Thousands of glittering jewels adorning the black sky.
The sun is low on the western horizon, just behind the mountains. A refreshing breeze chills the desert air. You join the others at the open-air observatory (there's no need for a dome to block light pollution here), but you don't even notice the telescopes. Instead, your eyes are drawn...up, up, up.
You find yourself at the center of an unending cosmic tapestry, thousands upon thousands of glittering jewels adorning the black sky. The delicate band of the Milky Way stretches from horizon to horizon, and you finally understand its name. You pick out some familiar constellations from home, but so much of the sky is wonderfully exotic.
The true magnificence of the night sky almost overwhelms you, a feeling well known by our ancestors but almost lost to modern humanity. Despite its sense of enormous weight, layers of cosmic history suspended above you, it pulls on you...up, up, up.
Welcome to the Atacama.
Program Fee: $2,150/person
Lodging and airfare on your own
Join me for a stargazing experience like no other: an expedition to the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile, one of the driest places on Earth and home to some of the darkest skies you can experience.
June is winter in the Atacama, which means long, cold, crystal-clear nights. Our week is built around the new moon on June 4. After dark, the core of the Milky Way climbs overhead and stays up nearly all night.
By day, the lodge takes care of everything: meals, excursions to salt flats, lagoons and canyons, and a pool to rest in. By night, we learn the southern sky by eye, then go deep with telescopes at the lodge's own observatory.
What's included FROM THE RESORT:
Six nights at the all-inclusive Nayara Alto Atacama Lodge & Spa.
All meals and an open bar
Two half-day or one full-day excursions every day
Airport transfers from Calama
Access to the lodge’s observatory, pools, and spa
What we’ll do together:
Guided observing every night: naked-eye tours, telescopes, and chats
Evening talks and open-ended Q&A
A pre-trip zoom session
Free autographed copy of my forthcoming book, Atomic Universe
A small group: no more than 20 guests
THE ITINERARY:
June 1: Joyful arrival. Land in Calama, ride out to the lodge, and settle in for the first night under the stars.
June 2-6: Enjoy the desert by day and eat amazing food. Go stargazing every night.
June 7: Tearful departure.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
Fill out the form below.
Pay your $500/person deposit here.
You book your own room(s) at Nayara Alto Atacama for June 1-7, 2027. Choose the Quitor room on the “Full Experience Extended Stay +4 Nights” rate, about $4,566 per person sharing or $6,762 solo. It’s free to cancel until May 2.
Once we reach 10 guests on March 29, you pay the rest of the program fee, $1,650/person, by April 12.
After we confirm the trip, you arrange your own airfare to El Loa International Airport.
If you need help arranging airfare and lodging, I highly recommend Mermaid Travel (yes, it’s my mom!).
Tour Cancellation Guarantee
If fewer than 10 guests reserve by March 29, 2027, I will refund every deposit in full, and you can cancel your room reservation for no charge. Please wait to purchase airfare until I let you know that our trip has met the minimum.
After we go
Once we confirm the trip on March 29, the program fee is non-refundable, but you can transfer your spot to someone else. If I cancel the trip for any reason, I’ll refund your program fee in full. Travel insurance is required for every guest.
Questions
How high is it?
The lodge sits at about 2,400 m, and some excursions climb past 4,000 m. Check with your doctor before you go.
CAN I BRING MY OWN TELESCOPE?
Please!
What will we talk about?
I have some prepared talks, but consider it a week-long open-ended Q&A.
How cold does it get?
June is winter in Chile. Nights run near freezing, colder at the telescopes and on dawn excursions. Bring real layers, a hat and gloves.
I'm traveling alone. Can I come?
Absolutely. Ask for a roommate match on the form to share a room and the cost, or book solo at the single rate.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Every guest needs a policy that covers trip cancellation and medical care abroad.
What if the trip doesn't go?
You get your $500 back in full, and you cancel your room with Nayara at no charge. Nobody is out a cent.
Do I need a telescope or any experience?
No. Bring your curiosity, and binoculars or a camera if you have them. We'll cover the rest.