Observatorio Mamalluca
Observatorio Cerro Mamalluca
A municipal tourist observatory in Vicuña, where telescopes reveal Saturn’s rings, star clusters and the Milky Way. It is the best first stop for stargazing in the Elqui Valley.
The observatory sits on a hill about 9 km northeast of Vicuña. Night tours last about 2 hours. Guides introduce the southern constellations and then take turns showing the Moon, planets and nebulae through telescopes. Some sessions run in Spanish and English. Tickets cost about CLP 15,000 to 20,000. Book in advance at the ticket office in central Vicuña or online. Shuttle buses take visitors up the hill from town. It gets very cold at night, so bring a down jacket in winter. Full-moon nights offer poorer stargazing.
Opening hours
Evening sessions after sunset; reservation required
Nearby sights
- Cerro de la Virgen, Vicuña
- Museo Gabriela Mistral
- Planta Pisquera Capel
- Plaza de Armas & Torre Bauer, Vicuña
- Villaseca Solar Kitchens
- Observatorio del Pangue
- Embalse Puclaro
- Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory