Elqui Valley, a must-see Tourist Destination

Elqui Valley, North of Chile.

 The Elqui Valley is one of Chile's many tourist destinations, located 500 kilometers north of Santiago, the country's capital. Renowned for its mystical aura, it is associated with UFO sightings and offers a fertile landscape stretching from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean. Its pristine, pollution-free skies have also made it an ideal location for installing telescopes, serving both tourist activities and major scientific research centers. In recent years, numerous awards and mentions from international media have brought global attention to this remarkable site.

The valley itself is a magnet for tourists, celebrated for its natural landscapes, vineyards, and colonial villages, which seamlessly blend agrotourism, ecotourism, and astrotourism.

Lonely Planet, one of the world's most prestigious travel guides, ranked the Elqui Valley among the top 10 places to visit globally in 2019. Since then, many other publications have highlighted the valley's unique charms in Chile's Norte Chico region. 
  
A privileged place for astronomy lovers
Image: Astrovida.cl
  The publication highlights this destination for several reasons, including its association with astrotourism, local products such as Pisco (an alcoholic beverage made from specific grape varieties), and its recognition as a national cultural heritage site, associated with Gabriela Mistral, the Nobel Prize-winning poet. The article mentions the many attractions for tourists and notes that, although the area had previously remained under the radar, it has gradually gained recognition, particularly for its famously clear skies. Additionally, the Elqui Valley was a key location for viewing the total solar eclipse in 2019.

For the second consecutive year, The New York Times named Valle de Elqui one of the 52 places to visit in 2019. The valley stretches along the Elqui River basin and is one of the most visited destinations in Northern Chile. This region is also known as "Norte Chico" (Small North), located in the Coquimbo Region. Here are some of the treasures you can discover in the Elqui Valley, a place brimming with magic and charm, well worth a visit. 


How to get There
  • By Air: From Santiago to La Florida Airport, city of La Serena.
  • By Land: Buses or private vehicles, mainly from La Serena and Santiago.
  • Local Tours: Departing from La Serena (the regional capital, another of the must-see cities in Chile), there are a number of agencies offering excursions to this tourist destination. 
 

Tourist Attractions in Valle de Elqui:

Vicuña

Torre Bauer, a symbol of the village
Image: rallymobil.emol.com 

 Vicuña is the most important town in the area and the birthplace of the Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, winner of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature. Like much of the "Norte Chico" (Small North), the town is internationally recognized for its clear skies, making it an ideal location for stargazing. Highlights include the Observatorio Cerro Tololo, one of the most important observatories in the world, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy; the Observatorio Turístico-Educativo Cerro Mamalluca; the facilities of Observatorio Collowara, a tourist observation post run by the Red de Alojamiento de Andacollo; and the Observatorio del Pangue, another station offering guided astronomical tours, now at its peak in this part of Chile.

Other attractions include the Museo y Biblioteca Gabriela Mistral (Museum and Library); the Museo Entomológico y de Historia Natural (Entomology and Natural History Museum); the Torre Bauer, an iconic symbol of the village, built in 1905 and now serving as the Oficina Municipal de Informaciones Turísticas (Municipal Tourist Information Office); the Planta de Producción Pisco Capel (Distillery); the Embalse Puclaro (Puclaro Dam), completed in 1999 to regulate the scarce rainfall and the waters of the Elqui River; and Villaseca, a small village known for its traditional Chilean cuisine based on solar ovens and grills.


Museo Gabriela Mistral

The Gabriela Mistral Museum is dedicated to the life and work of the Chilean poet and intellectual, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1945 and the National Literature Prize in 1951. The museum is located at 759 Gabriela Mistral Street, next to the writer's birthplace in Vicuña, the heart of the Elqui Valley.

At the museum, visitors can see personal objects, documents, photographs, and books that belonged to Gabriela Mistral, as well as learn about her literary, educational, and diplomatic career. Inaugurated in 1957, the museum also features a library that houses part of the poet's personal collection.


Valle de Cochiguaz

A remote, hidden valley nestled between hills, located in the commune of Paihuano, near Elqui and approximately 110 km from La Serena. Although it is nourished by the river of the same name, the area features semi-arid hills surrounding a lush green river basin, making it a sought-after destination for those who enjoy meditation and seek tranquility that is hard to find elsewhere in the world.

The hills bordering the valley are rich in quartz and magnetite. Many of the boarding houses and cabins that accommodate visitors also offer alternative therapies such as Reiki, meditation, esotericism, yoga, and aromatic baths. Another major attraction is its pristine sky, virtually free of pollution, providing a great advantage for astronomy enthusiasts. At night, the valley offers a spectacular view of the stars, often visible even without the aid of a telescope.

Pisco Elqui 

Town of Pisco Elqui, Chile.
Image: piscoelqui.com
 Organizacion Turistica Valle de Elqui

A small town with pre-Columbian roots, located in the commune of Paihuano, 107 km east of La Serena and 37 km southwest of Vicuña. Before adopting its current name, it was known as La Greda and later La Unión, which was changed in 1936 to Pisco Elqui.

This charming town is a haven for nature lovers, surrounded by vineyards as its main activity is the production of pisco, an Andean grape brandy that originated in the 16th century. The town's main square is adorned with beautiful trees, and next to it stands the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Church, completed in 1922 with materials brought from Europe. Its tower, standing over 30 meters high, is visible from a distance. The church features a central nave and two aisles, with religious images imported from France.


Not everything in the stunning Elqui Valley revolves around grapes and Pisco. Since the late 19th century, the region has had a brewing tradition, starting with Bauer beer in Vicuña, which has recently experienced a strong resurgence.

Local agencies offer the 8-hour guided tour Cerveceros Ancestrales, which takes you through much of the valley for an unforgettable journey, allowing you to visit and taste the offerings from the region's most renowned craft breweries.

Montegrande

A small village located 98 km from La Serena and 31 km from Vicuña, in the commune of Paihuano, it was declared a National Monument in 1990 under the category of Typical Zone. The village is especially known as the childhood home of Nobel Prize-winning poet Gabriela Mistral. Among its streets are her childhood home, school, and tomb. Guided tours are available to explore the town's historic architecture, the central square, the church, and the pisco industry.
 

Astronomical Tours in Elqui Valley  

Cerro Tololo Observatory
Image: latercera.com

 With the rise of astrotourism, some of the best locations for both educational and recreational stargazing have emerged. The Elqui Valley, one of the most privileged places in the world for observing the universe, now hosts numerous facilities for both amateur and professional astronomers. In this northern region of Chile, some of the world’s most important scientific centers have been established. Along with the region’s exceptional climatic conditions, Chile’s political and economic stability, as well as its security, are key factors that have attracted these international research centers.

Guided tours, primarily departing from the city of La Serena, are led by specialized personnel who provide an introductory talk to teach visitors how to identify planets, stars, constellations, and more. Taking advantage of the typically clear skies, stargazing begins without instruments, followed by observations using standard telescopes and, ultimately, cutting-edge equipment. Today, there are many tours offering astronomical routes to enthusiasts eager to explore the mysteries of the cosmos. Here are some of them:

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