Astrotour Chile San Pedro de Atacama: Astronomical Tour and Astrophotography

About This Experience

AstrotourChile's tour suits travelers who want a straightforward, mid-priced night with hotel pickup and a guide in their own language. It starts from $38 per person, with a 4.6 rating from 67 reviews, and the guides cover Spanish, English, French and Portuguese. Groups mix at most two languages, which keeps the talk easy to follow. The minimum age is 6, so it works for families with school-age children.

The night begins with pickup from your accommodation in San Pedro. At the observation site, certified astronomy guides walk you through the sky and line up planets, galaxies, star clusters and stars in high-grade telescopes. The talk is informal, and questions are welcome throughout. Capes and blankets are handed out for the cold, and there are restrooms on site, which not every tour offers.

Partway through, you get an aperitif and snack under the stars, with drinks that can include wine, a cocktail, coffee or tea. A professional photo of you with the night sky behind you is included as a souvenir. Afterwards the van drops you back at your accommodation. The on-site part of the evening runs about 2.5 hours, so plan on a little longer once the transfers are added.

Check where you are staying before you book. Pickup is not offered from the outlying ayllus of Coyo, Tulor, Cucuter, Solor or Quitor, so guests staying there need to arrange a meeting point. A private guide is not part of this booking. Bring warm, weather-appropriate clothing even with the capes provided, because nights from June to August drop to around freezing.

Highlights

• Planets, galaxies, star clusters and stars through high-grade telescopes
• An informal talk with time for every question
• An aperitif and snack under the stars
• A professional souvenir photo against the night sky
• Guides in Spanish, English, French or Portuguese, with no more than two languages per group

What's Included

• ✓ Transfer to and from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama
• ✓ Certified astronomy guide in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish
• ✓ Observation through high-grade telescopes
• ✓ Appetizer and snack with drinks such as wine, coffee or tea
• ✓ Astrophotography: a souvenir photo with the night sky
• ✓ Capes and blankets, plus restrooms at the site

Not Included

• Pickup from Ayllu de Coyo, Tulor, Cucuter, Solor or Quitor
• A private guide
• Tips

What to Bring

• Warm clothing in layers
• Weather-appropriate outerwear such as a windproof jacket
• A hat and gloves on winter nights

Good to Know & Caveats

• Groups mix up to two languages.
• Pickup is not offered from Ayllu de Coyo, Tulor, Cucuter, Solor or Quitor; arrange a meeting point with the operator if you stay there.
• Tours depend on clear skies; if the weather cancels it, ask the operator to reschedule or refund, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before on GetYourGuide.
• Moonlight affects what you see; for the darkest sky choose a night near new moon.
• The on-site part runs about 2.5 hours; hotel transfers add to that.

Meeting Point

Hotel pickup in San Pedro de Atacama is included, except from Ayllu de Coyo, Tulor, Cucuter, Solor or Quitor, where a meeting point must be arranged.