Stargazing Tour in Atacama: Review + Recommendations

Seeing the Milky Way and a sky full of stars in a true Dark Sky Zone is something you never forget. Growing up in the big cities, we never really truly saw the stars, only a few lonely specks in the sky trying their best through all the light pollution. Then we travelled to Namibia, one of the best Dark Sky Zones in the world, and finally saw the Milky Way in a way we never knew was possible. Seeing so many stars, and the entire galaxy stretching across the horizon, it absolutely blew our minds. So when we decided to visit the Atacama Desert, which is famous around the world for its Dark Sky Zones, we knew we had to join one of their Stargazing Tours. But the moment we started researching, we had a million questions. Is stargazing in Atacama really worth it? Which tour company should we choose? Can you even stargaze during a full moon? When is the best time to go?

Now that we have experienced it ourselves and spent way too many hours researching everything about it, we are here to share all our recommendations for stargazing in the Atacama Desert.

Is Stargazing Tour in Atacama Worth it

You can probably already tell from my enthusiastic introduction, but YES, doing a Stargazing Tour in Atacama is absolutely worth it! I mean how often during your travels will you get to visit one of the World’s Dark Sky Zones?

For those who might not know, a Dark Sky Zone refers to a protected area with minimal artificial light and ideal atmospheric conditions for seeing stars. These regions are often located at high elevations, far from major cities, and have clear, dry air that keeps clouds and humidity to a minimum. All of this means you can see countless stars and the Milky Way with your naked eye and like never before! 

I mean it’s no wonder they put world class facilities like the ALMA observatory, right in the middle of the Atacama Desert!   

Joining a Stargazing Tour in the Atacama Desert is a rare chance to see the stars like never before! You’ll also learn about the galaxy, have a chance to witness planets and stars in ridiculous magnification through a telescope, and overall enjoy a cozy romantic night under the stars. This was one of our favourite tour experience during our 5 days in the Atacama Desert.

Honest Review of Stargazing tour in Atacama

Below we’ll share our firsthand experience with our stargazing tour in San Pedro de Atacama, what to expect during the tour, and what made this tour standout above the others. Let’s get right into it!

Which Stargazing Tour we Chose

After doing extensive research and comparing all the main companies that offer the stargazing tour in San Pedro de Atacama, we ended up choosingThe Roofless Atacama Night Experience. In short, they had everything we were looking for: great reviews, a super comfortable and intimate seating/dining setup, small group access to the telescope, and honestly some of the best star portraits we had seen. We break down all the reasons why we chose them in more detail below.

⚠️ If you’re looking for the best day tours to take in San Pedro de Atacama, we have written a comprehensive guide with our hand-picked most recommended tours in the Atacama Desert.

👀 Alternatively, one tour platform many people don’t know about for South America and has been excellent throughout our travels is Nomades. It’s worth taking a look!

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What to Expect: Arrival and Stargazing Setup

You’ll be picked up in a comfortable air-conditioned minibus at around 9:30pm and driven out to their stargazing site deep in the desert.

Once you arrive, you’ll have a moment to settle in and enjoy their cozy seating and dining setup. Unlike many other stargazing tours where you spend most of the night standing or sitting on basic chairs, Roofless gives you your own cushioned bench and personal dining table.

Each couple gets their own little space, and they even bring out a full charcuterie board, wine, and hot cocoa. If the night gets chilly, they have thermal blankets ready to go to keep you warm! These were crucial deciding factors for us because the most common complaints we saw about other tours were the discomfort of people standing the entire time with their necks tilted back, and they were getting cold as the night went on.

Star Portrait Session

Another huge advantage of going with Roofless Atacama is the incredible starportrait they take for you.

Sure, most other tours will snap a photo of you with the Milky Way, but honestly, the results are usually pretty average. Roofless does it differently. They have a full professional setup with a cushioned bench, a high quality camera, and even filtered flash lighting to make sure you are properly lit while the Milky Way shines behind you.

As photographers ourselves, we could immediately tell how well thought out their setup was. And the results were amazing! For most travellers who do not have the gear or skills for star photography, this is a rare chance to get a truly stunning portrait under some of the clearest skies in the world.

Stargazing Experience with the Telescopes

After all the beautiful photos are done, they will have you return to your seated area to enjoy the snacks and drinks while the guide introduces you to the galaxy.

This information session was both educational and entertaining and we learned so much about the stars and planets in the sky. Following this, you’ll be divided into small groups of 4-5 and designated to a telescope. We loved this since we felt like we always had ample time to look through the telescope without being rushed.

Roofless also provides really high quality 14 inch SkyQuest Telescropes to give you some of the clearest views of the stars you’ll ever have.

What you actually see through the Telescropes

Ok, just to set expectations, looking through these telescopes is not the same as peering through one of those giant NASA grade observatories where you can see every crater and swirl of colour on a planet.

With these portable telescopes, planets will appear small like a grain of rice, but you will still notice distinct colours and some features. What really blew our minds though was when the guide pointed to what looked like a tiny, faint speck in the sky. To the naked eye it was barely anything. But once he aimed the telescope at it, we suddenly saw an entire cluster of millions of stars. That moment honestly shifted our sense of scale and reminded us just how unbelievably vast the galaxy really is!

These are not my star telescope photos. They are stock photos I found by Adrian Monserrat on Pexels, but they showcase an approximation of what you’ll see through the telescope.

Which Stargazing Tour to Choose

As previously mentioned, we had compared most of the major stargazing tours in San Pedro de Atacama before choosing The Roofless Atacama Night Experience. Some of the other well known tour companies include Llama Stargazing Tour, AstroTour, andSpaceObs. 

While reading through reviews and looking through their photos, we noticed a few recurring complaints about some tours having fairly simple seating setups, uncomfortable viewing, and average star portraits. Some travelers also mentioned that the explanations were not detailed nor entertaining, and that that the groups were on the larger side, which meant less telescope time. 

Of course, every experience can vary and many people still enjoy these tours, but we want you to keep those points in mind when choosing.

In the end, we went with The Roofless Atacama Night Experience specifically because they seemed to address all of those concerns, and honestly, the experience ended up exceeding everything we hoped for.

One final other option is with SpaceObs. They offer more specialized tours with larger telescropes, which initially interested us, but you need to email them to book. When we reached out, they didn’t respond for several days.

In the end, all 3 of those tours have excellent reviews so it just depends on what are your specific criteria. For us, we wanted a very comfortable viewing setup, small group ratio, good telescropes, fun education, and excellent starportrait. And The Roofless Atacama Night Experience delivered in all aspects! 

This post is part of our series about Traveling in Chile! If you want to learn more about visiting the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, and other amazing Chilean attractions, check out the guides below:

Chile Patagonia vs Argentina Patagonia: Which is Right for You

Estancia Horseback Riding in Patagonia: Review & Recommendations

29 Essential Patagonia Travel Tips (From Real Experience)

12 BEST Things to do in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Where to Stay in Torres del Paine: Puerto Natales vs Inside Park Hotels

How to Visit Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile (Beginner’s Guide)

8 Best Day Hikes in Torres del Paine, Chile (Easy to Moderate Trails)

5-Day Atacama Desert Itinerary: Self-Drive Road Trip or Guided Tours

10 Best San Pedro de Atacama Tours (2026)

Can you Stargaze in Atacama without a Tour

Yes, it is possible to stargaze in the Atacama Desert without a tour, but the experience is not the same. What makes a tour like The Roofless Atacama Night Experience special is that it helps you actually understand what you are actually looking at. You learn how stars form, how massive the galaxy really is, and you get to observe planets and clusters through a telescope. Plus, you walk away with a beautiful Starportrait that you would never be able to capture on your own.

Our suggestion is to join a tour first, then head out on another night to DIY stargaze again with a whole new appreciation for what you are seeing.

Recommended DIY Stargazing Spot

Since we love doing star photography, we went back to one of our favourite spots, Mirador Likan Antay. If you have read our Atacama Activity Guide or Atacama Itinerary, this is the same viewpoint where you can catch an unforgettable sunset over Valle de la Luna!

Safety Considerations of Stargazing on your own

Before you head out on your own, there are a few things to be aware of. First, the Atacama Desert is really dark, which makes driving at night a bit challenging. Nighttime is also when big trucks use the main roads, so you need to be extra careful when driving. 

Second, once you get to Mirador Likan Antay, make sure you have a strong headlamp to find your way. The terrain is quite rocky, uneven, and sometimes there are sudden drop offs and cliffs. We had visited the viewpoint the day before for sunset, which helped us figure out the safest path to follow in the dark. 

And finally, we do not recommend wandering aimlessly into the desert to stargaze. It is easy to get lost, and there are wild animals around. We recommend sticking to a designated viewpoint like Mirador Likan Antay, where you have proper parking and a safe, open area to enjoy the night sky.

Best Time to Visit San Pedro de Atacama

The best time to visit the Atacama Desert is between March and May or September to November. During these shoulder seasons, you’ll enjoy milder temperatures, fewer crowds, and minimal rainfall.

Although the desert is known for its dry climate year-round, the summer months (January and February) can occasionally bring rainfall due to the Bolivian Winter. Also keep in mind that the months of June to August is considered winter in the Atacama Desert so the temperatures will be quite frigid!

We ended up visiting at the end of March and had perfect weather! No rain, quite hot during the day, and not too cold at night!

FAQ

Best Time to Stargaze in the Atacama Desert

If stargazing is your priority, the best time to visit is during the winter months and Dry Season (April to October), when the cold and dry conditions allow for the clearest skies.

Do note that night-time temperatures are very cold during this time of year, so it is important to pack appropriately if you visit during these months. Fortunately, this season also aligns well with the ideal time to visit the Atacama Desert, when it is not too hot and conditions are comfortable! We ended up visiting end of March, which is their shoulder season. 

Can you do the tour during Full Moon

It’s important to check the moon cycle before booking your stargazing tour. Make sure to avoid going during a full moon, when the sky is so bright that it washes out the stars, making it hard to see them clearly. Instead, the best time to go is during a new moon, when the moon isn’t visible at all. We recommend using this Moon Cycle website, which has a clear and easy-to-read moon calendar to help plan your trip.

Does the Scientific Observatory ALMA allow public night tours?

The ALMA observatory currently does not take visitors from the public. According to their website, they only allow a limited visitor program reserved for educational and research institutions and the media.

Is Stargazing in Atacama truly one of the best spots?

We’ve traveled to quite a few Dark Sky destinations around the world, and honestly, the Atacama Desert is one of the most impressive. Our all-time favourite stargazing spot is actually Spitzkoppe in Namibia, which we visited during our road trip across Namibia. But Spitzkoppe doesn’t offer a guided stargazing experience, and that’s where Atacama stands out. 

Do you need to book your stargazing tour in advance?

If you want to join a specific stargazing tour, like the The Roofless Atacama Night Experience, then we would recommend booking at least a week in advance. If you’re flexible and open to joining any stargazing tour, you can also book once you arrive in San Pedro de Atacama. There are plenty of tour operators, so finding a spot isn’t usually a problem. However, for the best overall experience, we definitely recommend going with Roofless!

What to wear during Stargazing Tour

The Atacama Desert gets pretty cold at night. We recommend wearing long pants, an insulating layer like a fleece or sweater, and a puffer jacket on top. Fortunately, with the Roofless Atacama, plenty of blankets were provided during the tour so at no point did we feel cold.

Using WISE card in Chile

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Recap: Stargazing in Atacama

The Stargazing Tour in the Atacama Desert was one of our absolute favourite experiences during our stay in San Pedro de Atacama! Not only did it offer some of the most breathtaking views of the stars we’ve ever seen, but it also gave us a deeper understanding of the constellations and galaxies above. Roofless has set it up in such a way that the experience is both educational and incredibly enjoyable. Whether you’re a first-time stargazer or just looking for a unique experience to do, this tour is an unforgettable way to connect with the night sky in one of the world’s most spectacular desert landscapes in the world!

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