ASTROTOURISM A universe towards the universe of the infinite sky
Seeing the stars from the driest desert in the world is one of the most incredible experiences, Antofagasta is such a vast region both on land and the skies, which are the clearest on the planet, certified by Unesco.
In addition, it is home to the most imposing observatories such as Paranal, Alma, Atacama, Likanantay, among others, where your eyes can discover, learn and enjoy the cosmos.
You can vibrate with this night show both from the coast and from the interior, in the latter the knowledge of astronomy is combined with the indigenous cosmovision, which further enriches the experience.
What to do
Paranal Observatory
Optical Astronomical Observatory operated by the European Southern Observatory, ESO, located in the Antofagasta Region, on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert, which houses the Very Large Telescope, VLT (Very Large Telescope), consisting of four main telescopes with 8.2 meters in diameter primary mirror plus four 1.8 meter in diameter mobile auxiliary telescopes.
Location: 130 kilometers south of Antofagasta
Distance kms from Antofagasta airport: 156.9 kilometers by B-710
Time distance from Antofagasta Airport: 2 hours, 6 minutes
Tours
Astronomical tours including observation tours with telescopes and photo sessions, with a tour in the Hand of the Desert, large telescope sector, with observation and astrophotography and lunar and solar observation within the city, in one of the most transparent skies free of light pollution.
Chiu Chiu
San Francisco de Chiu Chiu, better known as Chiu Chiu, a town located in the Antofagasta Region, has an attractive possibility of Astrotourism, through tours linked to astronomy and the local indigenous cosmovision observing the clearest skies and surrounded by natural heritage.
Paniri observatory
Andean Astronomy Observatory “Paniri Caur”, located in the town of Chiu Chiu in the Antofagasta Region, an archeoastronomy observatory, which focuses on the Andean cosmovision of the Atacameños, through sky observation tours and guided tours through routes and villages.
Location: Calama, Antofagasta
Distance kms from Calama airport: 3.8 kilometers by Balmaceda avenue. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins avenues
Time distance from Calama Airport: 7 minutes
Astronomic Tour
Cultural tourism project, called “Pimiento”, located in the town of María Elena, includes excursions through nitrate offices, archaeological sites and astronomical tours through historical places in the María Elena area and inland towns.
ALMA Observatory
ALMA Observatory (Atacama Large Millimeter / Submillimeter Array), framed in an international astronomy association (USA, Europe, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Korea), being the most expensive project built and the largest radio observatory in the world, with a unique experience of 2900 meters above sea level
Location: San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta
Distance kms from Calama airport: 163.6 kilometers by Route 23
Time distance from Calama Airport: 2 hours, 20 minutes
Licanantay Ethno-Astronomical Observatory
Ethno-astronomical observatory that is based on the interpretation of the night skies of northern Chile from the Andean cosmovision and the western vision, observing stars, planets, asteroids, galaxies, shooting stars, as well as by appreciation of the history of the Andean ancestors about the skies from distant times.
Location: San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta
Distance kms from Calama airport: 105.9 kilometers by Route 23
Time distance from Calama Airport: 1 hour, 17 minutes
San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations
SPACE (San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations), an initiative that carries out various Astronomical Tours, Astrophotography to see the Milky Way and telescope rentals for professionals and to deliver the best astronomical experience for people and institutions.
Atacama Observatory
Astronomical Tour carried out in San Pedro de Atacama, lasting approximately 2 hours in English and Spanish, which consists of a basic astronomy talk and an astronomical tour at the place.
