Tropical Sails began in 1990 while Dan Oppliger was working for a tour operator in El Paso, TX. Dan worked in the marketing department where he received a call from a prospect wanting a solar eclipse tour down the Mexican Baja peninsula for the July 1991 total solar eclipse. Dan took the project to his boss, who said We dont go to Baja in the summertime.

Dan ran ads in Astronomy magazine and quickly had 75 people signed up to drive the Baja Peninsula. We saw all six minutes plus of the total solar eclipse from a gorgeous beach southeast of La Paz. We camped in RV parks and deserted beaches on the trip. All arrangements we made using Dans expertise. A few clients backed out after erroneous information was published in the major astronomy magazines.

Some clients asked What are doing for Peru? What do I know about Peru? In 1994 we had some clients in El Paso for the annular solar solar eclipse. Dan was the big cheese in town supplying some 100,000 pair of Eclipse Shades to schools, businesses, radio stations and individuals.

Someone came up with idea is that I should charter a Windjammer Barefoot tall ship for the February 1998 solar eclipse off Guadeloupe. We ended up with the Fantome, Polynesia, Legacy, and Mandalay. Added to that was the new Star Clipper ship. We also added cruises to our offerings including the Dawn Princess and a Royal Caribbean ship.

In 1999 we went to Turkey for the first time. 33 people on private yachts for two weeks. Sailing past Ephesus, the Dardanelles and Bosporus into the Black Sea. Followed by two Africa eclipses.

We had a small group in Australia after 911. We saw a annular solar eclipse at sea on the Yankee Clipper. We had a summertime group on the Polynesia for the Venus Transit of 2004. 2006 was a big year with 84 people going to Turkey. I think is sold so well because it was off season and just a 8 night voyage. Part of that group went on to tour Western Turkey including most of the Churches of Revelation.

We had large groups in China for both the 2008 Silk Road Eclipse and 2009 repeat of the Baja Eclipse Saros cycle. The Pacific in 2010 and Australia 2012. Interestingly it was the same Dawn Princess and the same, but older Captain for the Australia Eclipse Cruise.

We have good arrangements with suppliers all over the globe. Dan has been to 30 countries. We are here to arrange you group tour, or for individual travel with our great suppliers.

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Reviews

DO
Daniel O.

04/02/2013

Provided by YP.com

S
sandersonkinder

02/25/2013

Provided by YP.com

I went with Tropical Sails Cor to see the longest Total Solar Eclipse of this century appeared in China July 22nd. It was about 2 1/2 hours from the first contact to the end and the total eclipse lasted about 6 minutes. We were on the bus ready to go at 4:00 am. This was the first time our tour guides did anything on time. We left Hangzhou at 4:15 am. When we arrived at the reservoir two and half hours later, the parking lot was either half empty or half full. (And they wanted to leave at 6:00 am).



Tropical Sails Corp choose the right position, far from city and on a high altitude and wide places to avoid the rain and thick clouds in summer, and we give thanks for the co-operation of the weather. Three Chinese students at Hangzhou Senior High School traveled 1400 km along the eclipse path with gps equipment. Tianhuangpig reservoir near Anji, Zhejiang province is where Tropical Sails Corp observed the eclipse in a semi private marked off section on the dam. This was the number one site suggested by the students in their small publication.



What an exciting and perfect morning! The satellite image was clear at 3:00 am where we were going. The forecast was for showers and rain. As we climbed to 960 meters, all that was left were thin, wispy clouds, resembling fog.



Tropical Sails produced a fantastic solar eclipse experience.

anonymous

02/04/2013

Provided by Superpages

Dear Dan, Just wanted to let you know that we had a wonderful trip - I'm sure you've already heard that we lucked out on the weather! And our captains and crews did a fantastic job getting us to the centerline on time. It was great to meet, and sail with, Melissa, who really worked hard to iron out all the little snags. She certainly knows how to smooth the rumples that come along with all the people thrown together for the first time - and especially considering that the "excuse" for their meeting would last only 3.5 minutes and depended upon the weather! Gail and I thoroughly enjoyed her company and her leadership. As well, we enjoyed meeting the eclipse chasers and astronomy buffs on our boat and on the others (including, of course, Peter Midnight). Many of us enjoyed multiple evenings of star gazing from the bow. You did a great job, I thought, in assigning people to boats. We were all glad we weren't on the party boat, as I'm sure they were all glad to be on it together and not on ours. I know you thought it unfortunate that the two children were not together, but it worked out very well. They each took advantage of their time together when they got it. It was nice to have them hail one another from the boats when were at close range, and to watch them play together on shore. Due to the circumstances, I only got one chance to get out the telescope, and was really pleased to show a few of the night sky wonders to the captains and crew, and to the passengers as they returned from dinner. It turned out that the captain of the Randa was our captain two years ago on our second week, and he still remembered seeing Jupiter and its moons from a dark beach one night. He was enthusiastic in gathering the crews together to see Saturn's rings, and the moon and Pleiades at low power. Gail and I were very pleased to see him again, too. Thanks very much for inviting us - I hope I fulfilled your expectations. Steve Goldberg was very helpful as was his friend Steve from Cornwall and Victor from MN. I look forward to seeing them all again. Indeed, Gail and I feel once more that we have made many new and dear friends. Don't yet know if any of my eclipse photos show anything more than a blur. But if there is a shot you might like, and can use in the future, I will be sure to send it to you.

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Traveling should be a sense of adventure

Hours
Regular Hours
Mon - Fri:
Extra Phones

Phone: 623-444-8195

TollFree: 800-595-1003

Services/Products
Cruises, tours, tall ship cruises, resort packages, river cruises.
Brands
Apak Tours, Avalon Waterways, Globus, Jenman Safaris, MSC Cruises, Norwegian, Princess, Star Clippers, Ventus Sailing, Windjammer
Payment method
all major credit cards, check, paypal
Location
Located in Arizona Traditions, Surprise, AZ.
Accreditation

Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce

Associations
NACTA, CLIA
Categories
Cruises, Travel Agencies
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Parking: Street

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