Valle del Elqui
Pisco, stargazing and endless clear skies
About this destination
The Elqui Valley stretches east from La Serena into the Andes, a thin ribbon of green vines, pisco distilleries and adobe villages set against stark brown hills. It receives over 300 days of sunshine a year, which is why this valley grows the Muscat grapes used to make pisco — Chile's national spirit. The same clear skies have attracted world-class observatories, and the valley offers some of the best amateur stargazing in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a deeply restorative place: unhurried, warm and quietly beautiful.
Highlights
- Pisco distillery tours
- Mamalluca Observatory
- Vicuña village
- Hot springs at Termas de Socos
Must-see stops
Pisco Elqui village
A tiny, beautifully preserved village with whitewashed adobe walls and the famous Tres Erres distillery. Taste pisco sour made with grapes grown metres from where you sit.
Mamalluca Observatory
A public astronomical observatory near Vicuña, purpose-built for tourists. The guided night tours are exceptional — bring a jacket.
Cauce del Elqui
The river road through the heart of the valley, passing vineyard after vineyard. Slow down, stop at roadside stalls, and let the valley reveal itself.
Cochiguaz
A remote community deep in the valley, known for its spiritual retreats, clear air and extraordinary night skies far from any town.
Combine with
These destinations pair well with Valle del Elqui.
