Stars and constellations in northern Chile

Welcome to Chile! On arrival in Santiago, you'll be met at the airport and taken to your hotel by private transfer. After dropping off your luggage, you begin exploring the capital, located at the foot of the Andes, in the company of a local English-speaking guide.

The tour begins in the city's historic center, with the Plaza de Armas and its emblematic monuments: the presidential palace La Moneda, the Casa Colorada and the San Francisco church, Santiago's oldest building. You then cross Santa Lucia Park, where the panoramic view from the hill overlooks the city. A detour to the central market allows you to discover a wide variety of fresh local produce, including fish and seafood.

Round off your day in the lively Bellavista and Lastarria districts, where you'll find gastronomic delights and trendy bars to suit all tastes.

After breakfast, your private driver will take you to the legendary Pearl of the Pacific. An English-speaking guide awaits to reveal all the secrets of this UNESCO World Heritage city.

Your visit begins at Plaza Sotomayor, the historic heart of the city, and continues at the Naval Museum, where Chilean maritime history comes to life. Then take the mythical Reina Victoria elevator, a real trip back in time, before discovering La Sebastiana, poet Pablo Neruda's home with a privileged view over the bay.

Colorful facades, murals and the scent of the sea make up the unique identity of this city of artists. Take advantage of the last few hours of daylight to stroll through the labyrinth of steep streets before returning to your accommodation, where the murmur of the Pacific Ocean will accompany you all night long.

Your day begins with a private transfer from your hotel to Santiago airport, for a flight toAntofagasta. At the wheel of your rental car, set off to discover this prosperous metropolis in northern Chile. Its nickname of "Pearl of the North" reflects its strategic importance in the national economy, thanks in particular to its busy port and its central role in the country's mining industry.

Stroll through the historic district, where colonial architecture recounts the city's pioneering past. To round off this day of transition, treat yourself to a refreshing stroll along the Pacific coastline, where urban beaches invite you to relax in front of the blue immensity.

The day begins with a guided tour of the Paranal Observatory. This astronomical sanctuary, a true star-seeker's paradise, is home to ESO's Very Large Telescope. This instrument combines four main telescopes and four auxiliaries to peer into the farthest reaches of the universe with unrivalled clarity.

Back on land, drive to San Pedro d'Atacama, a jewel nestled in the heart of the Andes. On the way, stop off at the ghost mine of Chacabuco. This relic tells two stories: the brilliant story of saltpeter mining, with its workers' quarters and shops; and the dark story of a prison camp during the Pinochet dictatorship. A poignant testimony in the middle of the desert.

Continue your celestial exploration by joining the ALMA observatory.

Perched at 5,100 metres on the Chajnantor plateau, this astronomical complex is one of the most sophisticated in the world. Discover this cutting-edge technology that captures the millimeter emissions of celestial bodies. Your guide will show you the control room, the precision laboratories and the imposing antennas under maintenance.

In the afternoon, stroll freely through the ochre streets of San Pedro d'Atacama. This adobe village, a veritable cultural crossroads, invites you to explore its traditional churches, its archaeological museum and the ancestral Pukará fortress of Quitor.

As night falls, meet astronomer Alain Maury for a memorable evening. He'll first tell you about the evolution of our understanding of the cosmos, before guiding you, with high-performance telescopes in hand, in the observation of the southern sky. This experience, best enjoyed outside full-moon periods, benefits from exceptional atmospheric conditions: clear skies, virtually free of light pollution.

You drive to the Valley of the Moon, an iconic site with unique geological formations and lunar landscapes. The hills and rock formations, of varying shapes and sizes, offer an impressive spectacle.

In the afternoon, head for the Arcoíris Valley, renowned for its multicolored formations created by erosion and soil minerals. Shades of red, olive green, orange, yellow and violet make up a spectacular landscape. You'll also discover the village of Matancilla and the site of Yerbas Buenas, famous for its ancient petroglyphs.

You set off in the morning to discover the natural wonders of the Atacama Desert. The tour begins in the charming village of Toconao, famous for its white volcanic stone buildings. The second stop is at Chaxa Lagoon, where a colony of Chilean and Andean James's flamingos can be seen in their natural habitat.

You continue to Socaire, a pre-Hispanic village renowned for its terraced irrigation systems. Then it's on to the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, at an altitude of 4,300 metres, in the heart of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Surrounded by imposing volcanoes, their turquoise waters contrast magnificently with the surrounding arid mountains.

To round off this high-altitude day, you head further south towards the Argentine border to the Piedras Rojas and Aguas Calientes sites, which conceal superb desert landscapes.

Set off on the Altiplano trails along the Salar Route. Your first stop is at the foot of the majestic Licancábur, a volcanic sentinel guarding the desert. Continue on to the Quepiaco lagoon, a turquoise treasure set in mineral immensity.

Further on, the natural sculptures of La Pacana are revealed, masterpieces sculpted by erosion and the impetuous winds of the high plateaus. Your journey culminates at the miradors overlooking the vast white expanses of the Aguas Calientes, Tara and Quisquiro salars, mineral paintings with changing reflections according to the light.

Wake up at dawn and set off for the famous Geysers del Tatio, perched at an altitude of 4,300 metres. In the dawning light of day, enjoy breakfast as you watch the hypnotic ballet of sulphurous steam columns rising from the ground, creating an unreal tableau of light and shadow.

On the way back, watch out for leaping vizcachas, elegant vicuñas, haughty guanacos and llamas, fast-running rheas and perhaps the stealthy appearance of the Magellanic fox.

Last stop at Chiu Chiu, once an Atacaménian trade hub, before heading for San Pedro.

Enjoy breakfast with an infusion of rica rica, a local plant, before heading to Calama airport to drop off your rental car and catch a flight to La Serena.

Then set off for Vicuña, in the heart of the Elqui Valley. Explore this picturesque village, renowned for its terraced vineyards: stroll through the central square, admire the historic church, immerse yourself in the artisan market and discover the unusual Bauer Tower, a medieval replica imported from Germany at the beginning of the last century.

In the evening, join French astronomer Eric Escalera as he guides you through the cosmos with his five professional telescopes. This experience, accessible to novices and enthusiasts alike, only takes place outside full-moon periods.

Take advantage of your stay in the Petit Nord to explore the Cerro Tololo Observatory, a key reference point for astronomical research in the Southern Hemisphere. Founded in 1965, this scientific complex today houses five operational domes, including the impressive Victor Blanco telescope. This 4-meter-diameter instrument, installed in 1976, enables cosmic observations of exceptional depth.

Accompanied by your guide, you'll discover all the cutting-edge equipment and revolutionary scientific projects taking place here.

Today, you explore the Elqui Valley, renowned for its mountainous landscapes and agricultural valleys. Along the way, you'll stop off at several villages.

• Montegrande: the birthplace of Gabriela Mistral, Chile's winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Soak up the peaceful atmosphere of this birthplace.
• Pisco Elqui: famous for its pisco distilleries, this locality is the perfect place to discover the production process of this emblematic brandy and taste its different varieties.
• Horcon: famous for its local crafts, its artisan markets offer handmade products reflecting regional traditions.
• Alcoguaz: the last village, typical of the valley, offers an authentic insight into local life and the surrounding landscape.

After a fruity Elqui Valley breakfast, drive to La Serena airport to return your vehicle. A flight to Santiago is boarded, where a private driver awaits to take you to your hotel.

The afternoon is yours to explore other facets of the capital. Enrich your discovery of Chile by visiting its emblematic museums: the Museum of Fine Arts, the La Moneda cultural center dedicated to contemporary art, or the famous Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. Alternatively, enjoy a local drink or go shopping for the perfect souvenirs for your loved ones.

To celebrate the end of this journey, enjoy a dinner in the elegant Las Condes district or the fashionable Barrio Italia.

Last wake-up call on Andean soil. Depending on your flight schedule, a private transfer will take you to Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport.

A journey through the thousand colors of the Altiplano that will leave you with your head in the stars long after your return!