Chile Astronomy & Stargazing 2027

Admit it — you’ve always wanted to go south of the equator to take advantage of the extraordinary celestial sights of the southern sky. But you’ve never quite figured out the logistics of getting there, let alone how you’d lug your telescope through airports and customs.

Here’s your chance to have it all — and you can leave the scope at home! Sky & Telescope is heading to Chile for an 11-day, 10-night adventure to some of the most astronomically famous and stunning locales on the planet. Join us April 1–13, 2027, on what promises to be an over-the-top celestial adventure.

With its high mountains, clear skies, and dry air, northern Chile is a mecca for both professional observatories and nighttime stargazing — and you’ll get to see plenty of both. The trip combines rare, behind-the-scenes tours of major telescopes (including visits to the Very Large Telescope and the amazing ALMA radio-telescope array) with three nights of stargazing at privately owned facilities that cater to amateur observers. On a fourth night, you’ll have access to a telescope brought to the hotel for the S&T group’s exclusive. You can leave your telescope at home, because all the observing gear will be there waiting for you!

You’ll enjoy comfortable, high-quality accommodations, delicious local cuisine (virtually all meals are included!), and the expertise of local, English-speaking guides. With decades of experience bringing groups to South America, Royal Adventures has become one of the premier astronomy- and eclipse-trip providers. This trusted travel partner teamed up with S&T for tours to Chile in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2025.

So if you’ve never seen the far-southern sky in all its dazzling glory, this tour will provide that full-immersion celestial experience you’ve been hoping for. Click below to get the full details:
• Itinerary for our 11-day tour of Chile and its amazing observatories
• What is and isn’t included; what conditions to expect
• Pricing, Payments, and Terms
• Make your reservation using this online registration page

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Itinerary for the 2027 Chile Astronomy & Stargazing Tour

Date	Itinerary at a Glance	Accommodation	Meals
Thursday, April 1	Depart for Santiago	—	(aloft)
Friday, April 2	Santiago, National Observatory	Hotel Magnolia	D
Saturday, April 3	Santiago / La Serena / Vicuña / Stargazing	Hotel Terral	B,L,D
Sunday, April 4	Gemini, SOAR, Vera Rubin Obs.	Hotel Terral	B,L
Monday, April 5	Las Campanas, GMT construction	Hotel Enjoy	B,L
Tuesday, April 6	La Serena / Calama / San Pedro	Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama	B,L,D
Wednesday, April 7	Puritama Hot Springs / Stargazing	Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama	B,L,D
Thursday, April 8	ALMA / Chaxa Lagoon / Stargazing	Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama	B,L,D
Friday, April 9	San Pedro de Atacama / Antofagasta	Terrado Suites	B,L
Saturday, April 10	Antofagasta / Very Large Telescope	Terrado Suites	B,L,D
Sunday, April 11	Antofagasta / Santiago	Hotel Magnolia	B,L
Monday, April 12	Santiago / Wine Tasting / Depart	—	B,L
Tuesday, April 13	Arrive home	—	(aloft)

Day 0 (Thursday, April 1): Depart for Santiago
Depart from your home city on an overnight flight to Santiago, the capital of Chile.
Overnight flight (meals aloft)

Day 1 (Friday, April 2): Santiago & National Astronomical Observatory
Arrive this morning in Santiago and transfer to one of the city’s most exclusive areas for early check-in at our five-star hotel. After an afternoon orientation and city tour, enjoy a welcome dinner followed by a visit to Chile’s National Astronomical Observatory. Operated by the University of Chile, the observatory is situated on Cerro Calán, which offers breathtaking views of the city.
Hotel Magnolia (D)

Day 2 (Saturday, April 3): La Serena
Depart Santiago on a flight to La Serena, Chile’s second-oldest city, founded in 1544. Transfer by motor coach to Vicuña. After a lecture by your Sky & Telescope expert and an early dinner, enjoy stargazing at El Pangue Observatory for breathtaking southern-sky stargazing through 16- and 25-inch telescopes.
Hotel Terral (B, L, D)

Day 3 (Sunday, April 4): Gemini South, SOAR, and Vera Rubin Observatories
This morning enjoy exclusive visits to the Gemini South Telescope, Southern Observatory for Astrophysical Research (SOAR), and Vera C. Rubin Observatory, all located on the peak of Cerro Pachón, an 8,900-foot-high mountain in northern Chile. The Gemini Observatory has an aperture of 8.1 meters, and the adjacent SOAR’s is 4.1 meters. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is an 8-meter-class telescope coupled to a 3.2-gigapixel camera — the largest digital camera ever fabricated for optical astronomy.(Observatory visits are subject to final confirmation.) In the afternoon, we’ll learn about pisco liquor and enjoy a tasting in the cellars of Pisco Capel. Dinner is on your own.
Hotel Terral (B, L)

Day 4 (Monday, April 5): Las Campanas Observatory / GMT Construction
We travel north of La Serena by road to Las Campanas Observatory for a day-long tour of the Magellan Project site and the two 6.5-meter optical telescopes that are housed there. We’ll also see the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) construction site (to be completed in 2029). The GMT uses seven mirrors — each 8.4 meters (27.6 feet) across — as segments of its primary mirror, yielding a spatial resolution better than that of the Hubble or Webb space telescopes. (Observatory visits are subject to final confirmation.) Dinner on your own.
Hotel Costa Real (B, L)

Day 5 (Tuesday, April 6): La Serena / Calama / San Pedro / Stargazing at SPACE
This morning, we take a guided tour of La Serena, followed by an afternoon flight to Calama. In the evening, immerse yourself in the universe with a stargazing experience at San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations (SPACE). Here, marvel at the southern sky’s showpiece objects through a variety of telescopes, including a giant reflector with a 115-cm (45-inch) aperture — the largest telescope for visual observing in the Southern Hemisphere!
Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama (B, L, D)

Day 6 (Wednesday, April 7): Puritana Hot Springs / Meteorite Museum / Stargazing at SPACE
Start your day with a rejuvenating soak in the warm, mineral-rich waters of the Puritama hot springs, nestled in a stunning canyon setting. Later, after lunch, visit the Meteorite Museum, which displays 77 of the most significant “space rocks” in its collection of more than 6,700 samples. Take a leisurely stroll in San Pedro, followed by dinner and a second visit to SPACE for more stargazing.
Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama (B, L, D)

Day 7 (Thursday, April 8): ALMA / Chaxa Lagoon / Stargazing
This morning, visit the operations center for ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), the largest astronomical project in existence. (This visit is subject to final confirmation). Afterward, head to Chaxa Lagoon and a unique opportunity to observe graceful flamingos in their natural habitat amid the surreal landscapes of the Atacama Desert. After dinner, enjoy casual stargazing at the hotel with a telescope provided just for our group.
Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama (B, L, D)

Day 8 (Friday, April 9): San Pedro de Atacama / Antofagasta
In the morning, board a comfortable motor coach for a 4-hour drive to Antofagasta. Upon arrival, the group will visit Antofagasta Arch, a prominent natural rock formation along the coastline, renowned for its striking arch shape formed by erosion. Dinner is on your own.
Terrado Suites (B, L)

Day 9 (Saturday, April 10): Very Large Telescope / Hand of the Desert
In the morning, visit Cerro Paranal, home of the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. The VLT consists of four 8.2-m reflectors and four 1.8-m auxiliary telescopes that operate separately but can be used together to form a high-resolution interferometer (VLTI). After the visit, explore the Hand of the Desert with a picnic lunch, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Terrado Suites (B, L, D)

Day 10 (Sunday, April 11): Santiago, Casablanca Valley, Depart for Home
This morning visit the Museum of the Atacama Desert, home to an engaging astronomy exhibition developed by the European Southern Observatory. Through striking illuminated panels and immersive visual displays, the gallery draws a compelling connection between the Atacama’s famously clear skies and the forefront of modern astronomical discovery. After lunch, transfer to the airport, pausing en route at the Tropic of Capricorn Monument for a brief visit. Then fly to Santiago and transfer to your hotel. Dinner is on your own.
Hotel Magnolia (B, L)

Day 11 (Monday, April 12): Santiago, Casablanca Valley, Depart for Home
After breakfast and hotel check-out, travel by motor coach to the renowned Casas del Bosque Vineyard, where the group will enjoy a sumptuous lunch amid the scenic vineyards. Afterward, transfer to the Santiago airport for your late-evening flight back to the U.S.
Overnight flight (B, L, meals aloft)

Day 12 (Tuesday, April 13): Arrive Home
After an overnight flight from Santiago and your connecting flight, you return home with wonderful memories of your time under Chile’s amazing night sky.

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What the Main Tour Does/Doesn’t Include

Included:
• In-tour flights within Chile: Santiago/La Serena, La Serena/Calama, Antofagasta/Santiago
• Airport transfer for using or meeting the suggested group flight
• Arrangements to visit professional and private observatories (visitation permits are pending)
• Private tour director and local English-speaking guides for touring days
• 26 meals: (10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 6 dinners); wine with all dinners
• Private coach for ground transportation
• Lectures and discussion from a S&T representative on the main tour
• Entrances fees to museums, national reserves, and other venues on the itinerary
• Baggage handling
• Tips to local guides, drivers, service charges, and taxes on the main tour
• Customized luggage tags and name tags with Sky & Telescope logo
• Pre-trip planning information and resources

Not included:
• International airfare to and from Santiago, Chile
• Passport and visa fees
• Trip Cancellation and Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
• Evacuation Insurance (required for those visiting ALMA; minimum amount: $50,000)
• Medical or quarantine expenses
• COVID-19 testing before, during, or after the tour
• Airport transfers if not arriving or departing with the group
• Hotel accommodation for extra nights before or after the tour dates
• Individual excursions or deviations from the scheduled tour
• Meals or beverages not listed in the detailed itinerary
• Personal expenses (room service, laundry, telephone calls, etc)
• Excess-baggage fees
• Tip for the Tour Director (at your discretion)
• Unforeseen cost increases for internal flights, security, or fuel surcharges

What Conditions to Expect on the Tour

This exclusive Sky & Telescope expedition to Chile is designed for travelers who are interested in learning about the professional observatories of Chile, the skies of the southern hemisphere, and experiencing the wildlife, geology, and superb natural landscapes of the Atacama Desert and Northern Chile.

We describe this trip as relatively active. To enjoy this experience, you must be in good physical and mental health. Travel is by jet aircraft and motorcoach, but observatory visits will involve walking a total of up to 1 mile and at times over rocky, dusty, muddy, and/or uneven terrain and at high elevations in the Atacama. The pace of the walks will be leisurely, but comfortable walking shoes with a sturdy tread will be essential on this trip.

Some parts of this tour are not wheelchair or stroller accessible, nor are they suitable for travelers who require mobility-assistance devices. Anyone requiring extraordinary assistance must be accompanied by someone who can and will provide all required assistance.

Roadways can be narrow with steep ascents/descents and at times rocky, unpaved, and dusty. The drive from San Pedro de Atacama to Antofagasta takes approximately 4 hours.

April is autumn in Chile, and average temperatures in both Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama range between 75°F and 44°F.  Evenings will be quite cool. Bring clothing that can be layered, as well as sunblock, sun hat, and sunglasses.

All the hotels are located at what are considered comfortable elevations. However, the professional observatories are at significant altitudes: Las Campanas Observatory is at 7,810 feet; the Very Large Telescope is at 8,645 feet; and the Vera C. Rubin, Gemini, and SOAR observatories are at 8,737 feet. Moreover, some of the excursions in the Atacama Desert can reach (for a short time) altitudes of approximately 14,000 feet.

Finally, a proposed optional visit to ALMA’s antennas on the Chajnantor plateau (requested but not assured) is at an altitude of 16,500 feet and will require the use of supplemental oxygen. To participate in this high-altitude visit, you will need to provide a signed medical release from your physician and proof of an evacuation insurance policy with minimum coverage of $50,000. We will notify you if this visit is approved.

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Pricing, Payments, and Terms for Chile Observatories and Stargazing 2027 Tour

Pricing (per person)	Two per Room	One per Room
11-day/10-night Chile Observatories & Stargazing (April 1-13, 2027)	$9,690	$10,690

• Pricing: All tour prices are based on costs and U.S. dollar exchange rates in effect at the time of posting. As such, prices listed here are subject to change. Royal Adventures and/or AAS Sky Publishing LLC will inform clients of any changes prior to departure.
• To make a reservation: A reservation request can be submitted by completing this form. Reservations are recorded and acknowledged in order of receipt. Royal Adventures (CST #2009579-40) handles all invoicing.
• Deposits: An advance payment of US$1,500 per person is required to secure your reservation for this tour. Please make your check payable to "Royal Adventures" and mail it to: Royal Adventures, 9 Crow Canyon Court, Suite 205, San Ramon, CA 94583. Initial deposits may be charged to a credit card (a 3% processing charge will apply). All subsequent payments must be made by check wire transfer only. Final payment is due by December 1, 2026.
• Cancellations and Refunds: Royal Adventures must receive all cancellations in writing. Cancellations received within 14 days of booking: full refund of the trip deposit. Cancellations received on or before December 1, 2026, are eligible for a refund less a $500 per person cancellation fee. Cancellations received after December 1, 2026, are subject to a 100% fee for all deposits and payments, regardless of the booking date. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features.
• Itinerary: The itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of Sky & Telescope and Royal Adventures. All tour prices are based on costs and U.S. dollar exchange rates in effect at the time of posting. As such, the prices listed here are subject to change. In particular, any increases in the fares for in-tour transportation, security, and/or fuel surcharges will be paid by the participants. Sky & Telescope and/or Royal Adventures will inform clients of any changes prior to departure.
• Travel insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance including “Cancel for Any Reason” because the cancellation fee listed in the brochure will apply. We also recommend the purchase of evacuation insurance because some travel will be to remote locations with limited medical facilities. Trip cancellation, medical, quarantine, and evacuation insurance can be purchased through our recommended provider, Travel Insured International; click here to get a quote or call 800-243-3174 and mention Royal Adventures #53140. Entry into Chile currently requires proof of medical insurance covering COVID-19 related expenses in an amount of a least $30,000. Participation in the proposed ALMA excursion to 16,500 feet (should it be allowed) requires a medical release and an evacuation insurance policy in the minimum amount of $50,000. Most insurance plans need to be purchased within 14 days of paying the initial deposit to waive preexisting medical conditions as well as to purchase “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance.
• Disclaimer: Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented here. Royal Adventures, AAS Sky Publishing, LLC, and Sky & Telescope are not responsible for errors in or damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Information contained here is subject to change.
• Responsibility Statement: Royal Adventures (CST #2009579-40), its owners, and employees act only as agents for the various independent suppliers and contractors providing transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant, and other services connected with this tour. Such travel and services are subject to the terms and conditions under which such accommodations, services, and transportation are offered or provided; AAS and AAS Sky Publishing LLC (collectively referred to herein as “AAS Sky Publishing LLC”) and Royal Adventures and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability therefor. AAS Sky Publishing LLC and Royal Adventures assume no liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or other irregularity which may be caused by the defect of any aircraft or vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to sickness, epidemics, pandemics, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, quarantine, force majeure, animal or insect bites, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. AAS Sky Publishing LLC and Royal Adventures reserve the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour participants. AAS Sky Publishing LLC and/or Royal Adventures shall not be deemed to be in breach of these terms and conditions or otherwise be liable to you, and shall not provide any refund, by reason of delay in performance, or by non-performance, of any of our obligations hereunder to the extent that any such delay or non-performance is due to any force majeure event. A force majeure event, in relation to this tour, shall mean any circumstances beyond our control, including, but without limitation, to acts of God, explosion, flood, forceful wind, fire or accident, war or threat of war declared or undeclared, acts of terrorism, sabotage, insurrection, riots, strikes, civil disturbance, sickness, epidemics, pandemics, quarantines, government intervention or other unforeseeable events. Limitations on travel arising from the COVID-19 pandemic shall be considered a force majeure event. If this tour is affected by a force majeure event, AAS Sky Publishing and Royal Adventures shall be entitled to, and may in their sole and absolute discretion, vary, cancel, or postpone any itinerary or arrangement in relation to this trip. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour or to substitute another qualified leader or special guest. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. The price of the program is given in good faith based on current tariffs and rates and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, security surcharge, fuel, or internal airline ticket fee increases, will be passed on to participants. Neither AAS Sky Publishing LLC nor Royal Adventures accepts the liability for any airline-cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. Participants on this tour agree not to hold Royal Adventures or AAS Sky Publishing LLC and/ or its employees or agents responsible for any expense or loss caused by their failure to purchase trip cancellation insurance coverage or by their failure to purchase insurance or “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance coverage within the 14 days following the date of their registration on this tour. The air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. As part of the consideration and right to participate in this tour, each participant will be asked to sign a liability release, an assumption of risk, and a hold-harmless agreement.
• Questions: Please contact Royal Adventures at [email protected] or call 800-453-4754 or 925-820-6260 (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time).