San Pedro de Atacama: Stargazing Tour & Wine with Transfers

Summary

Stargaze in Chile’s desert sky with wine, telescopes, and local stories

You’ll bundle up for a night outside San Pedro de Atacama with hotel pickup included, sipping red wine or hot chocolate while your guide shares stories beneath some of Earth’s clearest skies. Look through powerful telescopes at planets and nebulae, enjoy snacks, and take home a professional photo under the stars—plus maybe a new way of seeing things.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure if I’d really “get” astronomy — I mean, stars are stars, right? But as soon as we left San Pedro de Atacama and the van bumped out past the last streetlights, something shifted. The air felt colder than I’d expected (I was grateful for the thermal blanket later), and the desert just… opened up. You could smell dust and a bit of sage when you stepped out. Our guide — Javier — greeted us with this easy smile and handed me a mug of hot chocolate that actually tasted like chocolate, not powder.

He started talking about how the Atacama is one of the best places on Earth for stargazing tours because of its crazy-clear skies. There was this moment when he pointed out Saturn through the telescope — I swear I could see its rings, tiny but real. Someone next to me gasped (might’ve been me). Javier told us stories about Inca constellations too; I tried repeating one of the names in Spanish and totally messed it up. He laughed and so did I. It felt less like a lecture and more like being let in on a secret people have known for centuries out here.

The snacks were simple but good — cheese, olives, some bread, red wine poured into little glasses that fogged in my hand. And then there was this silence between everyone while we waited for our professional photos under that wild sky. No cars in the distance, just wind and someone quietly humming behind me. On the ride back to town I kept looking out at those stars through the window, thinking about how small everything else felt for a minute or two. It’s funny how much you remember that kind of quiet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — San Pedro de Atacama stargazing tour

• Pick up from accommodation
• Travel 7km to facilities
• Welcome talk and souvenir photos
• Astronomy talk on stars and telescopes
• Stargazing with 14-inch telescopes
• Return to accommodation

Top questions

How far is the stargazing location from San Pedro de Atacama?

The site is about 7 kilometers outside San Pedro de Atacama.

Is transportation included in this stargazing tour?

Yes, roundtrip transfer from your accommodation is included.

What should I wear for an Atacama stargazing tour?

Dress warmly—especially legs and feet—as nights can be very cold.

Are food and drinks provided during the tour?

Yes, you’ll get snacks plus red wine, hot chocolate or tea.

Do we get to use telescopes during this experience?

Yes, you’ll observe with two 14-inch Skyquest telescopes guided by an expert.

Is there a professional photo included?

Each guest receives one professional photograph under the desert sky.

Is this suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal/cardiovascular issues.

What’s included

Your evening includes roundtrip hotel pickup from San Pedro de Atacama, guidance from an experienced astronomer, observation through two large telescopes under clear desert skies, one professional photo per person to keep as a memory, plus a snack board with red wine or real hot chocolate or tea—along with thermal blankets so you can actually relax even when it gets chilly out there.