CHILE: THE ELQUI VALLEY

A little off the usual tourist trail, the Elqui Valley with it’s clear skies and little light pollution is a wonderful spot for stargazers.

With a dry desert-like climate and very little rainfall, the rocky terrain of the Elqui Valley is considered one of the best places in the world for star gazing. Located about 250 miles north of Santiago the region is home to many observatories which benefit from the clear air and very little light pollution. The Elqui Valley is also where the majority of Chile’s famous pisco (a form of alcohol made from grapes) is made. Production centres around the small village of Pisco Elqui where you can visit a distillery and try the ubiquitous pisco sour cocktail!

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Best Time To Visit The Elqui Valley

The small amount of rain that does fall in this region comes in the winter months of May until August. Most of the rest of the year is very dry which is what helps to make it one of the best places in the world for star gazing. The peak season runs from December until February, which is the height of summer.