San Pedro de Atacama: Astronomical Sightseeing Tour + Hot Drinks and Wine

About This Experience

Layana Travel's tour suits travelers who want a full telescope session with some cultural background, at a mid-range price. It starts from $43 per person and has a 4.6 rating from 10 reviews, so there is not much feedback yet. The guide is bilingual in Spanish and English. Pickup is in San Pedro and the van drops you back at your accommodation, which saves a late walk across town.

The van ride to the observation area takes about 30 minutes. Once there, the guide uses specialized telescopes to show planets and open and globular star clusters, and you can try to make out distant galaxies. The targets change through the year. A laser pointer traces the southern constellations, which helps you connect the star patterns with the myths and stories that have grown up around them.

Depending on the night, the session may also include an introduction to Andean cultural astronomy and archaeoastronomy, the study of how pre-Hispanic peoples read celestial movements and how that shaped life in the Andean world. There is a break with snacks, hot drinks and wine, and you receive two or three complimentary individual photos at night. The listing photos show a table set with wine, olives and nibbles.

On full-moon lunar tours, only the telescope eyepiece is photographed, so book near new moon if the portrait matters to you. The operator asks every passenger to bring 1.5 liters of still water and clothing that copes with wind and low temperatures, as winter nights drop to around freezing. With 30 minutes each way and about 2 hours on site, plan for roughly 3 hours.

Highlights

• Planets and star clusters through specialized telescopes, with a try for distant galaxies
• Southern constellations traced with a laser pointer
• An introduction to Andean cultural astronomy and archaeoastronomy, when included
• A break with wine, hot drinks and snacks under the stars
• Two or three individual night photos to keep

What's Included

• ✓ Bilingual guide in Spanish and English
• ✓ Pickup in San Pedro and drop-off at your accommodation, about 30 minutes each way
• ✓ About 2 hours of telescope observation with a laser-guided sky tour
• ✓ Snack with hot drinks and wine
• ✓ Two or three complimentary individual nighttime photos
• ✓ Free admission to the observation area

Not Included

• Tips
• Water (bring 1.5 liters per person)
• Warm clothing

What to Bring

• 1.5 liters of still water per person
• Warm, windproof clothing
• A hat and gloves on winter nights
• Comfortable shoes for sandy ground

Good to Know & Caveats

• On full-moon lunar astro tours, only the telescope eyepiece is photographed, not you with the stars.
• The Andean astronomy section may be included depending on the night.
• 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 are cold and can be windy, near or below freezing in June to August.
• Allow about 3 hours including transfers.

Meeting Point

Pickup is in San Pedro de Atacama (check your confirmation for the exact spot), with drop-off at your accommodation at the end.