Under the Atacama sky
10 days
SANTIAGO – ATACAMA DESERT – SKY OBSERVATIONS – THE ALTIPLANO – EL TATIO GEYSER – THE MOON VALLEY – HOT SPRINGS – ESO EL PARANAL VLT – VALPARAISO
( 9 NIGHTS IN PRIVATE ROOMS WITH PRIVATE BATHS)
PRESENTATION
This trip was originally designed for the AFA (French Astronomical Association) which offered it exclusively to its members. Now we are opening this extraordinary trip to all astronomy enthusiasts.
In Chile, scientists are building the most advanced observatories in the world. We have priority access to these facilities, so now we can show you these exceptional places as well.
And, since astronomy is not everything in life, you will also enjoy discovering some of Chile’s other treasures. These include the Atacama Desert and the Altiplano and its turquoise blue lagoons, at the base of the Andes. Then experience the Pacific and its seafood in Antofagasta and Valparaiso.
In these places, nature is wonderfully preserved and, to celebrate it, our wines are the perfect complement.
Contact us to book your participation now
Finally you have come a long way, so why not continue your journey with our Patagonia and Easter Island extensions.
NEXT DEPARTURES ( CORRESPONDING TO THE PHASE OF THE NEW MOON )
from MARCH 29 to APRIL 7, 2025
10 days / 9 nights (twin room)
from USD $3,990
or another date of your choice if you are 2 people or more
Do not hesitate to write to us to modify this proposal as you wish
DAY BY DAY
We will meet you at Santiago airport when your flight arrives and bring you to your hotel 3* where you will be greeted by our English speaking guide who will accompany you for 10 days.
1 pm : Meet in the hall and walking tour through the civic center of the capital. Brief visit to Pre-Columbian Art Museum, considered the most beautiful in the country. Stop at the Plaza de Armas (main square and birthplace of Santiago) where we will appreciate the Cathedral, the Town Hall, the Central Post Office, the National History Museum. We will then walk to the central market for the welcome lunch where we can taste the fresh sea food and local fish.
After lunch we will make a mini Santiago tour ; the district of the oligarchy of the 19th century and walk through the barrio Brasil (quarter) and around the presidential palace La Moneda. To conclude, we will go up to the viewpoint of San Cristobal hill to enjoy the best panoramic view of the city.
Return to the hotel around 8 pm. Dinner on your own (several recommendations will be available)
8:30 am we will leave for the airport to take the direct flight to the mining city of Calama (770 miles – 2h flight). Arrived around noon, we will leave for San Pedro de Atacama, covering 60 miles of a road dotted with exceptional viewpoints through the most arid desert in the world, El desierto de Atacama.
Check-in at the hotel 2*, rest and lunch at the village (included).
Located on the edge of the Tropic of Capricorn at 7,900 feet, San Pedro de Atacama is an oasis full of charm, a village that lives in slow motion, away from time and the country. First inhabited by the Atacameños, invaded by the Incas and then by the Spaniards, the village is now occupied by their descendants, newcomers and visitors from around the world.
Around 3:30 pm we will go for an excursion about 6 miles away to the Cordillera de Sal (salt mountain range) and its Valle de la Luna (moon valley), where erosion, wind and rains have sculpted a magical landscape. We will be able to contemplate the sunset from the top of the great dune at the height of the volcanoes, mountain ranges and valleys in the surroundings.
Dinner on our own (we will have the choice among a few options to taste local specialties).
At night, the sky of Atacama is a treat; it is possible to observe with the naked eye the famous Magellanic clouds and the rising of the Lama over the Andes, one of the most beautiful sights with the passage to the zenith of the galactic center, you can also observe the sky of Atacama with quality instruments in a private observatory, away from the lights of San Pedro.
Around 10 pm we will leave the hotel to make the first observation of the Atacama sky during an astronomical tour in english at SPACE (San Pedro Atacama Celestial Explorations), where we will be guided by a specialist and admire impressive views of celestial objects.
Return to the hotel around midnight and a half.
There are no tours on nights close to a full moon and, it happens -rarely- that they are canceled in case of heavy cloud cover, and in this case, we will postpone the tour to another night.
Miles traveled by road: 93
Around 9:30 am, we will leave San Pedro towards the south by the road which leads to “Paso Sico” (Chile Argentina) between the Andes mountain range and the Salar de Atacama (salt lake), an area of 320,000 hectare cracked with salt. After 75 miles, we will leave the international road to follow a track that winds through the wild steppes. Suddenly, at an altitude of 14,000 ft, at the foot of the volcanoes of the same name, Miscanti and Miñiques will emerge, two sublime emerald-colored lagoons surrounded by white.
Walk along the Miscanti lagoon observing the local flora and fauna; vicuñas (camels related to llamas), coots, teals and other birds.
In front of a panoramic view of the Altiplano, we will descend to the village of Socaire located at an altitude of 11.000 ft, where we will find terraced crops that date back to the Incas. Lunch (included).
On the way back, stop at the point at the limit of the Tropic of Capricorn and then visit the Chaxas lagoon located in the Los Flamencos National Reserve, where flamingos and other birds of the region bask.
Arrival in San Pedro around 7:30 pm.
Relaxing at our leisure at the hotel or stroll through the village, we can visit the 17th century church with its cactus wood ceiling, the craft market, stroll through the alleys and shops of the village.
Dinner on our own.
Sky observation with the naked eye / with our equipment in a place away from the lights of the village.
Miles traveled: 165
El Tatio (“the ancestor tears” in Kunza, the local language of yesteryear) is the largest geyser site in the southern hemisphere and the third largest after Yellowstone National Park in the United States and that of the Valley of Geysers in Russia.
Departure at 4:30 (we can take a nap during the hour and a half trip) to follow 50 miles of a mountain road until reaching, just at dawn and at more than 14,000 ft above sea level, the formidable site of the Tatio Geysers, where nearly 80 geysers, thanks to the fresh air of dawn, release fumaroles up to 33 ft.
We will take a walk admiring the spectacle of the first rays of the sun against the light in the steam of the fumaroles and boiling water, and then, we will have a good breakfast in the surroundings of the site.
Descent by “the Vicuña route” to Machuca, a desert hamlet, inhabited by ancestral shepherds of llamas. Stroll around and if available, tasting of llama skewers. Then, we will enjoy a royal relaxation at the thermal baths of Puritama, a hot volcanic spring river that flows through various natural pools, nestled at the bottom of a beautiful canyon (at 11,400 ft.)
Picnic and return to San Pedro (17 miles) around 4 pm and rest.
youtube.com/watch?v=D8N5FL-qx8U
Around 5 pm visit of the museo del meteorito (audio guide in English), an interesting collection of more than 4,000 pieces, as well as explanations on their formation, composition and provenance. Rest and dinner on our own.
Tour ”The Andean Cosmovision”, we will learn how the local ancestors interpreted the celestial vault. Return to the hotel.
Miles traveled: 90
Departure around 9:30 am and climb by the road leading to the Jama pass, Argentina, crossing the volcanoes and mountain bends of the Andes Cordillera. Stop on the slopes of the Licancabur volcano, and then at the Quepiaco wetlands watchtower to see its fauna as well as the vast expanse of the highlands. A few minutes later, we will stop by the side of the road to observe a row of antennas belonging to the ALMA radio telescope in the distance.
Since the ESO El Paranal (VLT) observatory is only open to the public on Saturdays and the visit to the base camp (OSF) of ALMA (300 miles from El Paranal) is only available on Saturdays and Sundays -and you will visit Paranal on a Saturday-, we cannot assure you to visit both sites.
We will continue east until we reach the Monjes (monks) of the Pakana, or “the guardians of the desert”. Stop to walk around contemplating these enormous pillars of great beauty carved in volcanic stone by the millennial wind, which rise vertical and solitary on the sand of the desert just at the entrance of the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos. Then we will follow tracks through the desert to the Aguas Calientes Salt Lake. Picnic lunch in the middle of the Andes Cordillera, in front of the lagoon, at 13,800 ft.
Return to San Pedro around 4 pm.
Rest and visit of the Gustavo Le Paige archaeological museum bringing together a very important collection of pieces that show the evolution of Atacama culture and its 11,000 years of history, from the first hunters of the Paleolithic to the arrival of the Spanish. We admire the tablets used by shamans to absorb their hallucinogens, tablets often decorated with an animal’s head, whose eyes are in lapis lazuli, ceramics, textiles and arrowheads.
Evening and dinner on our own.
Observation of the sky with the naked eye / with our equipment in a place away from the lights of the village.
Miles traveled: 130
Late breakfast and around 10am, we will visit the small museo del meteorito (1st part in audio guide in English), an interesting collection of more than 4,000 pieces, as well as explanations on their formation, composition and origin. Rest and dinner. Walk in the village and lunch (included).
Afternoon excursion: Crossing 18 miles of the Salar (salt lake) to Cejar and Piedra, two lagoons formed by the underground water that flows from the mountains loaded with salt and other minerals that appear in the middle of the Salar de Atacama, the 3rd largest in the world. Their turquoise blue color, surrounded by white necklaces of salt and the desert sun will invite us to swim where we can float believing ourselves in the Dead Sea.
We will take the road again to discover the Laguna Tebiquinche, will make a stop at the Ojos (eyes) del Salar, an enigma in this salt desert; two circular pools of fresh water. Once we arrive in Tebiquinche (2,5 mile from Cejar), we will have the opportunity to take a walk along this stretch of water and its amazing salt formations, facing the Andes mountain range which is majestically reflected in its waters.
Return to the hotel around 6pm Rest.
Free dinner in the village and then we will meet again to go to a point away from the lights of the village in order to observe the sky with the naked eye or with our equipment
Miles traveled: 47
Around 9:30 we will go on an excursion to see the petroglyphs of “Yerbas Buenas”, a rock art site in the middle of the desert where we can observe representations of llamas, monkeys, birds as well as anthropomorphic figures engraved on stone, left by the ancient cultures that crossed the desert. A few miles away, we will take an excursion inside the “Valle del Arco iris” (rainbow) which will surprise us with the variety of reds, ochres, greens, yellows and whites of the geological formations. Copper and iron oxides, silver, pyrite, calcite and other colors have given the name to this beautiful valley.
Return to San Pedro around 2:30 p.m., lunch (included) and free afternoon of rest at our leisure.
Free dinner around 8pm and then we will meet to go to a point away from the lights of the village in order to make a last observation of the sky with the naked eye or with our equipment
Miles traveled: 78
Departure at 7.45 am for a long incursion of around 5 hours through the Atacama desert to the Cerro (mountain) Paranal. Picnic lunch on arrival.
At 8,645 ft above sea level, in the most arid part of the Atacama Desert, El Paranal Observatory enjoys exceptional conditions for observing the sky. During the visit, which takes place from 1:30 to 4:30 pm, we will be taken to the top of the hill where we will have the opportunity to admire the Very Large Telescope array (VLT) with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter (320 in), we will visit also the Control Room where the astronomers work.
Return to Antofagasta around 7 pm. Dinner included.
Miles traveled: 345
https://www.eso.org/public/usa/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/
Coming to Chile and not visiting Valparaíso would be as unfortunate as not tasting the country’s wines or seafood. We therefore invite you to culminate this trip with a late afternoon, evening, night and morning in this port baptized by Cape Horn sailors as “La perla del Pacifico”.
Departure at 8 am to Antofagasta airport and flight to Santiago. Arrival around noon and departure on our bus to Valparaíso, Puerto Principal, 65 miles away.
On the way to the port, we will stop for lunch in a rustic chalet. Arrival in Valparaiso and visit of the Pablo Neruda museum La Sebastiana, on the heights of the hill Cerro Bellavista where the poet lived from 1961. It is the only one of the poet’s three house-museums, besides La Chascona de Santiago, and the one at Isla Negra, south of Valparaiso, which can be visited freely with an audio guide (that is to say otherwise than at a run during a mandatory guided tour). We will thus have the time to examine in detail the objects from the innumerable collections of the poet, to read his texts intelligently placed in the house according to the decor and then also, to admire the view of the bay.
We will go on a charming promenade through the Alegre and Concepción hills, walking around the paseos (promenades) Atkinson, Gervasoni and Yugoslavo: on the port side, a picture of the lower town and the entire seaside, on the starboard side, the passages, stairs, watchtowers, funicular stops, the imprint of German and English immigrants in their 19th century residences, the Art Nouveau style of the Palacio Baburizza, boutique hotels, cafes, galleries and walls full of impressive street art.
Check-in at the hotel. Despedida dinner (farewell)
Miles traveled by road: 85
Departure from the hotel around 8:30 am and walk to the entrance of the port, then visit of the Artillería hill by going up by the funicular of the same name, one of the oldest among the 31 scattered across the 45 hills – we cannot boast for having visited Valparaiso without having taken at least one! -, access to the 21 de Mayo watchtower, in order to appreciate a superb panoramic view of the port, the city and the entire bay.
Around 10:30 am we will leave for Santiago airport to arrive at noon.
Check-in for the return international flight.
Miles traveled: 70
End of our services (or, continuation for an extension in the “Planeta Chile“)
NB: We may have to modify the itinerary due to organizational constraints (transport, accommodation, weather conditions, or any other cause relating to the safety of the group)
DO NOT HESITATE TO WRITE TO US TO MODIFY THIS PROPOSAL FOR YOURSELF AS YOU WISH
Prices 10 days 9 nights in a single room
10 - 12 registered
price per adultfrom 6 to 9 registered
price per adult4 or 5 registered
price per adultFor a Tentative Booking (without prepayment) please clic here
REGISTRATION CLOSING DATE
January 31st for the March 29th tour
RATES VALID UNTIL 01/31/2025
This trip requires a minimum of 4 registered participants. In case of forced cancellation if this condition was not met (something that has never happened), we will offer you a new date or a full refund.
INCLUDES
- Domestic flights Santiago – Calama and Antofagasta – Santiago (50 lb hand luggage in hold)
- Accompanying by a local English speaking guide throughout the course
- Single room in 3-4 star hotels (breakfast included)
- All lunches (aperitif, wine & beverage included) including 3 picnic type and 2 dinners
- Private van transport during the entire trip (including those from and to airports)
- Excursions mentioned in the description and paid entrances of all sites, museums and parks
- The private astronomical tour in San Pedro de Atacama and the visit of the ESO Paranal Observatory (no charge)
- Travelassistance insurance in Chile “Travel Security / Europ Assistance” + cover for medical expenses or hospitalization / repatriation in the event of contamination with Covid-19
- Mineral water in travel
- Tips
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights
- The 5 dinners indicated as “on our own” in the description
- Cancellation insurance, optional but strongly recommended
- Airport transfers in the event of a flight other than that of the group
- Services not mentioned in the description and personal expenses
PAYMENT METHOD
Transfer of 20% of the total price no later than 90 days prior to departure date
Transfer of 30% of the total price no later than 60 days prior to departure date
Transfer of the remaining 50% no later than 30 days prior to departure date
Bank/wire transfers must be made so that all costs are the responsibility of the recipient “BEN” (beneficiary), so you will only be debited for the amount of the transfer.
We also accept payment with PayPal
Refund and Cancellation Policy
If you should ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having to cancel your trip, you must notify us via email to reservations@planetachile.com as soon as possible. In any case, the date of cancellation will be at the date on which notice is received by Planeta Chile.
The cancellation fees will apply on the following scale:
| NOTICE RECEIVED | CANCELLATION FEES (PER PERSON) |
| 30 days or more before the departure date | You will receive a 100% refund |
| 15 to 29 days prior to departure date | 30% of tour price |
| 7 to 14 days prior to departure date | 60% of tour price |
| 4 to 6 days prior to departure date | 80% of tour price |
| 3 and less before the departure date | 100% of tour price |
If the trip were to be canceled due to COVID-19, whether by new measures adopted by your country or by Chile, we will reimburse you in full
GENERAL CONDITIONS & LIMITS OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ORGANIZER
Once the tour has started, Planeta Chile, acting as organizer, is not responsible for eventual delays and modifications in the tour due to conditions that may impede the proper development of the trip, such as (this list is not exhaustive nor limiting. All of these reasons constitute conditions beyond our control):
- Decisions of local authorities / carriers due to pandemics, strikes, etc.
- Delays due to loss of baggage by the airline on which you arrive to Santiago City.
- Natural disasters: floods, earthquakes, tidal waves, storms, landslides, bad weather conditions, etc.
- Severe political conditions (wars, revolutions, states of siege, coups, etc.)
- Accidents and illness of a passenger, etc.
In the context of these conditions, the organizer will be able to modify the orientation / course of the programs and certain stages and propose suitable substitutes. Said substitutes -which, as far as possible may be offered free of charge- will be proposed to try to avoid one or more of the aforementioned inconveniences, and / or to satisfy the wishes unanimously expressed by travelers, to the extent that the organizational requirements and the budget allow it.
Modifications, delays or cancellations of air and land transport of any kind and other conditions mentioned above that lead to an extension or limitation of the trip do not give rise to any refund on our part. These, being beyond our control, cannot generate any compensation, even in cases where they would cause additional costs for the traveler, who would then assume the cost alone.
If during the trip it turns out that a significant part of the services covered by the contract could not be performed, Planeta Chile will evaluate the difference between the promised services and the services actually delivered and will compensate the traveler for the amount corresponding to that difference.
The assistance and accident insurance contract is mandatory. We recommend our clients to take out trip cancellation insurance to avoid economic losses in case of problems.
TRAVELER REVIEWS
They made this trip and they liked it (a lot)! 😊
I thought of this sentence from Jean Guehenno: “We dream one life, we live another, but the one we dream of is the real one”. And this dream, it is you Vicente who simmered it for us with love and who made us live it, thank you again from the bottom of my heart
Thank you Vicente for making us discover the remarkable beauty of this country, head in the stars (thank you Edgar). All these images (very well illustrated by the emails received from everyone) are precious to me and often overwhelming. The magic has worked! Your constant attention to making us happy touched me a lot.
Your testimonies also reminded us that Chile remains a country steeped in history and memory that we will not forget. It was important.
Thank you all for allowing this trip to be made calmly and with kindness, despite sometimes our fatigue! but it was worth it.
Thanks also to our Super Mario and Super Waldo drivers.
In 2018 I spent two weeks visiting part of Chile guided by Vicente. I discovered magnificent landscapes, wonderful people, typical hotels and restaurants, unusual places. Vicente loves his country and he transmits this love to us with joy and passion.
A trip that sealed a very strong Franco-Chilean friendship.
I have excellent memories of the trip to Chile in February 2017 for the eclipse visible in Coyhaique in Patagonia. I also really appreciated the extension I made to Easter Island.
I had the chance to make a very nice trip organized by Planeta Chile. The knowledge of the territory and the inhabitants, both in Patagonia and in the Atacama desert, allowed me to meet authentic and warm Chileans. We tasted some Patagonico-style grilled mutton, a treat! Vicente played the role of facilitator on site perfectly. He is also an attentive guide. His knowledge, skills and kindness make everyday life easier. In short, the memory of this trip included good contacts and organization (picnic at the VLT with the magic trailer and that of the Salar de Tara, memorable breakfast at the Geyser Del Tatio). Thank you Planeta Chile !
I had the immense pleasure, in March 2016, of traveling through Chile with Vicente Sota from Planeta Chile; thank you for his kindness, his humor, his sense of organization, his unlimited patience !!! Thanks to him, this trip, the third for me in his beautiful country, was really great from every point of view, and will remain one of my fondest memories of discovering our beautiful Pachamama !!
Superb trip to Chile in the north of Santiago with Planeta Chile, guided by a knowledgeable, involved and very friendly Vicente Sota. Breathtaking landscapes, interesting wildlife, sky and extraordinary astronomical observatories.
Planeta Chile offers an unforgettable tour of the country. Our guide, Vicente, always cheerful, gives us his knowledge of Chile, its culture and its history. Our two drivers and him, accomplices and incredibly helpful, make us take advantage of their privileged and friendly contacts in the region to take us to discover the jewels of Chile. We stay in selected places in San Pedro, Valparaiso or on the Pacific beach where we feast each time on delicious dishes washed down with a local wine and preceded by the ritual aperitif Pisco Sour. A flawless organization, a lot of friendliness and emotions in this trip !
More than a tourist trip, it was an encounter with an endearing country. Vicente, our “5 stars” guide, made us discover his Chile with majestic landscapes and hallucinating beauty where sweetness and violence mingle just like its history. I have only one desire = to return there to continue this meeting with this country and its inhabitants in the company of Vicente.
Vicente and his team from Planeta Chile made us discover, in a small group and for two weeks, an extraordinary Chile. The program was varied and complete combining discoveries of cities (Santiago, Valparaiso), villages, nature (deserts, salars, lagoons, Pacific coast…), gastronomy… Of course the astronomical aspects were not forgotten with the visit of several observatories and the numerous occasions to make magnificent observations. The whole thing led by a guide, storyteller on occasion, friendly, passionate about its country, its inhabitants, its history and its legends. Well done and thank you Vicente !
It is a great pleasure to have been able to make this trip to Chile where we discovered a very endearing country. The trip was of a fantastic richness, going from the Sky of Atacama to Valparaiso to put it simply, discovery of the largest astronomical observatories in the world and also the magnificent landscapes, the terrestrial as well as marine fauna, whales, dolphins, penguins, in addition to the many always interesting visits thanks also to an exceptional guide. We also do not forget the Pisco and some unforgettable resorts. In fact everything is unforgettable. Thank you PlanetaChile, thank you Vicente.
We made a tourist trip in 2015 to Chile with Planeta Chile (nature, astronomy and gastronomy). For the 2019 total solar eclipse, among the 4 proposals of our French association (AFA), in Chile and Argentina, we chose Chile and Planeta Chile, because the memory we keep of our 2015 trip is fabulous, from all points of view, and that our confidence in the good organization of this future trip is total.
Despite the strikes of the pilots of several scheduled air flights (French included), Vicente and his team succeeded in making us forget these inconveniences by adapting the program each time in our favor. The goal of our group of 13 amateur astronomers was to visit all the major observatories in the country and enjoy the privilege of meeting local astronomers. Thanks to Vicente, our stay, which far exceeded our expectations, will remain etched in our memories.
Thank you Vicente for these warm, generous exchanges, which opened us to this magnificent and diverse country, as colorful as the height of these mountains… we all returned tired but how enchanted… your memory, your warmth, still live in us and for a long time to come.
In life, there are dreams that one must absolutely fulfill. One of my dreams was to see the Milky Way and the starry sky as there are still in Chile. I had it all in the Atacama Desert !
In 2017, we made a very nice trip to Chile to observe the annular solar eclipse visible in Patagonia. Thanks to Vicente’s skill, this trip was extremely interesting from a cultural and tourist point of view. Although we have already made trips to this country that we appreciate very much, each day was a source of enrichment for us.
Unforgettable trip and discovery of a magnificent country including the famous starry sky of the Atacama Desert, in the company of a great group of amateur astronomers and very professional guides, resourceful, charming, jovial !
AFA’s March 2016 trip to Chile was unforgettable! Full of activities, discoveries, miles of deserts, culture that was not familiar to me. And then there was the group atmosphere, the starry evenings of the southern hemisphere and the visits on Saturdays to the telescopes of the VLT, of La Silla. My Belgian friends were all acquainted with astronomy clubs and we still have the opportunity to talk about it among ourselves. Perhaps new travel plans will arise !
Superb trip to Chile in the north of Santiago with Planeta Chile, guided by a knowledgeable, involved and very friendly Vicente Sota. Breathtaking landscapes, interesting wildlife, sky and extraordinary astronomical observatories.
Vicente is an exceptional guide, who loves his country and makes us adore it (we must admit that it is easy to make people love this country, itself exceptional) Vicente is both very professional and very warm in his relations, always full of kind attentions towards his “customers”. When the journey ends, one can only leave him with regret, as one leaves a friend.
There are trips that pass like a dream to leave you with the memory of paradise when you wake up. The one I did in November 2015 with AFA and Planeta Chile was one of them. Bitter landscapes, of poignant beauty, crushed by a Sun which at sunset gives way to the most beautiful stars in the world. As for the Pacific… Flee! run away there! I feel the birds are drunk To be among the unknown foam and the skies! (Stéphane Mallarmé, Brise Marine)