Astronomic Tour at Atacama Desert

The night in the Atacama Desert, its starry sky and the presence of the ancestral fire, give life to a unique and unrepeatable experience where the knowledge of the Andean cosmovision of the heaven is balanced with the scientific and formal language of the stars. With the specialized guides, we will observe the beauty and solemnity of the celestial bodies in a unique environment, in the middle of an oasis in the driest desert in the world, which also has one of the most starry skies on the planet thanks to the extraordinary qualities of transparency of the air.

The night in the Atacama Desert, its starry sky and the presence of the ancestral fire, give life to a unique and unrepeatable experience where the knowledge of the Andean cosmovision of the heaven is balanced with the scientific and formal language of the stars. With the specialized guides, we will observe the beauty and solemnity of the celestial bodies in a unique environment, in the middle of an oasis in the driest desert in the world, which also has one of the most starry skies on the planet thanks to the extraordinary qualities of transparency of the air.

We will combine traditional scientific astronomy with the ancient Andean vision of the first astronomers of the place, long before the first telescope. In the Andean culture, astronomy is essential in the daily life of their agro-pastoral societies, integrating and manifesting itself in their architecture, art, music and dance. To get even closer to the ancient experience of this experience, we will sit around the fire to share the stories, myths and legends related to the sky, in the way that the grandparents did. As a complement, we will also have the possibility of observing the stars through the modern telescope.

In the Andean world, the cosmovision is closely linked to the celestial vault, where earthly life and the transcendent life of spirits are reflected. The Yatiris and Amautas (wise men of the Andean cultures) continue to this day their traditions according to the movement of the sky, especially in relation to the movement of the milky way. Most of the most important animals of the cosmovision and daily life of the Andeans are represented there, such as the llama, the partridge, the toad, the snake and the sheep.

Thus, the movement of the constellations has shown for thousands of years, and to this day, the right time to sow, harvest, celebrate, pray, thank and pay homage to the deceased. In this way, the sky provides the Andean man with the necessary knowledge to live in the difficult desert environment, both at the level of agricultural activity and spiritual ritual, which are always closely linked. Stargazing has a far greater scope than mere contemplation.

It is important to consider that during moonlit nights the possibility of observing planets and stars decreases considerably. Especially on full moon nights very few stellar objects will be seen, although the incomparable luminosity of the moon can be observed in the desert.

THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATION IS MADE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAN PEDRO TO AVOID LIGHT POLLUTION OF THE PEOPLE

✓ Recommendation: Warm clothing.

✓ Includes: Coffee break, astronomical talk, Telescope observation, and Astrophotography, transportation and bilingual local guide,

✓ Difficulty: Low // Altitude: 2,450 meters above sea level

✓ Duration: 3 hours approx.

✓ Pick-up time: 9:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.