Observatorio del Pangue Elqui Valley

The latest of a few on the observatory front is Observatorio del Pangue, 17km south of Vicuña, run by three enthusiastic French and Chilean astronomers. The two-hour tours (in English, French and Spanish) operate nightly – unless there's a full moon – at 10pm during summer (and 6pm in winter). Transportation to the observatory is included with the tour fee from the observatory's Vicuña office.