Atacama: Astronomical Excursion with Stargazing, Photos, Snacks and Wine

About This Experience

Owner Experience's excursion suits travelers who want both good telescope time and a proper photo shoot without waiting around, and groups who would like a sit-down tasting at the end. It costs from $46 per person and holds a 4.9 rating from 68 reviews. Guides work in English, Portuguese and Spanish. The whole experience takes around 20 to 25 people, but the group is split into smaller language subgroups, each with its own guide, so explanations stay clear.

Pickup is from your accommodation, followed by about 30 minutes in a van to a site away from light pollution; the operator also works in areas such as Ayllu and Solor. After a short introduction, the night runs in two parallel sessions. One subgroup observes through professional telescopes with a guided explanation of constellations, planets and galaxies, while the other has its night photo shoot with one-on-one guidance and the Milky Way behind. Then the subgroups swap.

Once both sessions are done, everyone gathers for a tasting under the stars: wine and pisco sour, hot chocolate, tea and coffee, with cheeses and salami. The listing photos show a long table laid out with bottles, glasses and boards of olives and cured meat. Before your trip, the operator also emails its own Atacama digital guide, with tips on restaurants, altitude and packing for the rest of your stay.

Bring warm clothing and water. Nights in San Pedro drop to around freezing from June to August, and you spend a good part of the evening standing outside. The listing says the tour is not suitable for children under 3 or for pregnant women. Allow a little over 3 hours from pickup to drop-off, since the itinerary adds up to one hour of observation, 40 minutes of photos and 40 minutes of tasting.

Highlights

• Telescope session and photo shoot run in parallel, so you spend little time waiting
• One-on-one guidance for your portrait with the Milky Way
• A guided tour of constellations, planets and galaxies through several telescopes
• A laid table of wine, pisco sour, cheeses and salami under the stars
• Smaller language subgroups, each with its own guide

What's Included

• ✓ Round-trip transportation from your accommodation in San Pedro
• ✓ Expert astronomy guide and observation with professional telescopes
• ✓ Night photo session with one-on-one guidance
• ✓ Tasting with wine and pisco sour, coffee, tea and hot chocolate, with cheeses and salami
• ✓ The operator's Atacama digital guide, emailed before your trip
• ✓ Guides in English, Portuguese or Spanish, with the group split by language

Not Included

• Tips
• Warm clothing
• Dinner (the tasting is snacks and drinks)

What to Bring

• Warm clothing in layers
• Water
• A hat and gloves on winter nights
• Comfortable closed shoes for sandy ground

Good to Know & Caveats

• The experience takes approximately 20 to 25 people, divided into smaller subgroups by language, each with its own guide.
• 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.
• The observation site varies; the operator also works in areas such as Ayllu and Solor.
• The digital Atacama guide arrives by email before your trip.
• Allow about 3 hours from pickup to drop-off.

Meeting Point

Pickup from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama is included, with drop-off back there after the tasting.