Atacama: Stargazing & Andean Astronomy with Wine

About This Experience

Observatory Licanatay's tour suits budget travelers, culture-minded visitors and anyone curious about how the Andes read the sky before the Spanish arrived. At from $31 per person it is the lowest-priced of the tours we cover, and with 782 reviews at 4.7 it is also one of the most reviewed. Guides speak English or Spanish. The evening is short, so it works on a night when you also have an early day trip the next morning.

The tour runs in two halves. First comes the Western view: the guide introduces stars, planets and the wider universe, and you learn to use the telescopes on objects in the solar system and deep space. Then the story switches to Andean astronomy. Andean cultures did not only join bright stars into figures, they also saw dark constellations in the Milky Way, shapes formed by the dust between the stars and linked to animals, water, seasons and farming.

Through the telescopes, the targets depend on the season and the night, and can include planets, double stars, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. The site is a short van ride from town, and you receive a poncho to wrap up in. Coffee, tea or red wine is served, and at the end the guide takes a complimentary photo of you under the stars, which is sent by email. Bring your own warm layers and a windbreaker as well, especially from June to August.

The operator asks guests to check the lunar calendar before booking, because moonlight can hide faint stars and deep-sky objects. If your dates are flexible, pick a night close to new moon. Pickup and drop-off are at two fixed points in town, Paso Turistico or Restaurant Tara, so there is no hotel collection. Smoking, alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the tour itself.

Highlights

• Two ways of reading the sky in one night: modern astronomy, then Andean astronomy
• Find the dark constellations that Andean cultures saw in the Milky Way
• Look through telescopes at planets, double stars, clusters and nebulae, depending on the season
• Wrap up in a poncho with a red wine or hot drink under the stars
• A complimentary photo of you under the Atacama sky, emailed afterwards

What's Included

• ✓ Astronomy specialist guide in English or Spanish
• ✓ About 1.5 hours of guided observation, with a photo stop
• ✓ Van transfer from Paso Turistico or Restaurant Tara and back
• ✓ Professional telescope equipment
• ✓ Coffee, tea or red wine, and a poncho (blanket) to keep warm
• ✓ Courtesy photo under the night sky, sent by email

Not Included

• Gratuities
• Hotel pickup (meet at Paso Turistico or Restaurant Tara)
• Warm clothing beyond the poncho provided

What to Bring

• Warm or thermal clothing in layers
• A windbreaker
• Warm, comfortable shoes
• Binoculars, if you have them

Good to Know & Caveats

• The operator asks you to check the lunar calendar before booking; on moonlit nights fewer faint stars and deep-sky objects are visible.
• 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.
• Nights in San Pedro are cold, near or below freezing in June to August.
• Your photo arrives by email after the tour.
• Smoking, alcohol and drugs are not allowed on the tour.
• Allow about 2 hours in total, including the van rides.

Meeting Point

Meet at one of two points in San Pedro de Atacama, Paso Turistico or Restaurant Tara, which are also the drop-off points (check which one your option uses).