This tour has concluded. Here is what we did:

Photo by Melita Thorpe

August 11 — 19, 2007

The southern Milky Way brims with rich star fields, glowing gas clouds, and splashy star clusters. And this year, the giant planet Jupiter dazzles as the Milky Way's most prominent jewel. To see it all from 23 degrees south latitude where Jupiter and the Milky Way pass overhead offers spectacular viewing and the opportunity for extraordinary photography. 

Join ASTRONOMY magazine and astronomers from around the world as we stand in awe under the pristine sky of the Valle de Luna in Chile's Atacama Desert to celebrate the brilliance of Jupiter, the southern Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds, and the Southern Cross.

The Atacama Desert and Chile's Giant Optical Telescopes expedition is inclusive of airfare, most meals and sightseeing, which includes archaeological sites pre-dating Egypt, hot springs, and geysers. A tasting tour of one of Chile's prestigious vineyards is also included. The tour will be highlighted by ASTRONOMY'S distinguished lecturer, Rich Talcott.

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

Itinerary

Atacama Photo by Melita Thorpe

El Tatio Geyers Photo by Melita Thorpe

Cerro Tololo Observatory

Photo by Dr. Seth Shostak

Gemini Observatory/Ingrid Braul, Southlands Elementary, Vancouver BC

Saturday/Sunday

August 11/12, 2007     Depart U.S.A.

Board LanChile Airline for our flight to Santiago, Chile. We arrive early morning in the capital of the Andes, which offers an historic quarter, sidewalk cafes, and world class museums along with 17 th century estates. The transfer whisks us straight to the hotel for a rest until this afternoon. Before supper at the famous Market, we will enjoy a city tour.  D   Request a Brochure

Monday

August 13, 2007  Santiago — San Pedro de Atacama

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight to Calama. We will be met and transferred to San Pedro de Atacama for four nights at the Hosteria de Atacama. B/D   Request a Brochure

Tuesday

August 14, 2007    San Pedro de Atacama

A walking tour of the area, which includes extraordinary archaeological sites from Stone Age villages to the San Pedro Culture Indian Cementary, is planned for after breakfast. San Pedro offers Adobe-style built houses from the Spanish colonial era, excellent museums displaying Indian artifacts and remarkably preserved mummies predating Egypt's. 

Before supper in a local cafe, we will begin our astronomical program. After dinner bring out the telescopes for Jupiter, the southern Milky Way, and the Southern Cross. B/D   Request a Brochure

Wednesday

August 15, 2007   Atacama — El Tatio Geysers

An early morning drive to the geological spectacles, El Tatio Geysers, offers dozens of fumaroles (geysers) throwing columns of steam into the air. The rays of light illuminate the steam in a kaleidoscope of chartreuses, violets, reds, oranges, and blues. After breakfast cooked at the geysers, we will take a nature hike to the hot springs and waterfalls .  B/L/D   Request a Brochure

Thursday

August 16, 2007    Atacama — Valle de Luna

(After breakfast, if at all possible, we will visit the new ALMA telescope.) 

After lunch depart for the Valle de Luna , a surreal landscape of giant ridges, soaring cliffs, and pale valleys. Tonight, after the crescent Moon sets, the extraordinary views of the night sky likely will be the best you'll ever see.  B/L/D    Request a Brochure

Friday

August 17, 2007  San Pedro de Atacama - La Serena

Bid adios to this legendary place as we fly to La Serena, long popularized by its magnificent international telescope community. We will continue our astronomical lecture program before dinner. B/D   Request a Brochure

Saturday

August 18, 2007   La Serena — Cerro Tololo

Today we will visit the Cerro Tololo and Gemini South Observatories , a complex of astronomical telescopes and instruments. Afterwards we will enjoy a Pisco tasting at the Pisco Capel Plant. Time permitted there will be evening stargazing at nearby Valle de Elqui at the Observatorio Publico de Cerro Mamalluca .    B/L   Request a Brochure

Sunday

August 19, 2007   La Serena — Santiago — U.S.A

After our flight to Santiago, we will have time to rest with a day room before transferring to the airport tonight for our flight homeward to the U.S.A.     B   Request a Brochure

Interested? Request a Brochure