The world capital of astronomy: Chile

27 March 2025 - 13 days for £10,999

Experience the astronomical highlights of Chile, known as an astronomer's mecca. With 70% of the world’s telescopes, Chile truly is the world capital of astronomy. Visit some of the world's most technologically advanced observatories and stargaze beneath some of the clearest skies on earth.

Chile hosts some of the world's most advanced observatories, such as the Very Large Telescope (VLT), the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and the future Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in the Atacama, as well as prominent observatories in the Elqui Valley. Many of its observatories, including those in the Elqui Valley, are situated at high altitudes, often above 2,000 meters, an advantage as it places telescopes above much of the Earth's atmosphere that can distort and absorb light. These remote locations ensure minimal light pollution, crucial for deep-sky observation. The atmospheric conditions over these parts of Chile, both in the Atacama Desert and the Elqui Valley, are extremely stable, leading to less turbulence and, therefore, clearer astronomical images. 

During this tour, visit world leading observatories including Vera C. Rubin and Paranal. Enjoy the amazing landscapes of the Atacama Desert, traditional cuisine, and the fascinating towns and cities of this highly stimulating country.

Gain hands-on experience at historic and modern observatories, meet local experts and stargaze at several sites near San Pedro, Santiago and Vicuña. 

Senior lecturer in space science at the University of South Wales, Martin Griffiths will accompany you  throughout. Martin will give lectures and walking seminars throughout, as well as leading stargazing sessions.

This tour is suited for both those with little background in astronomy as well as those with lots of experience.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel.

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN TO SANTIAGO AND MEET MARTIN GRIFFITHS

Welcome to Santiago! Check into the Almasur Providencia Hotel.

Meet your fellow guests, your local guide and Martin Griffiths, who will be accompanying you throughout the tour, Martin will give an introductory talk from . 

As you will have a long day tomorrow, enjoy an early evening meal with traditional cuisine and the classic national cocktail Pisco Sour.

DAY 2: TRANSFER TO ANTOFAGASTA

Today you will have an early start. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before being transferred to the airport for your flight north to the port city of Antofagasta. On arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before checking in to the NH Antofagasta Hotel for two nights.

The remainder of the day will be at leisure before joining the group for dinner together in the evening.

DAY 3: THE PARANAL OBSERVATORY AND VISIT MANO DEL DESIERTO

Today, you will journey inland a few hours to the Paranal Observatory. Part of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the world’s most productive astronomical organisation, it provides funding for state-of-the-art research facilities and is supported by 15 European countries plus the UK and Chile.

Paranal hosts several world-class telescopes including the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and is considered one of the best astronomical observing sites in the world. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument consisting of four large unit telescopes and four smaller moveable telescopes. They work together to form a giant ‘interferometer’ that allows astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with individual telescopes.

The tour starts at the visitor centre before being taken to one of VLT platforms and entering the dome of an 8.2-meter unit telescope. If conditions allow, you will then visit the control room, where the astronomers work and is the technical hub of the site. Finally, a tour of La Residencia. The architecturally stunning hotel for Paranal staff and scientists as featured in the film Quantum of Solace.

On the return to Antofagasta, you will visit “The hand of the desert”, also known as “Mano del Desierto” is a work of the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, built in the early 1980s. This sculpture of a giant hand reaches for the stars in the middle of the Atacama Desert. The Scorched Moonscape of Atacama stretches for hundreds of miles on both sides of the Pan-American Highway, undisturbed by any sign of human activity.

Enjoy dinner at the hotel.

DAY 4: TRAVEL NORTH-EAST TO SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA AND VISIT MOON VALLEY

After breakfast, your will journey by private coach towards San Pedro de Atacama.

On your way, you will stop at Chacabuco, one of the most famous saltpeter towns of the Atacama Desert. In the early part of the last century there were 170 saltpeter towns that made nitrates for export around the world until synthetic versions from Germany led the closure of all but one of the towns.

Your next four nights will be at the La Casa de Don Tomás Hotel. An excellent base to explore the wonders of the Atacama. 

In the late afternoon travel to the Moon Valley which is nestled in the heart of the Salt Mountain Range. This remarkable landscape captivates with its unique terrain, reminiscent of lunar surfaces. Visit the majestic "Duna Mayor," offering sweeping views of undulating sands. You will also explore the natural amphitheater, an awe-inspiring formation carved by the elements over millennia. The "Tres Marías," a trio of striking geological formations, provide a fascinating glimpse into the area's natural history. Stop at the "Piedra del Coyote" lookout offers breathtaking panoramic views, setting the stage for the day's grand finale. As the sun begins to set, casting a golden glow over the Andes Mountain Range, savour this moment with a delightful cocktail, making for a perfect end to an unforgettable experience in the Moon Valley.

Later in the evening, you will enjoy stargazing with a local guide, who will also lead you through photographing the sky through telescopes whilst sharing a selection of Chilean wine and cheese with you. 

DAY 5: THE ALMA OBSERVATORY, MOON AND DEATH VALLEYS, AND DESERT STARGAZING

After breakfast, you will journey through the desert to the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), an astronomical interferometer made up of 66 high-precision radio telescopes.

You will explore the Operations Support Facility at 3,000 meters above sea level and enjoy a full briefing. You will see their control facilities that manage 66 antenna, laboratories, the gigantic antennas under maintenance and their antenna transporter. As this is international land, you will need to bring your passport. (The visit to ALMA can only be booked 70 days in advance, therefore, it is subject to confirmation. In the unlikely event, you cannot visit ALMA, an alternative excursion in the desert will be arranged*).

Head back to your hotel for dinner. 

DAY 6: EXPLORE THE MARS-LIKE DESERT OF ATACAMA, INCLUDING THE SALT FLATS

Due to its extreme dryness, the Atacama Desert in Chile is one of the most important environments on Earth for researchers who need to approximate the conditions of Mars. Recently, the NASA Mars Rover was tested here.

You will head out to the Altiplano high plateau and its amazing landscapes which include geyser fields, petroglyphs, intensely coloured lagoons and giant salt flats. Accompanied by a very knowledgeable local guide. This includes the scenic lagoons of Miscanti and Meñique, the traditional towns of Toconao and Socarie and the amazing Atacama Salt Flats where flamingos and other birds nest.

Enjoy and early dinner as you will have another busy day tomorrow. 

After relaxing back at the hotel, you will enjoy a second evening stargazing in the desert.

DAY 7: THE TATIO GESYERS AND THE PUTANA

Today is another early start as you head towards the Tatio geysers located to the north of San Pedro. They are the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the highest in the world at 4,320 meters. The geysers and fumaroles are at their most active in the early morning and watching the sunrise over the geyser field is a memorable experience. Breakfast will be served whilst you are there.

On your way back, to you will stop at Putana wetland to see the active volcano of Putana. Our last stop will be at Machucha wetland to visit the flamingos before return to San Pedro.

DAY 8: FLY TO LA SERENA AND VISIT EL PANGUE OBSERVATORY

After a short flight south to La Serena, you will travel east back into the mountains to the town of Vicuña. 

After checking in to the Hotel Terral for two nights you will visit the El Pangue Observatory. It has several large telescopes and has been designed for small astronomy groups to take advantage of the exceptionally clear skies. Martin and local experts will ensure you gain the most out of their facilities.

Enjoy dinner with the group.

DAY 9: ELQUI VALLEY, INCLUDING LOS NICHOS DISTILLERY AND OMEGA ASTRONOMY CENTRE STARGAZING

This morning head towards the Andes Mountains to reach the viewpoints where we Will observe the most beautiful landscapes, a mixture of semi-arid desert and a green mantle that will make you love this place.

Continue to Horcón, a small town to learn how Chilean pisco is made and taste this ancestral liqueur in Los Nichos Distillery. Once the tasting is over, you will go to Montegrande, birthplace of Gabriela Mistral, where the schoolhouse museum is located to learn about the life and work of this great poetess.

Afterwards, continue to Villaseca, known for its solar cookers to have lunch at a restaurant in the area. Return to hotel in Vicuña. 

DAY 10: VERA C. RUBIN OBSERVATORY FOLLOWED BY EVENING VISIT TO OMEGA ASTRONOMY CENTRE

After breakfast travel from Vicuña to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This is a very unique opportunity to visit a cutting-edge astronomical project that will change the way professional observation is running. The New Scientist Chile astronomy 2023 group tour was the first ever group to visit before it was opened.  

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is a groundbreaking astronomical facility located on Cerro Pachón in the Coquimbo Region of northern Chile. Named in honour of the astronomer Vera Rubin, renowned for her work on galaxy rotation rates that provided evidence for dark matter, the observatory is designed to conduct a 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). This survey will create a detailed, multi-color, time-lapse digital movie of the entire visible southern sky.

The Rubin Observatory features an 8.4-metre primary mirror and a 3.2-gigapixel camera, one of the largest digital cameras ever constructed for ground-based astronomy. Its mission is to capture wide-field astronomical images, enabling research across a broad range of topics, including dark matter and dark energy, the formation of galaxies, the detection of potentially hazardous asteroids, and the exploration of the transient and variable universe. 

In the evening, visit the Omega Astronomy Centre, an enthusiastic endeavor by a group of astronomy enthusiasts located in Vicuña, Chile. The centre is renowned as the astronomy capital due to its optimal sky quality and favorable climate for stargazing. Situated just 15 minutes from the city, on the slopes of Cerro Mamalluca in the Casablanca sector, the observatory offers a unique astronomical observation experience. Its observation terrace boasts some of the world's clearest skies, providing exceptional views of the Elqui Valley and nearby major scientific astronomical complexes, including Cerro Tololo, SOAR, Gemini South, and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Omega serves as an ideal spot for both local and visiting astronomy buffs to immerse themselves in the wonders of the cosmos. 

DAY 11: SANTIAGO

In the morning, you will drive towards the Pacific Ocean for a short flight back to Santiago where you will spend the next three days.

Santiago nestles within Andes mountains and encompasses ancient traditions, European influence, the natural world and a modern city. Founded in 1541 by Spanish conquistadors, the city is a mix of architectural styles and a rich vivid culture. 

This afternoon you will enjoy a tour of the city that includes ascending the Sky Costanera, the tallest viewing platform in Chile that affords stunning views over Santiago and towards the Andes.

Enjoy dinner with the group this evening.

DAY 12: THE PLANETARIUM, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE ASTRONOMY DEPARTMENT AND THE CERRO CALÁN OBSERVATORY

You will start the day with a visit to the Planetarium situated in the University of Santiago, which presents an informative show on its 22-metre dome.

Afterwards, you will travel to the University of Chile, to visit its astronomy department and the National Astronomical Observatory at Cerro Calán Observatory. 

The department runs a post-graduate course for students who wish to complete their professional training in astrophysics. The observatory was established in 1956 and contains several exceptional telescopes, one of them 160 years old. The visit will include a guided tour of all the historic telescopes and then using some of them for a final evening of stargazing with students of the university and Martin.

Tonight you will have a farewell dinner with the group and Martin to look back at the previous 12 days, and the incredible places you have visited.

DAY 13: SANTIAGO DEPARTURE

After breakfast, depart Santiago for your onward journey home.

Please note this itinerary is subject to change. A number of the observatories can only be booked 70 days prior to visiting. The confirmed itinerary will be able around 2 months prior to departure.

Alternative itinerary options:

*DAY 5: PURITAMA HOT SPRINGS AND MOON VALLEY

If the group is unable to visit ALMA, you will spend the morning at the Puritama Hot Springs. Situated in a picturesque canyon at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters, the springs consist of eight geothermal pools with temperatures averaging around 33°C (91°F). In the afternoon, travel to the Moon Valley. This remarkable landscape captivates with its unique terrain, reminiscent of lunar surfaces. Visit the majestic "Duna Mayor," offering sweeping views of undulating sands. You will also explore the natural amphitheater, an awe-inspiring formation carved by the elements over millennia. As the sun begins to set over the Andes Mountain Range, savour this moment with a delightful cocktail.