Astrophotographic Astronomical Tour

The astronomy tour is a must-do in Atacama! They drive you 8km out of town to a spot with zero light interference, and the views of the stars, planets, and moon are simply stunning. That said, do NOT underestimate the cold—it's winter, and the desert plummets in temperature at night. Wear thermal base layers, a fleece, and a windproof jacket. We followed that advice and had the most comfortable, awe-inspiring evening of our trip!"

The tour itself was operated by Puka Rumi, a local agency in San Pedro de Atacama, so I’m not entirely sure why a Brazilian company is advertising and coordinating the experience through Viator. It felt like an unnecessary middleman that likely adds to the overall cost without providing much additional value. The date I originally booked turned out to be cloudy, but I was able to reschedule for two nights later with minimal hassle. Puka Rumi’s communication via WhatsApp before the experience was timely, clear, and informative. The experience itself was well organized. It began with a naked-eye tour of the night sky, presented simultaneously in both Spanish and English. The use of a laser pointer was especially helpful for identifying constellations such as the Southern Cross and various zodiac constellations. We then split into two groups and alternated between telescope viewing and having long-exposure photographs taken against the night sky. Unlike some other reviews I had read, there was ample time to use the two large telescopes, and I never felt rushed. The evening concluded with light snacks, warm drinks, and a small campfire, which provided a pleasant ending to the experience. My main criticism relates to the transportation, which felt somewhat disjointed and lacked communication, particularly for English-speaking guests. After our group boarded the van at the end of the tour, the driver disappeared for several minutes without explanation, leaving us sitting in complete darkness and unsure when we would be departing. It was a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but better communication would have improved the overall experience. Overall, the astronomy portion of the tour was informative, enjoyable, and well executed. The transportation logistics could use some refinement, but I would still recommend the experience to visitors looking to experience Atacama’s remarkable night skies.

It was wonderful the experience, moment of photos and connection with the sky of Atacama. The staff was very helpful, wonderfully well explained several details about the sky that night. At the end we had a picnic that was delicious and counted on hot chocolate to warm up the night that was a little cold. The transfer caught us at the agreed time and the return left us in the same place. Everything went perfectly well.