But the natural conditions of the Chilean skies and the impressive phenomena captured by the multiple telescopes located on national soil not only attract the attention of scientists, but also of a growing number of national and foreign tourists. Astronomical tourism has been gaining importance since 1998 - the year in which Mamalluca, the country's first tourist observatory opened, and which to this day is still the most recognized and visited of its kind - to become today one of the tourism options with the greatest growth potential in the country.
Astrotourism has become one of the main motivations for foreign tourists to visit Chile, since the conditions and possibilities for sighting astronomical phenomena are unparalleled. But at the same time, year after year, national tourists become more interested in learning about this facet of the national scientific development, making visits to the observatories part of their trips to the north of the country. This is why the country seeks to be the most outstanding astro-tourism destination in the world by the year 2025, with the help of the Astrotourism Roadmap.
One of the main characteristics of the growing astronomical tourism in Chile is the diversity of options. Those most interested in learning about scientific development can visit some of the most important international projects located in northern Chile, such as ALMA or the Paranal Paranal observatoryobservatory, which organize tours of their operations centers. On the other hand, those who wish to have the opportunity to learn, but also to observe astronomical phenomena, can visit one of the more than thirty tourist observatories located throughout Chile.
The following is a list of the 35 tourist observatories and the 13 scientific observatories in our country, ordered by region:
Antofagasta
This region concentrates the largest number of scientific observatories, among which ALMA and the Paranal Observatory stand out, both created thanks to international investments, to which are added the UCN observatory (ex-Sirius), of the Universidad Católica del Norte and the Ckoirama and Nayra observatories, of the Universidad de Antofagasta. The tourist observatories are:
- Baquedano School Observatory (Sierra Gorda)
- Ahlarkapin Observatory (San Pedro de Atacama)
- Paniri Caur Observatory (Calama)
- SPACE Observatory (San Pedro de Atacama)
Atacama
The Atacama region has a representative for each type of observatory. The scientific observatory Las Campanas is accompanied by the tourist observatory Inca de Oro.
- Inca de Oro Observatory (Diego de Almagro)
Coquimbo
The region with the most observatories in Chile, as it has fifteen tourist observatories, in addition to three scientific observatories: Cerro Tololo, La Silla and Gemini-Sur.
- Collowara Observatory (Ancadollo)
- Cruz del Sur Observatory (Combarbalá)
- Mamalluca Observatory (Vicuña)
- Solar Observatory of Chile (Vicuña)
- Antilhue Observatory (Ovalle)
- Cancana Observatory (Vicuña)
- Cielo Sur Observatory (Paihuano)
- El Pangue Observatory (Vicuña)
- Chakana Observatory (Paihuano)
- Cerro Mayu Observatory (La Serena)
- Alfa Aldea Observatory (Vicuña)
- Hacienda Los Andes Observatory (Río Hurtado)
- Valle del Sol Observatory (Monte Patria)
- Refugio El Molle Observatory and Astronomical Spa (El Molle)
- Inti Runa Observatory (Vicuña)
Valparaíso
The Valparaíso region does not have scientific observatories, but it does have two tourist observatories:
- Galileo Galilei Observatory (Valparaíso)
- Pocuro Observatory (Calle Larga)
Metropolitan Region
In this region we will find three scientific observatories: the UMCE observatory, the Manuel Foster Metropolitan Park Observatory (museum observatory) and the Cerro Calán National Astronomical Observatory, the latter being fundamental in the beginnings of national astronomy. There are also five tourist observatories:
- Andean Astronomical Observatory (Lo Barnechea)
- Pailalén Observatory (San José de Maipo)
- Chicureo Observatory Chilean Skies (Colina)
- Cerro El Pochoco Observatory (Lo Barnechea)
- Roan Jasé (San José de Maipo)
O'Higgins
The O'Higgins region adds two tourist observatories to the list:
- Tagua Tagua Observatory (San Vicente de Tagua Tagua-Tagua)
- Cerro Chamán Observatory (Lolol)
Maule
Only one observatory is located in the Maule region:
- Orion Observatory (Villa Alegre)
Bio Bío
The University of Concepción manages a scientific observatory called Wangulen Mapu, but in this region there are also four tourist observatories:
- Shangri-La Observatory of the Skies (Pinto)
- Yepún Observatory (Cañete)
- Antares Amateur Astronomical Observatory (Talcahuano)
- Elke Tourist Observatory (Penco)
Los Lagos
The tenth region of Chile is home to only one tourist observatory:
More information about astrotourism in Chile:
www.chile.travel/que-hacer/astroturismo
www.turismoastronomico.cl