Chile Astronomy Adventure

Arrive at La Florida Airport in La Serena and begin a guided city tour focused on key cultural and historical sites. Visit La Recova market, the Plaza de Armas, and the Historic Center, followed by stops at the Japanese Garden and the Monumental Lighthouse.

Continue along Avenida del Mar to Coquimbo to walk the coastal boardwalk, visit Lambert Fortress and the English Neighborhood, and ascend the Third Millennium Cross. After lunch in La Serena’s Historic Center, transfer to Hotel Casa Molle in the Elqui Valley. This boutique property offers a peaceful base for exploring northern Chile. Check in and settle in for the night.

Begin the day with a shared excursion from Hotel Casa Molle to the town of Vicuna, located in the heart of the Elqui Valley. This area is known for clear skies and world-class stargazing. Visit either Gemini South or Vera C. Rubin Observatory, depending on availability.

Upon arrival at Cerro Pachon, check in at the access gate and receive a safety briefing. Join a guided tour through key areas of the observatory, including the control room, telescope platform, and mirror coating facility. Learn how astronomers study deep space from one of the world’s top astronomical sites.

Return to Casa Molle to relax and prepare for the next day’s adventure.

Depart from Hotel Casa Molle for a full-day tour through the Elqui Valley, a region known for clear skies and astronomical research. Travel toward the Andes Mountains, stopping at Puclaro Reservoir for views of the valley and dam.

Continue to Vicuna to visit key landmarks, then head to Villaseca for lunch cooked using solar energy. Visit Cerro Pachon viewpoint and explore Montegrande, birthplace of Nobel Prize winner Gabriela Mistral.

Tour a local pisco distillery and walk the streets of Pisco Elqui. In the evening, dine in Vicuña before joining a stargazing session at Omega Astronomical Center. Return to Casa Molle for the night.

Take a morning flight to Calama, the gateway to the Atacama Desert. Travel by private transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, passing the Cordillera de la Sal with views of salt-crusted rock formations and desert landscapes. Arrive at Hotel Desertica for check-in and receive the schedule for the days ahead. Spend the rest of the day at a relaxed pace. Walk through the town’s adobe streets, visit the local church, or browse traditional handicrafts in the village market. San Pedro de Atacama, known for its dry climate and high elevation, serves as a base for exploring one of the best stargazing destinations in the world.

Start the day with a private excursion to Moon Valley, a key highlight in the Atacama Desert known for its dry terrain, salt formations, and wind-carved landscapes. Walk among rock formations that shift in color with the sunlight and stop at scenic viewpoints to take in the surroundings. Continue to Ayllu de Coyo, a traditional Atacameno community, for a cultural visit and a tasting of local dishes.

In the evening, join a guided astronomical tour under some of the clearest skies in the world. Begin with cultural stories shared around a fire, reflecting ancient Andean interpretations of the night sky. Then use telescopes to observe stars, planets, and constellations through the lens of modern astronomy. Return to Hotel Desertica for the night.

After breakfast, explore the Chilean Altiplano, starting with flamingo viewing at Chaxa Lagoon in the Atacama Salt Flat. Visit the pre-Incan farming terraces of Socaire, then continue to Miscanti and Miniques Lagoons, set among volcanoes at more than 4,200 meters above sea level.

End in Toconao, a small village known for its volcanic stone buildings and local crafts.

Begin the day early with a drive through the Andean highlands to reach the El Tatio Geyser field at sunrise.

Discover the power of nature at El Tatio Geysers, one of the world’s highest geothermal fields at more than 4,300 meters above sea level. Watch the sunrise as steam rises from the ground and geysers send water into the air.

Then visit the highland village of Machuca, known for its adobe homes, historic church, and Atacameño traditions.

After breakfast check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport. Board your flight to Santiago where you can catch your connecting flight home.