The next scheduled sessions for this discovery trip to Chile are :
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From Thursday, October 16, 2025 to Thursday, October 31, 2025
Stay limited to 10 trainees. Booking complete.
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From Thursday, November 13, 2025 to Thursday, November 27, 2025
Stay limited to 10 trainees. Stay open for registration - 7 places remaining.
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From Saturday, January 10, 2026 to Saturday, January 24, 2026
Stay limited to 10 trainees. Stay open for registration - 9 places remaining.
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From Thursday, March 12, 2026, to Thursday, March 26, 2026
Stay limited to 10 trainees. Stay open for registration - 7 places remaining.
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From Thursday, April 9, 2026, to Thursday, April 24, 2026
Stay limited to 10 trainees. Stay open for registration - 4 places remaining.
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From Saturday, May 9, 2026, to Saturday, May 23, 2026
Stay limited to 10 trainees. Stay open for registration - 10 places remaining.
To avoid missing the next stay and to be contacted as soon as new dates are available, click here.
This astronomy stay in Chile is offered by Astro Evasion, in partnership with Nadine et Raymond. This trip to Chile is a magical "escape" in the heart of the Andes to initiate, discover or rediscover one of the most beautiful skies on Earth in an intimate setting with groups of a maximum of 10 trainees (3 couples + 4 individuals).
You will discover the wonders that Chile can offer. The concept of tis trip is a return of authenticity by discovering places still preserved from mass tourism while enjoying the quality of the sky offered by this exceptional geographical location.
Visits within a close radius of the accommodation will be proposed (visit to Gemini, Ovalle, Coquimbo, Elqui Valley, ...) but some more distant visits (visit to VLT, Atacama, ...) require several days (2 or 3 depending on demand) of travel. We will accompany you and provide all the necessary information to make the most of local services, the generosity of the inhabitants… and very preferential rates.
Survol aérien de l'Hacienda des étoiles. C'est la "zone de vie" où sont hébergés les stagiaires durant les séjours.
During this stay, your "base camp", will be the Hacienda des étoiles. This site is located in the middle of the Andes at an altitude of 1550m, a haven of peace where the escape will be total. It is far from any city and completely free from light pollution. You will also able to use the astronomical equipment on site and enjoy the extraordinarily high-quality sky. The owners, Nadine et Raymond live on-site and offer catering using quality local products. You will be accommodated in chalets with 1 to 3 bedrooms. 4X4 vehicles are availables for excursions or to go shopping in Ovalle.
The astronomy part, in addition to observations, is ponctuated by the visits to the world's largest observatories. We will contact the sites that interest you to best organize the stay's schedule. It is possible to visit the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Gemini South at the top of Cerro Pachon, the Silla Observatory and if you choose to travel a bit more, the Cerro Paranal where the VLT is installed. You will also have free access to use the various equipment on site such as a C14 on a Gémini G41 mount or also a dobson de 520mm and different mounts for astrophotography.
The tourist part will be punctuated by breathtaking sites, preserved by mass tourism to enjoy this stay for a total escape. Some cities not to be missed are Coquimbo and its fish market, La Serena facing the Pacific Ocean, and the Elqui Valley. Leaving the big cities, the most beautiful sight will be the Laguna Verde with its misleading emerald green color and a small swim in a natural thermal spring at 38°C in the Tres Cruces National Park at nearly 4400 meters altitude. We will propose, whenever possible, unusual places for dining.
The strength of such a stay is still the observation of the sky which is of incomparable quality compared to what we can see in France. Observations are made at a latitude higher than the Tropic of Capricorn (30° South Latitude). At these latitudes, one can observe the Magellanic Clouds, Omega Centauri, and a host of objects unobservable from the Northern Hemisphere.
The strength of such a stay is still the observation of the sky which is of incomparable quality compared to what we can see in France. Observations are made at a latitude higher than the Tropic of Capricorn (30° South Latitude). At these latitudes, one can observe the Magellanic Clouds, Omega Centauri, and a host of objects unobservable from the Northern Hemisphere.
The price is 480€/person (astronomy part) and 1425€/person (accommodation part) for 14 days on-site.
The total number of participants is limited to 10 trainees per session.
The package includes:
Accommodation service** by the Hacienda des étoiles
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Full board for the entire duration of the stay,
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Transportation between Ovalle and the Hacienda upon arrival and return,
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Raymond's advice and Nadine's delicious dishes.
Astronomy part* by Astro Evasion
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Excursions (the Argentine border with the pass at nearly 4800m, the Atacama Desert, La Serena, Coquimbo, lakes, and volcanoes, ...),
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Visits to the Gemini South and La Silla observatories,,
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Use of the astronomical equipment (C14, 520mm telescope, small mounts, ... ) in free access for the entire duration of the stay.
The prices do not include:
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The airfare between France and Santiago, Chile (average Air France cost around 1050€/person).
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The bus between Santiago airport and Ovalle (average cost of 20€/person for a 500km journey).
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Accommodation (maximum 5 nights during the stay) for distant visits of more than one day (average cost of 35€/person/night).
For information, the total price of the stay, all included, is around 3000€/person. .
A document with all practical information is available in PDF format below.