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Best stargazing destinations in South America

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San Pedro de Atacama
Mars-like Landscapes and Starry Nights
7.5
San Pedro de Atacama sits in the driest desert on Earth at about 2,400 metres above sea level. Local astronomers lead night tours with telescopes on the outskirts of town. Guests look at galaxies and planets after dark. Some tours also share Andean star stories.
Highlights:
  • 🌕 Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Valle de la Luna
  • 🧂 Float effortlessly in the salt-rich Laguna Cejar
  • 🌅 Witness sunrise at the geysers of El Tatio
Elqui Valley
Stargazing paradise amid Andes' quiet charm
8.8
Elqui Valley in northern Chile has around 300 clear nights a year. Cerro Mamalluca Observatory near Vicuña opens for public tours after dark. Small towns such as Pisco Elqui offer lodges with telescopes. Green vineyards fill the valley by day while stars fill the sky at night.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Hike to Elqui Canyon for breathtaking desert vistas
  • 🍹 Tour a local pisco distillery in Vicuña and sample aged varieties
  • 🌌 Visit the Antofagasta Observatory and stargaze under pristine skies
Easter Island
Mysterious Moai and Volcanic Landscapes
8.1
Easter Island lies about 3,500 kilometres off the coast of Chile in the South Pacific. Few lights shine across the island. Photographers place the huge stone moai at Ahu Tongariki under the Milky Way. Local guides also tell stories of the stars that guided Polynesian voyagers.
Highlights:
  • ⛏️ Explore the Rano Raraku volcanic quarry of moai
  • 🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Anakena Beach
  • 🗿 Visit the massive moai statues at Ahu Tongariki
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
8.1
Torres del Paine National Park is a remote wilderness in southern Chile with three towering granite peaks. Refugios and campsites sit far from any city lights. On clear nights the Milky Way rises above the peaks and the lakes. Wind can be strong so warm layers are needed.
Highlights:
  • ⛰️ Trek the scenic French Valley with mountain views
  • 🛶 Take a boat tour to see stunning Grey Glacier
  • 🥾 Hike to the iconic Mirador Las Torres viewpoint
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve
Amazon wilderness teeming with life
8.1
Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve protects a wide flooded forest of blackwater lagoons in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Lodges sit deep in the forest with almost no electric light. Guests paddle canoes at night beneath the Southern Cross. Stars reflect in still lagoons between the treetops of the flooded forest.
Highlights:
  • 🐬 Spot pink dolphins swimming in the lagoons
  • 🛶 Take a canoe ride on serene waterways
  • 🌳 Explore dense jungle trails with expert guides
Peninsula Valdes
Wild dolphins glide over turquoise cliffs
9.3
Peninsula Valdes in Patagonia is a large wildlife reserve of cliffs and open steppe. Few lights shine across the peninsula at night. Visitors camp near Puerto Piramides after seeing southern right whales during the day. Stars shine brightly over the quiet Atlantic coast on clear nights.
Highlights:
  • 🍖 Savor local lamb barbecue on a seaside terrace
  • 🧊 Hike to the Perito Moreno glacier’s ice caves
  • 🐋 Spot southern right whales at Punta Tombo beach
Chapada Diamantina National Park
Waterfalls, Caves and Diamond History
7.7
Vale do Capão sits in the highlands of Chapada Diamantina National Park in Bahia. The village has few streetlights and is surrounded by tall sandstone plateaus. Clear dry nights show the Milky Way above the hills. Visitors can hike to waterfalls by day and camp under the stars.
Highlights:
  • 🕳️ Explore the vast Lapa Doce Cave with guided tours
  • 💧 Swim in the crystal-clear waters of Poço Azul
  • ⛰️ Hike to the top of Morro do Pai Inácio for panoramic views
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
Otherworldly dunes with turquoise lagoons
6.9
Lençóis Maranhenses has vast white dunes and rainwater lagoons in northern Brazil. The park lies far from big cities and has clear skies in the dry season. Stars shine above the pale sand and reflect in the lagoons. Visitors can camp on the dunes with local guides.
Highlights:
  • 🌅 Watch the sunrise reflect on the mesmerizing lagoons
  • 🚙 Take a thrilling 4x4 ride across the vast dunes
  • 💧 Swim in the turquoise lagoons after a hot dune trek
Los Glaciares National Park
Where glaciers meet towering peaks
8.4
Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia has jagged peaks that stand above wild glacial lakes. The town of El Chaltén lies small and quiet near Mount Fitz Roy. Clear nights show the Southern Cross above the granite spires. In winter the aurora australis sometimes glows on the horizon.
Highlights:
  • 🛥️ Take a boat tour on Lago Argentino to glaciers
  • 🥾 Trek Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre trails
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk along the Perito Moreno Glacier boardwalks
Fernando de Noronha
World's Best Beaches and Dolphins
8.5
Fernando de Noronha is a remote volcanic archipelago about 350 kilometres off Brazil's northeast coast. Visitor numbers are limited to protect the islands. Tropical air is warm and skies are often clear. Guests can watch stars from quiet beaches beside dark ocean waves after sunset.
Highlights:
  • 🛥️ Take a boat tour to spot dolphins and sea turtles
  • ⛰️ Hike to the Morro Dois Irmãos viewpoint for stunning vistas
  • 🤿 Snorkel vibrant reefs at Baía do Sancho, world’s top beach
Las Leñas
Snow‑kissed peaks and alpine serenity
9.0
Las Leñas is a ski resort high in the Andes of Mendoza province at over 2,200 metres. The nearby town of Malargüe is a centre for astronomy in Argentina. It has the Pierre Auger cosmic ray observatory. Clear dry nights give excellent views of the southern sky.
Highlights:
  • 🍷 Explore local vineyards and taste Malbec in the valley
  • 🌌 Stargaze from the high-altitude observatory at night
  • 🏔️ Hike to the summit of Cerro de los Siete Picos
Atacama Desert
Endless dunes under starlit desert skies
Paranal Observatory stands at 2,635 metres in the Atacama Desert and runs the Very Large Telescope. Visitors can join free public tours on some weekends. The desert has very dry air and little cloud. The observatory lies far from towns so the sky remains extremely dark.
Highlights:
  • 🗻 Hike to El Tatio geysers before sunrise
  • ✨ Stargaze from San Pedro observatory, record constellations
  • 🌄 Explore Valle de la Luna during golden hour
Salar de Uyuni
World's largest surreal salt mirror
Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the largest salt flat on Earth at over 10,000 square kilometres. It sits at about 3,650 metres above sea level. After rains a thin layer of water turns it into a giant mirror. Stars appear both above and below the horizon.
Highlights:
  • 🚂 Explore the eerie Train Cemetery near Uyuni town
  • 🌵 Visit Incahuasi Island and climb among giant cacti
  • 📸 Take surreal photos with salt flat perspective illusions
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