjoy dinner on your own in Chile’s vibrant capital. Hotel Torremayor B, L Day 11 • Wednesday, March 25 SANTIAGO / U.S. Today we explore the beautiful valleys and wineries of Chile’s central region, where renowned Chilean wines are produced. Later we’ll gather in the gardens of the historic Viña Santa Rita for a farewell lunch and wine tasting. We return to our hotel, and the remainder of our afternoon is unscheduled before driving to the airport for our overnight flights home. Overnight Flight B, L Day 12 • Thursday, March 26 ARRIVE U.S. Arrive in the U.S. and connect with flights home. Meals aloft Viña Santa Rita COSTS AND CONDITIONS LAND PROGRAM COST………………………………………………..$6,945 (Per person, double occupancy) SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ………………………………………………..$1,125 If you request to share a twin room, we will attempt to find a roommate for you. However, if at the time of final payment, no roommate is available, a single supplement will be charged. SAMPLE COACH AIRFARE FROM MIAMI……………………….…$1,200 (As of August 2014 and subject to change.) INCLUDED Nine nights’ accommodations in a three-star hotel in Santiago plus first-class or best-available country-style hotels s private lecture rooms s airport transfers for recommended flights s all land transportation by private motor coach s on-tour flights (Santiago/Calama, Antofagasta/La Serena, La Serena/Santiago)* — however, increases in the in-tour airfare after the initial pricing of this program are not included s meals as specified in the itinerary s bottled water during outings s baggage handling s basic gratuities to local guides and drivers s service charges and taxes s entrance fees on planned excursions and visits s all domestic airport departure taxes s professional, Englishspeaking guides at all locations and a tour director throughout s arrangements for all private visits to the observatories s private nighttime viewing with amateur telescopes in the Atacama s pre-departure information s administrative expenses, coordination and mailings s customized luggage tags and name tags. policies, any increases in the in-tour airfare (included as part of the program cost), security and fuel surcharges will be passed on to the participants. WHAT TO EXPECT This exclusive expedition is designed for University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni and friends who are interested in learning about the astronomy, wildlife, geology and superb natural landscapes of northern Chile. Walks are approximately one mile long (sometimes over uneven terrain), with pauses to observe and discuss and can be longer at the participant’s discretion. Some excursions will reach altitudes of approximately 9,000 feet. The altitude in San Pedro de Atacama, where we spend three nights, is 8,000 feet. On the day we visit the geysers of El Tatio, we will briefly reach altitudes of 13,000 feet. Las Campanas Observatory is located at an altitude of 8,900 feet; the Paranal Observatory is located at altitude of 8,645 feet; the Gemini Observatory is located at an altitude of approximately 7,241 feet. ALMA’s operations support facility NOT INCLUDED is at an altitude of 9,514 feet. There will be an optional U.S. domestic and international airfare (quoted visit to the site of ALMA’s radio telescopes on the separately) s passport fees s room service s alcoholic Chajnantor Plateau, located at an altitude of 16,400 feet. beverages (except those included in the welcome and Passengers must have a medical release signed by their farewell meals) s meals not indicated in the itinerary s tip personal physician in order take part in the Chajnantor to tour director (at passenger’s discretion) s excess bagPlateau visit. All the hotels are located at comfortable altigage charges s private transfers s medical expenses s per- tudes. Because some of the travel will be in remote areas, sonal items such as laundry, phone calls, snacks and flexibility is required concerning time schedules, food, personal insurance s any increases in the in-tour airfare* weather and dust. To enjoy this experience, participants (included as part of the land program cost), airport taxes, must be in good physical and mental health, and they security or fuel surcharges imposed after the initial pricing must be able to keep up with the pace of the group. Proof this program. gram participants requiring extraordinary assistance must be accompanied by someone who can and will provide all *Please note that the land program cost of $6,945 inrequired assistance. We describe this trip as moderately cludes the internal airfare at a cost of $600 (as of August active. Travel is by regular, scheduled jet aircraft and 2014). Because of the recent fuel increases and airline private, air-conditioned motor coach. RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENT To reserve a space on this tour, please mail or fax your deposit of $800 per person, along with the completed reservation form, to: Wisconsin Alumni Association, 650 N. Lake St., Madison, WI 53706. The initial deposit may be charged to a credit card. Final payment is due on December 12, 2014, and must be paid by check. Reservations are acknowledged in order of receipt. Royal Adventures (CST #2009579-40) handles all bookings, ticketing and invoicing. TOUR SIZE This program is based on a minimum of 15 paying passengers. If there are fewer than 15 paying passengers, a supplement of approximately $300 per person will apply. CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS Refunds, less a $400-per-person cancellation fee, are made if we are notified in writing on or before December 12, 2014. No refunds are made after that date. All cancellations must be made in writing. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations or other trip features. INSURANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY The purchase of trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended. An application for trip cancellation insurance will be sent from the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) to all confirmed travelers. This insurance is designed especially to protect you from trip cancellation penalties and to provide baggage and accident/sickness coverage. You may reach Travel Insurance Services directly by calling (800) 937-1387. Neither the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Alumni Association nor Royal Adventures accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non- refundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability will be provided to passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers on request. QUESTIONS Please call Sheri Hicks in the WAA Travel Department toll free at (888) 922-8728 or (608) 262-9521, or you can email her at [email protected]. RESPONSIBILITY Royal Adventures, its owners and employees act only as an agent for the various independent suppliers and contractors providing transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant and other services connected with this tour. Such travel and services are subject to the terms and conditions under which such accommodations, services and transportation are offered or provided. The University of Wisconsin– Madison, the Wisconsin Alumni Association, Royal Adventures and their respective employees, agents, representatives and assigns accept no liability for such travel and services. The University of WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin Alumni Association and Royal Adventures assume no liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or other irregularity that may be caused by the defect of any aircraft or vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, earthquake, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, quarantine, force majeure or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. The Astronomy Board of Visitors and Royal Adventures reserve the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience or safety of the tour participants. They reserve the right to withdraw this tour without penalty, in which case participants will be issued a full refund, except if the tour is canceled due to force majeure or other forces beyond our control, in which case the recoverable portion of unused services or accommodations will be refunded. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour, or to substitute another qualified leader or special guest. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. The price of the program is given in good faith based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. The Astronomy Board of Visitors and Royal Adventures do not accept the liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket. The air ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. As part of the Vicuña consideration and right to participate in this tour, each participant will be asked to sign a liability release. RESERVATION FORM Enclosed is a deposit of $________ ($800 deposit per person) to hold _______ place(s) on The Skies of the Southern Hemisphere Tour from March 15 to 26, 2015. _________________________________________________________________________________ Name as on passport Date of birth _________________________________________________________________________________ Name as on passport Date of birth Address___________________________________ City _____________________ State__________ Zip code __________________ Email(s)_________________________________________________ ¨ My check is enclosed; OR ¨ Please charge the deposit to: ¨ AMEX ¨ Visa ¨ MasterCard ¨ Discover Card Card # __________________________________ Exp. date ____________ Security code _______ ¨ I wish to pay $1,125 additional for a single accommodation. (Limited availability – please call WAA). ¨ I will share accommodations with_______________________________________. ¨ I/We will take care of our own international flight arrangements to/from Santiago, Chile. ¨ Please make round-trip flight arrangements from_____________________________________. I/We confirm that I/we have carefully read the Costs and Conditions and the Responsibility sections of the brochure and agree to their terms. _______________________________________________________________________________ Signature Date _______________________________________________________________________________ Signature Date Mail, email or fax this form with credit card authorization or check payable to ROYAL ADVENTURES to: WAA Travel, 650 N. Lake St., Madison, WI 53706-1476. (608) 262-9521 or toll free (888) 922-8728 Email: [email protected] Fax (608) 262-3332 uwalumni.com/travel For specific trip details, please call Royal Adventures at (800) 453-4754.