Latin America’s best stargazing spots

With the luxurious of wide-open areas in spectacularly distant areas, the agricultural hideaways of Latin America’s diversified geography lie beneath among the clearest skies on planet earth. From the arid deserts of northern Chile to the tropical wetlands of western Brazil, travellers searching for the bliss of isolation within the countryside are additionally handled to great views of the celebs as a result of lack of city gentle air pollution. Maybe one thing that city-dwellers usually are not so used to with the ability to get pleasure from, stargazing in Latin America is usually a magical expertise throughout your bespoke luxurious journey. Listed below are our favorite locations for stargazing within the area…

The Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

Famend for among the clearest skies on the earth, Chile’s arid Atacama Desert can be the driest on the planet. With only a few main settlements, the dramatic landscapes of this surreal lunar-like area are completely unspoiled by urbanisation and the related gentle air pollution that obscures the celebs in additional developed areas. Take pleasure in exhilarating days of touring the world’s mountain lagoons, copper-coloured valleys and thermal springs earlier than settling down within the night with a glass of luxurious Chilean wine to show your gaze towards the crystal-clear skies.

Methods to do it

The Atacama Desert is house to a few of Chile’s most interesting luxurious inns. Fly into Calama (CJC) from Santiago de Chile and switch a brief distance to those gorgeous remoted hideaways. Our favorite choices are Tierra Atacama (pictured), Awasi and Alto Atacama. All three inns supply complete programmes that embody three connoisseur meals a day and a variety of native actions, together with stargazing. Bask in an expensive remedy on the Tierra Spa, discover the surroundings together with your personal information and driver at Awasi, or chill out within the rigorously manicured gardens of Alto Atacama. Whichever you select – a particular expertise within the desert awaits.

The Pantanal Wetlands, Western Brazil

Principally a wildlife vacation spot well-known for providing guests the perfect likelihood of seeing the majestic jaguar within the wild, the Brazilian Pantanal can be a area of spectacular scenic magnificence. Most of the wildlife lodges are tucked away deep within the picturesque countryside composed of rivers, lakes, forests and open tropical plains. With such an absence of contemporary city improvement, the landscapes stay comparatively untouched and visitors can get pleasure from clear nights excellent for tenting out beneath the celebs with a conventional cocktail in hand. Journey through the dry season (June-October) for essentially the most cloudless skies and the perfect wildlife sightings.

Methods to do it

Upon arrival in Brazil at a global hub, join onwards on a brief inner flight to Cuiabá (CGB) or Campo Grande (CGR), gateways to the northern and southern Pantanal respectively. From the primary cities, switch right into a distant eco-lodge for a number of nights of rural tranquillity, magical wildlife experiences and clear skies. We suggest Caiman Ecological Refuge (pictured) within the south (famend for its magnificent jaguar conservation mission) and Pousada Rio Mutum within the north.

The Tatacoa Desert, Southern Colombia

The Tatacoa Desert covers 330 sq. kilometres of land in Colombia’s Huila Division. Nicknamed the Valley of Sorrows in 1538 by the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, this rocky panorama is similar to the reddish panoramas of the Atacama in Chile but is way much less often visited. The greyish and orange deserts of the area are sparsely populated and thus gentle air pollution is minimal. Discover the desert with a non-public information and hike the canyons and gullies for sweeping views of the surroundings earlier than visiting the native observatories for an in-depth stargazing expertise by night time.

Methods to do it

Fly one hour from Colombia’s booming Andean capital metropolis, Bogotá, south to Neiva (NVA). The Tatacoa Desert is positioned a one and a half hour’s drive away to the north. Keep away from the desert on weekends in the event you can, it someday will get busy with native partygoers as a well-liked Colombian weekend getaway. While actually not truly a ‘luxurious’ property, we suggest a brief keep on the distant Bethel Bio-Luxurious Resort the place the luxurious of expertise and placement is the primary draw. The cosy however rustic rooms supply primary comforts and the resort is located mere minutes from the Tatacoa Observatory.

Patagonia, Antarctica & South Georgia

Maybe providing among the most putting surroundings luxurious travellers will ever expertise, the far south of Latin America gives a large number of distant escapes beneath clear night time skies. By day, benefit from the magnificent trekking trails in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego’s Nationwide Park and by night time, cosy up by an out of doors hearth pit and observe the starry skies within the tranquillity of the frozen air. The additional south you journey, the better your probabilities of catching sight of the uncommon astronomical phenomenon of the southern lights, the aurora australis – a lesser recognized sibling to the northern aurora borealis. Cruising the icy waters of Antarctica with the jewel-toned southern lights overhead is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.

Methods to do it

For Antarctica or South Georgia, head all the way down to Ushuaia in Argentina and board a luxurious expedition cruise that covers the Antarctica peninsula and the encompassing southern islands. While the perfect time to catch sight of the ethereal hues of the aurora australis is through the near-unnavigable Antarctic winter, frequent sightings are sometimes famous in the direction of the tip of the cruise season in March, which can be time for whale watching within the area. Patagonia is barely simpler – discover the far south of Argentina or Chile through the winter months of Could-July to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon. Arakur resort (pictured) in Ushuaia can be an exquisite alternative of lodging right here.

The Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Not too long ago used because the real-life set for a blockbuster Star Wars movie, the celestial white expanse of the Uyuni Salt Flats is well one of many planet’s most putting pure wonders. This desolate crystalline panorama is equally as great within the dry and moist seasons for stargazing. The Salar’s excessive remoteness makes for completely clear skies all yr spherical: through the dry season the flicker of the uncovered salt crystals virtually radiate a lightweight of their very own as they mirror the moonlight, whereas within the moist season, the sample of the night time sky is mirrored completely on the shiny mirror of the Salar’s moist floor.

Methods to do it

Uyuni is accessible by way of quick native flights from La Paz and overland from the close by Atacama Desert in Chile. We suggest dedicating between three and 5 nights to a complete tour of the breath-taking surroundings within the area throughout the south of Bolivia and the north of Chile to be able to tick off all of the highlights of the world’s spectacular geography. Newly opened Kachi Lodge (pictured) in Uyuni gives a completely personalised full-board luxurious expertise of the Salt Flats with indulgent delicacies supplied in partnership with Gustu, La Paz’s most in-demand eatery.

Simon Williams is Director of Humboldt Journey. Humboldt Journey is a luxurious journey firm specialising in tailor made holidays to Latin America.

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