Explore Chile on an 8-day astronomy adventure across La Serena, the Elqui Valley, and the Atacama Desert. Start with a guided city tour of La Serena and Coquimbo, visiting La Recova market, the Monumental Lighthouse, and the Third Millennium Cross before checking in at Hotel Casa Molle. Head to Vicuna to tour the Gemini Observatory or SOAR, depending on the schedule. Spend a full day in the Elqui Valley with stops at Puclaro Reservoir, a solar kitchen in Villaseca, a pisco distillery, and a night sky session at the Omega Astronomical Center. Fly to Calama and travel to San Pedro de Atacama. Visit Moon Valley, explore a traditional Atacameno village, and enjoy a cultural stargazing tour. See Altiplanic lagoons, the town of Socaire, and the Tatio Geysers before the trip ends.
Highlights
Tour La Serena and Coquimbo, visiting La Recova and Third Millennium Cross
Visit Gemini or SOAR Observatory in Vicuna for a guided astronomy tour
Explore Elqui Valley with stops at Puclaro Reservoir and pisco distillery
Stargaze at Omega Astronomical Center under some of the world’s clearest skies
Discover Moon Valley and learn about Atacameno traditions in a local village
See Altiplanic lagoons, visit Socaire, and explore steam vents at Tatio Geysers
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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 SOAR 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.
The very early wake-up call from the hotel is well worth it when you arrive at the amazing Tatio Geysers and see them in action. From almost 900 meters below the earth, boiling steam bursts up to 40 meters over the surface of these spectacular geysers. A scrumptious breakfast is served upon arrival before you walk through the geothermal fields with the geysers erupting nearby. As you drive back, there is a magnificent view of the Tocopurri and Sairecabur volcanoes. Arrive back in town. The afternoon is free to rest after the early start, high altitude, and low temperature you faced in the morning.
Begin the day early with a drive through the Andean highlands to reach the El Tatio Geyser field at sunrise. Watch as steam vents rise up to 40 meters high in one of the world’s highest geothermal fields.
After exploring the geysers, visit Geyser Blanco to experience the thermal waters in a natural setting. Continue to the small mountain village of Machuca, known for its traditional adobe homes and local food stands. Return to San Pedro de Atacama in the afternoon and stay overnight at Hotel Desertica.
Day 8: Fly Santiago and Home
1 Breakfast
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.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 20% ($400 minimum), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
