Toast the sun and moon

Eat, drink and view an eclipse of the sun on a 10-day astronomy and gastronomy tour of Spain that begins Sept. 25.

“What draws people to this trip is its mix of Spanish history and prehistoric cave art, food, wines and an amazing astronomical event on Oct. 3 -- an annular eclipse of the sun,” said Aram Kaprielian, president of TravelQuest International. During an annular eclipse, the moon almost completely hides the sun, leaving only a bright ring of sunlight.

The tour starts in Madrid; participants travel to the wine region of La Rioja, stopping for tastings at several wineries, including Bodegas Muga in Haro. They tour the medieval village of Laguardia and the Guggenheim Bilbao before traveling to Santillana del Mar where they will visit Altamira Museum and the Altamira Neo Cave, a replica of the region’s prehistoric-art-filled caves (now closed to the public).

The journey ends back in Madrid, where the group is to view the eclipse.

Accompanying the tour will be Spanish historian and wine expert Cesar Higueras and Sky & Telescope magazine associate editor Paul Deans.

Cost: $3,840 per person, double occupancy ($600 single surcharge), including hotels, most meals, ground transportation in Spain, sightseeing, admissions, guides and airport transfers. Airfare from Los Angeles to Madrid is not included.

Contact: TravelQuest International, Prescott, Ariz.; (800) 830-1998, www.tq-international.com.

*

BRAZIL & ARGENTINA

Embrace the art of tango

Enjoy a two-week fall romp in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.

The 13-day trip, open to women only, begins Oct. 19 with a flight to Brazil. From a beachfront hotel in the Ipanema area of Rio, the group will venture to the colonial part of the city, spend an evening watching samba dancers and attend a private gem-and-jewelry show. Participants will travel to the nearby resort city of Petropolis, named for emperor Dom Pedro II, who summered there in the 19th century.

While in Buenos Aires, the group will attend a tango performance in the San Telmo colonial barrio and take a private lesson in the art of the dance.

Cost: $3,495 per person, double occupancy ($780 single surcharge), including round-trip airfare from Los Angeles to Rio and Buenos Aires to Los Angeles, internal airfare, hotels, most meals, ground transportation, guides, sightseeing, admissions, taxes and most gratuities.

Contact: Harvest Travel International, Oakland; (800) 227-0464.

*

CALIFORNIA

All aboard for Hearst Castle

Experience the opulence of Hearst Castle on a train trip and tour of the state historical monument that overlooks the Pacific Coast at San Simeon.

The two-day tours, now through December, travel on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight or Pacific Surfliner to San Luis Obispo. The following day, participants take a guided sightseeing tour by bus to the castle, built in the 1920s and ‘30s by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, who died in 1951.

Travelers choose from one of four tours offered at the castle.

Cost: $278 to $349 per person, double occupancy ($60 to $140 single surcharge or $110 for children ages 2 to 11 sharing a room with parents). Price depends on choice of hotel and includes round-trip transportation from Los Angeles, accommodations, some meals, sightseeing and tours.

Contact: Key Holidays Amtrak Tours, Walnut Creek; (800) 783-0783, www.keyholidays.com.

*

SAN FRANCISCO

Island haven for naturalists

SAIL west from the San Francisco Bay to the Farrallon Islands, home to the largest seabird rookery in the contiguous U.S.

The eight-hour trips embark at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays and select Fridays now through November aboard the 56-foot Salty Lady or the 50-foot Whacky Jack, both Coast Guard-certified.

Naturalists are on board to help spot giant blue and humpback whales that breed and feed in the Gulf of the Farrallones National Marine Sanctuary (which includes the islands), summer through fall.

Cost: $85 per person, including cruise and guide. Transportation from Los Angeles, weather gear and lunch are not provided.

Contact: Oceanic Society Expeditions, San Francisco; (800) 326-7491, www.oceanicsociety.org.

*

The Times is not responsible for changes in prices, dates or itineraries. Send information to Tours & Cruises, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012; e-mail travel@latimes.com.