Atacama Desert Stargazing Outing, San Pedro de Atacama

4.1 (22 reviews)
Enjoy an outing in the Atacama Desert, where you'll receive an astronomy lesson, learn to stargaze, and visit an observatory.
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D
Dushen N.
Sep 06, 2025
This has to be seen to be fully appreciated....breathtaking. the guides were knowledgeable too.
Terry
Terry M.
Oct 21, 2024
The Stargazing Tour was an unexpected delight. JP gave a great presentation before the tour, and his wife Valeria was very knowledgeable during the telescope session.... Read more
E
Erin M.
Jun 14, 2024
This tour was second only to the salt flats. We were able to view the stars through telescopes. Tour guide took pictures and emailed to us,... Read more
Mike
Mike S.
Apr 02, 2024
This tour is so informative! You will get a chance to use one or more telescopes to see some incredible celestial bodies.
Samir
Samir K.
Jan 05, 2024
Watchin Saturn Rings and Band of Jupiter along with the Nebula was the highlight of this trip for me. Getting a few tips/lessons in astronomy before... Read more
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Overview

For this stargazing outing in the Atacama Desert, it's common to start with hotel pickup or at a meeting point in downtown San Pedro de Atacama. From here, you can head to the Altiplano ("high plain"), where an expert astronomer might provide an astronomy lesson, explaining how to identify constellations using the naked eye as you gaze up at the night sky. Next, perhaps you'll visit the Las Campanas Observatory, where you can use high-powered telescopes to spot celestial objects, including planets, binary stars, and clusters, and capture photographs of the moon before ending the evening with a warm cup of cocoa.

Highlights

  • Learn from an expert astronomer about constellations and stargazing
  • Gaze up at the star-filled night sky without needing any equipment 
  • Visit South America's largest public observatory and use state-of-the-art telescopes
  • Capture photographs of the moon's crater-covered surface
  • Enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate as you reflect on what you've seen

Know before you go

Recommended for
All ages
Group
Group tour

What you'll do

Your evening outing will likely begin with a pick-up from your hotel or a meet-up at a predetermined spot. Next, you'll likely journey to the Altiplano, a high plateau surrounded by majestic volcanoes stretching far into Bolivia. Standing at a height up to 12,000 feet (3.6 km) above sea level, the Altiplano provides an excellent location for observing the cosmos.

The professional astronomer acting as your guide may provide an informative astronomy lesson. Together, you'll peer up at the night sky and take in the vividness of the stars on a clear night as they help you identify various celestial formations and tell you more about them. Then, using high-powered telescopes or binoculars, you may spot an array of celestial bodies, including planets, binary stars, and spherical clusters.

Next, it's common to head to South America's largest astronomical observatory, Las Campanas Observatory. Here, you may use state-of-the-art telescopes to spot planets invisible to the naked eye and capture awe-inspiring photographs of the moon's crater-covered surfaces. Typically, the evening ends with a cup of cocoa and a return to downtown San Pedro.

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Traveler reviews

22 total ratings, 19 with reviews
4.1
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.1
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.3
Transport
4.0
D
Dushen N.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Sep 06, 2025
This has to be seen to be fully appreciated....breathtaking. the guides were knowledgeable too. Read more

This has to be seen to be fully appreciated....breathtaking. the guides were knowledgeable too.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kirsty
Kirsty L.
Kenya | Reviewed on Sep 02, 2025
Tips for future travelers Take thermals, it is extremely cold Read more
Tips for future travelers

Take thermals, it is extremely cold

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
large number of people meant pick up took ages
Helen
Helen L.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Aug 16, 2025
Terrible experience, went out of town for 20 minutes and arrived in a campsite that featured a telescope to look at stars. Had 4 kids run around ruining the experience. The telescope wasn't that good. Since there was a full moon, the tour outfitter should have offered options. Once we were at the site, made everyone stay for food and it was getting quite chilly. Not what I expected which was in a more secluded space further outside of town. Would not recommend even if it was not a full moon,... Read more

Terrible experience, went out of town for 20 minutes and arrived in a campsite that featured a telescope to look at stars. Had 4 kids run around ruining the experience. The telescope wasn't that good. Since there was a full moon, the tour outfitter should have offered options. Once we were at the site, made everyone stay for food and it was getting quite chilly. Not what I expected which was in a more secluded space further outside of town. Would not recommend even if it was not a full moon, too much light pollution to see stars. Very disappointing.

Tips for future travelers

Go further out away from San Pedro and ensure that it is in a location that does not have light pollution.

Quality of Experience
Location, poor tour guides, horrible guides with poor knowledge. Driver was on cellphone while he was driving. Very unprofessional tour.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
awful staff with terrible manners and no hospitality.
Transport
Driver was on cellphone when driving
Terry
Terry M.
| Reviewed on Oct 21, 2024

The Stargazing Tour was an unexpected delight. JP gave a great presentation before the tour, and his wife Valeria was very knowledgeable during the telescope session. It exceeded our expectations. It was a very pleasant surprise that it was so interesting.

M
Mary A.
Broad Ripple, IN | Reviewed on Oct 09, 2024
The stargazing tour itself was very cool. The pickup and drop off were being changed/coordinated through WhatsApp somewhat last minute. The drivers did not speak any English, but the tour itself did have a translator. Read more

The stargazing tour itself was very cool. The pickup and drop off were being changed/coordinated through WhatsApp somewhat last minute. The drivers did not speak any English, but the tour itself did have a translator.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
E
Erin M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Jun 14, 2024
This tour was second only to the salt flats. We were able to view the stars through telescopes. Tour guide took pictures and emailed to us, that was a nice and unexpected gift. Read more

This tour was second only to the salt flats. We were able to view the stars through telescopes. Tour guide took pictures and emailed to us, that was a nice and unexpected gift.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mike
Mike S.
Waterford, MI | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2024
This tour is so informative! You will get a chance to use one or more telescopes to see some incredible celestial bodies. Read more

This tour is so informative! You will get a chance to use one or more telescopes to see some incredible celestial bodies.

Tips for future travelers

There is a chance that you will get back late from this tour. It's best not to schedule an early tour the next morning.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Samir
Samir K.
Issaquah, WA | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2024
Watchin Saturn Rings and Band of Jupiter along with the Nebula was the highlight of this trip for me. Getting a few tips/lessons in astronomy before stargazing was also fun. Read more

Watchin Saturn Rings and Band of Jupiter along with the Nebula was the highlight of this trip for me. Getting a few tips/lessons in astronomy before stargazing was also fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
L
Lindsey G.
Center Conway, NH | Reviewed on Oct 19, 2023
This was enjoyable, but prepare yourself for it to be very cold and it goes much longer than I expected Read more

This was enjoyable, but prepare yourself for it to be very cold and it goes much longer than I expected

Tips for future travelers

You will return close to 11-midnight and it will be quite cold

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
P
Polina S.
Germany | Reviewed on Oct 19, 2023
The guide has a very boring way to explain actually very interesting stories. We were 15 people and you could see that 10 of us were very bored. On each question his answer was at least 15min in Spanish and then 15min in English. And after 2 of these minutes we were just not able to listen any more Read more

The guide has a very boring way to explain actually very interesting stories. We were 15 people and you could see that 10 of us were very bored. On each question his answer was at least 15min in Spanish and then 15min in English. And after 2 of these minutes we were just not able to listen any more

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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