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Room With a Night View: Stargazing At Chile's Elqui Domos Hotel

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: Camino Público, Pisco Elqui, Chile
March 19, 2013 at 6:42 PM | by | Comments (0)

Living in a big city, we’re used to so much light pollution that sometimes, we yearn for some proper darkness and a star-filled sky overhead. One place that appears to fit the bill perfectly, although unfortunately not exactly around the corner, is the Elqui Domos Hotel in Chile.

Built specifically by its owners to experience the night skies of the Elqui Valley, some 600 km (373 miles) northwest of Santiago, the hotel has two types of accommodation: domes and observatories. While each is different, both are designed with an eye towards the sky, with as little as possible to distract you from the twinkling lights above.

This luxe observatory takes stargazing to another level

Domes are metal frames covered by a PVC tent, with the bed at the dome’s highest point, and a retractable roof right above. A living room and bathroom are on the ‘lower’ level and a deck is outside. Observatories have three levels, with big windows above the bed, and a deck on the top floor.

The main dome contains the reception area, restaurant, and a living room for guests to relax in. Outside, there’s a pool and barbecue site.

If you want to do some serious stargazing, you can book a tour of the astronomic observatory on property. You'll get a complete guide of the skies and a chance to use one of the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Other activities include night-time horse-back rides through the desert landscape.

Rates at Elqui Domos range from $125 to $150 depending on the season. Now all we need to work on is how to get there...

[Photos: Elqui Domos]

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