A “Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse is Coming This Fall—Here’s How to Plan an Unforgettable Trip to Witness It

On October 2, 2024, a rare annular solar eclipse will traverse the Pacific Ocean and South America. This event, known as a “ring of fire” eclipse, occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun but does not completely obscure it, creating a brilliant ring around the moon. In some locations, this spectacle will last up to 7 minutes and 25 seconds.

Here’s everything you need to know for planning a last-minute adventure to view the 2024 annular solar eclipse.

Route of the October 2024 “Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse

The eclipse will traverse a distance of 8,800 miles, but only a small portion will pass over land. It begins approximately 1,000 miles south of Hawai‘i in the Pacific Ocean and concludes around 350 miles north of South Georgia in the Atlantic Ocean, casting temporary darkness over Easter Island and southern regions of mainland Chile and Argentina. In contrast to the roughly 44 million people located within the path of totality during the April 8, 2024, eclipse in North America, only 175,000 individuals reside along the path of the annular solar eclipse on October 2. This means that if you attend, you could find yourself among a select group of travelers.

Best Locations to View the October 2024 Solar Eclipse

Perito Moreno National Park in Patagonia, Argentina

Nestled within the expansive Patagonia region, Perito Moreno is renowned for its stunning variety of landscapes, featuring a 100 square-mile glacier, towering basalt plateaus, and a rich assortment of wildlife, including the endangered Andean condor and guanacos, which are wild relatives of llamas.

In the week leading up to the eclipse, Parque Patagonia will be hosting various events, from scientific talks to telescope viewings, both in the park and in nearby towns like Perito Moreno, Los Antiguos, and Lago Posadas, where camping and lodging options are available. Visitors can also venture to the Cañadón Pinturas Gateway, offering over 20 miles of nature trails, and Cueva de las Manos Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its ancient rock art dating back 8,000 years. The nearest airport is El Calafate, with daily three-hour flights from Buenos Aires.

The solar eclipse in October will take place here between approximately 4 p.m. and 6:20 p.m. local time, with the peak moment occurring around 5:25 p.m.

Easter Island, Chile

Rapa Nui National Park, located on Easter Island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its massive stone statues known as moai. These statues were carved by the island’s early Polynesian settlers between the 13th and 16th centuries and symbolize their ancestors, dotting the landscape of the park. The entire island lies within the path of the eclipse, although viewing times will vary by location. At Ana o Heu, the northernmost point, the eclipse will last for 5 minutes and 59 seconds, while at Orongo, the southernmost point, it will be visible for 6 minutes and 28 seconds. Rapa Nui is a five-hour flight from Santiago, Chile. For those preferring guided experiences, organizations like Sky & Telescope and Eclipse Traveler provide tours.

The eclipse will commence around 12:23 p.m. and conclude at approximately 3:52 p.m. on October 2, with maximum solar coverage occurring at 2:07 p.m.

Upcoming eclipses

Save the date! Following the October 2024 annular solar eclipse, the next occurrences will be on February 17, 2026, in Antarctica; February 6, 2027, across Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria; January 26, 2028, in the Galápagos Islands, mainland Ecuador, Brazil, French Guiana, Portugal, Morocco, and Spain; and June 1, 2030, in Algeria, Tunisia, Greece, Türkiye, Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Japan. Additionally, a total solar eclipse will take place on August 12, 2026, visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small region of Portugal.