
DECEMBER 11-17, 2020
From $3800 USD, all-inclusive, more info here - 4 SPACES NOW OPEN!
COVID19 UPDATE: Yes, Chile will open its borders in time! For those comfortable with the risks associated with travel during a pandemic, we have a great opportunity. With spectacular private lodging and our own space (on a beach!) in the eclipse path, we can isolate ourselves as a group as needed. As for the particular precautions taken during the workshop, that will be decided closer to the date depending on the current situation at the time. And for those jumping in last minute, you'll probably get the best deals of all of us on flights.
Join Elijah Parker and Timelapse+ in December 2020 for an amazing opportunity to photograph the Total Solar Eclipse in the Lakes District of Chile in Northern Patagonia. This workshop offers a chance to learn more about time-lapse hands-on, while capturing breathtaking footage in this incredible region.
You will use the VIEW Intervalometer to programmatically capture the eclipse while enjoying it from a private beach location. Participants will receive hands-on instruction in the setup of everything from camera settings, interval, and motion equipment, to post processing and editing.
This is a total solar eclipse lasting about 2 minutes and 10 seconds, from both the primary location and the backup location. A total eclipse is an incredible experience, and with the VIEW Intervalometer automating the capture of it, we will be able to more fully take in the experience without worrying about photography during the moment of totality.
Besides capturing the eclipse, the workshop will have a full schedule and will visit a variety of beautiful locations for time-lapse and general photography, visit some hot springs, a Mapuche market, and enjoy the diversity and beauty of the pristine environment.
Scroll down for more info and photos or reserve your spot now.
Workshop Overview

Instructor
Elijah Parker, creator of the Timelapse+ VIEW Intervalometer, will be leading and teaching the workshop. He had a wonderful experience with the eclipse of August 2017 and is excited to share the experience with the workshop. He will also be the driver and translator. He visited the location in April 2019 to scope out locations and get familiar with the area. Also joining him will be an assistant, to be announced later.

Lodging
In a spacious and beautiful cabin right on the shore of beautiful Lake Villarrica with a great view of the active volcano, the workshop will be directly in the centerline of the eclipse on a private beach. This will be the home base where the group can relax, enjoy the lake and birds, and capture time-lapse of the volcano. It’s also an ideal central location for the area’s natural attractions. More info and photos here…

Eclipse
The primary objective of the workshop is to capture a spectacular sequence of the eclipse. The VIEW Intervalometer will be essential in capturing the various stages and range of exposures. If there are clouds expected on the eclipse day, the group will leave early in the morning for an alternate (arid) location across the Andes in Argentina, also in the center of the eclipse path. A map and more info can be seen here.

Experience
The lakes district of the Northern edge of Patagonia has a lot to offer, and the trip will make the most of it. Exploring the Andes mountains between Chile and Argentina, capturing spectacular time-lapse, visiting a Mapuche market, driving up a volcano for the sunrise, hiking through deep forests in search of the endemic woodpecker, and soaking in hot springs nestled within lush vegetation in the mountains. Check out the photos from the region…

December 2020. Tentative schedule, subject to change (apart from the start and end dates, those are certain). This is just an overview and not an exhaustive list of activities planned.
Participant Requirements
- Passport (the group may cross the border to Argentina)
- Good health and fitness, comfortable walking 2-3 kilometers (1-2 miles)
- Camera (DSLR or Mirrorless), VIEW Intervalometer, and ideally a telephoto lens and motion equipment if possible
Included in with the Workshop tuition
- 6 nights lodging at the cabin on the lake
- Breakfasts, pack lunches, and 5 dinners (served at the cabin)
- Ground transportation as a group
- Hands-on training using the VIEW Intervalometer for the eclipse and day to night and night to day time-lapse, as well as post-processing instruction
- Solar eclipse glasses, solar lens filters
- Airport pickup / dropoff on the 11th and 17th
NOT Included
- Airfare to Temuco, Chile (ZCO, arriving by 1pm 2020 Dec 11)
- Dinner one night at restaurant
- Alcoholic beverages (Chile is said to have good wine, but you’ll be on your own for that)
- Individual transport separate from group (shouldn’t be needed)
- Extra snacks
PRICING
All options include 6 nights lodging, most meals and ground transportation. Each room has its own bathroom.
Limited to a maximum of 8 participants
Questions before booking? Contact us here.
Double Occupancy - $3800 USD (2 total - 1 men's spot left on main level)
- A twin sized bed in a shared room with two beds and one bathroom. One of the rooms (with blue) is on the second level with a lake view, and the other (red) is on the main level with a view away from the lake.
Private Room - $4200 USD (or $7200/couple) (2 total - SOLD OUT)
- A queen bed in a private room with a private bathroom. It’s on the main level with a view of the lake.
Private Suite - $4500 USD (or $7500/couple) (1 total - SOLD OUT)
- A queen bed in a private suite with a private bathroom and jacuzzi. It’s on the second level with beautiful views of the lake and volcano.
Double Occupancy (smaller room) - $3700 USD (2 total - 1 women's spot left)
- A twin sized bed in a shared room with two beds and one bathroom (this room is a bit smaller than the others and wasn’t prepared at the time of the photos). It’s on the main level with a view away from the lake.
DISCLAIMER
COVID19 UPDATE: We're on, but there is a real risk of being denied entry in the case that any of us contract COVID-19. In case that happens to the organizer, the assistant will lead instead, using the materials already prepared.
It’s worth noting that although every effort will be taken to capture the eclipse with clear skies, there’s a real risk that it won’t happen. There may be no area around without clouds, or equipment could fail, or traffic could prevent reaching an area with clear skies. If this happens, it won’t be possible to offer refunds, but we’ll still make the most of the trip otherwise, with time-lapse and photography of a beautiful area.
In the very unlikely situation that the trip is canceled, the deposit and any other payments will be refunded. The deposit cannot be refunded for cancellation on the part of a participant for any reason. Trip insurance is recommended as a way to cover this risk. Other payments can be refunded only up to July 2020, cancellations after July 2020 will not receive refunds unless the spot is booked again.
SAFETY: Chile is a relatively safe country, with good infrastructure. There is always some concern of theft since we will have valuable equipment, so equipment insurance is highly recommended. Elijah Parker / Timelapse+ cannot be held liable in case of injury, death or lost equipment. Both Elijah and the assistant will have Red Cross first aid certification, and we will carry a satellite phone for emergencies.
BOOKING INFO
For new bookings, full payment is due immediately.
Participants are responsible for their own airfare to Temuco, Chile (ZCO). It’s recommended to book flights ASAP since there is high demand due to the eclipse. Due to limited availability on partner airlines, an option to consider when booking flights is to get a round-trip from Miami to Temuco via LATAM airlines, and then separately book a flight to Miami (giving yourself plenty of time to fetch baggage and check back in). Plan to arrive in ZCO by 1pm on December 11th 2020 (you will be met at the airport).
Path of the eclipse

Workshop lodging and primary location
This is the home base as well as the first choice for photographing the eclipse, weather permitting. It’s situated in a quiet location on the south shore Lake Villarrica between the towns of Villarrica and Pucón, with a good view of the volcano and fairly dark skies at night. This is an excellent location with the convenience of not requiring further travel, however, the weather is not as reliable here, and based on historical data, there’s a 47% chance of cloud cover in which case we will drive to the backup location in the early morning of the eclipse.
Backup location in Argentina
Roughly 3.5 hours from the base location via a spectacular drive on excellent roads is the backup location for the eclipse, out in an arid region of Argentina. Like the base location, this is also directly in the centerline of the eclipse path, giving the longest possible viewing time regardless of which location is used. Most of the moist air that comes from the Pacific ocean is blocked by the Andes mountains along the boarder of Chile and Argentina, so the likelihood of clear skies here is very good. However, there is very little available here in the way of food and lodging, which is why the workshop is hosted on the Chilean side of the Andes.
Another consideration for a backup location is to drive 2.5 hours to the Pacific coast, although it’s unlikely to be better than the Argentina location since it doesn’t have the separation provided by the Andes. Only if the weather report shows it as better than the first two locations will the coast be considered.

The arid landscape near our backup location in Argentina

Composite from the August 2017 total solar eclipse, as seen from Driggs, Idaho, USA
Lodging on Lake Villarrica, Chile
Spacious and peaceful, with a private beach and great views of the volcano. Most meals and classroom sessions will be here, as well as time-lapse from the beach.
The weather here is very pleasant, with average highs around 22°C / 72°F and lows around 8°C / 46°F in December.
Directly in the line of the eclipse, weather-permitting will will photograph the eclipse from the private beach, with lunch served outside during the eclipse.
The beach offers an excellent view of the active Volcán Villarrica, which will be great for day to night and night to day time-lapse with the illuminated plume of smoke from the crater.
This central location will make for great access to the area’s attractions, including an hour drive up the volcano for a great vantage point overlooking the area for sunrises and sunsets, as well as hot springs and waterfalls.
We’ll have most meals served right here at the cabin by our resident hosts, so we’ll be well taken care of with hot breakfasts, pack lunches and communal dinners at the large dining room table.
We’ll do our best to accommodate any dietary requests, but certain things won’t be possible such as guaranteeing lack of gluten contamination for those with celiac disease. Please contact us before booking if you have any dietary needs or questions.
La Araucanía, Chile — Exploring the region
A collection of photos from my (Elijah’s) exploratory trip to the region in April 2019. The whole region is beautiful and offers a lot of opportunity for time-lapse and photography in pristine nature. As can be seen in the photos, April is a wetter time of year with more clouds, however when the eclipse takes place in December, it is more likely to be dryer with fewer clouds, and our backup location in Argentina is quite likely to have clear skies regardless.
Among the special features of the region are the Araucana trees. They can only be found in this region of Patagonia and are a great subject for photography. The fruit of the Araucana is like a giant pine nut, 3-5cm in length. These are a traditional food for the Mapuche people of the region, who are the only ones allowed to harvest them as the trees are protected.
The roads in the region are excellent, so it’s easy to get around. When driving places we’ll always be on the lookout and if anyone notices something they want to photograph we’ll pull over and jump out if possible.
Of the many volcanos in the greater region, we will especially focus on two: Volcán Villarrica, an active volcano visible from our lodging location, with smoke rising from the crater that is illuminated at night, and the much higher Volcán Lanín, the peak of which is on the border between Chile and Argentina. Both are excellent subjects for time-lapse and photography, and we’ll plan to get at least a day to night time-lapse of each.
The night sky in the region will be excellent as well, since there is little light pollution in the area and we will be there during the new moon. Additionally, for those from the North, there are a lot of new things to see in the Southern night sky.
For those from the Northern hemisphere, many of the birds in the region will be new. Birds are of particular interest to me, so you can be sure I’ll point them out and do my best to identify what we see. One of the most special birds of the region is the Magellanic Woodpecker, which unfortunately I failed to encounter during the April 2019 trip (although I did hear one!). In my brief time there, I managed to positively identify the following birds (which were all new to me):
- California Quail
- Silvery Grebe
- Neotropic Cormorant
- Black-faced Ibis
- Variable Hawk
- Southern Caracara
- Chimango Caracara
- Red-gartered Coot
- Southern Lapwing
- Austral Parakeet
- Ringed Kingfisher
- Dark-bellied Cinclodes
- Thorn-tailed Rayadito
- Grassland Yellow-Finch
- Rufus-collared Sparrow
- Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant
- Long-tailed Meadowlark