PISCO ELQUI • FACTS ABOUT CHILE • NORTE CHICO, 4. REGION • LA SERENA • VALLE ELQUI • VICUNA • STARS
Pisco Elqui is picturesquely situated at 1200m in the Chilean Andes. The climate is dry-semiarid with average summer temperatures between 26°C to 30°C and up to a maximum of 40°C. Winters are short, from the end of June to the end of August, and relatively warm with an average temperature of 15 °C. There is little rain. The perfect conditions for any vacation all year-round.
The name gives it away/betray: Pisco Elqui is well known for its brandy which is distilled from the grapes grown in the valley. History has it that Pisco was already produced in the 16th century. But only in 1939, Chile’s national drink gave its name to the valley.
Then president Videla, who was also a native of this region, renamed the village La Union to Pisco Elqui with the aim to protect the brand Pisco against the Peruvians, who also claimed to have invented the drink. Today, the Pisco is not only a hallmark for the region, the popular Aperitif Pisco Sour is found all over Chile.
The distillery Mistral can be visited in Pisco Elqui. The tour of the distillery provides an insight into the manufacturing process – as well as a sample of Pisco for you to taste.
The oldest Pisco-Distillery Los Nichos with its charming old Bodega, about 4 km up the valley, is also worth a trip.
If you do no want to walk all the way along the Andes to get there, you can take this as an opportunity to go on a horseback-trip with one of the local Huasos (Chilean Cowboys).
But there is more to do than hiking or horseback riding: Go on a mountain bike tour to the highest vineyard of Chile or on a trip to the village Horcon known for its craftwork.
Hard to believe but true: The surroundings of Pisco Elqui are excellent for all water enthusiasts like kite or wind surfers. The biggest reservoir of the region is located in Valle Elqui. So far it is still an insiders’ tip among surfers who rely on the good winds. El Tesoro de Elqui offers transportation from La Serena to Pisco Elqui as well as to the reservoir.
Chile stretches for an extreme length of 4.270 km from North to South – when the Arctic territories are taken into consideration even more than 8.000 km – with an average width of 180km. The Easter Island in the South Pacific as well as many small islands also belong to Chile. This enormous stretch-out – comparable to a distance all over Europe from Denmark to the Sahara Desert and further – has a great variety of climates (except for tropes).
Chile’s highest elevation is the mountain Nevado Ojos de Salado – towering with 6.880 m in the impressive Andes. The Andes stretch all along Chile and are also the border to Argentina. They provide visitors with an unforgettable panorama, especially in winter when the peaks are snow-covered.
Chile has about 15 million inhabitants, most of whom live in the cities. About 5.6 million inhabitants are concentrated in Chile’s capital Santiago.
Chile has one of the lowest rates of illiteracy of the whole continent and a very stable economy.
Travelers can move freely and safely all over the country. The bus is one of the most used means of transport and offers good service at low rates.
The country is divided into 13 regions from North to South.
The 4. Region Coquimbo is located between latitude 29th and 32. It borders Argentina in the East and the Pacific in the West. In the North it borders the Region Atacama and in the South the Region Valparaiso. The 4. Region covers 40.579,9 square kilometers and represents 5,4 % of the whole country.
La Serena, the second oldest city of Chile, is the capital of the Coquimbo region and therefore its administrative center. It is located 470 km north of Santiago on the Pacific Ocean. The city was founded in 1544 since it was a very important trading center. Catholic missionaries also took advantage of the convenient location and used La Serena as base for expeditions to the South. The 29 churches in La Serena are due to them.
La Serena is also the native city of the former president Gabriel Gonzales Videla. While he was in office, the city benefited from many projects on refurbishing its Colonial style.
Landmark of the city is the lighthouse. A long Avenida leads its way from the center of the city to the lighthouse and the Pacific.
Its perfect location, the boardwalk and 8 km of beaches as well as an international airport make La Serena an ideal destination for your vacation.
Located on the margin of the Atacama Desert, there is a fertile and exotic valley – Valle Elqui, where vine, papayas, chirimoyas, citrus fruit and avocados grow. The incas already knew about the particular micro climate of this area. Special characteristics are also assigned to the Valle since it supposedly is located on one of the world meridians, the so-called chakras. Therefore – one says – the valley is full of magnetic energy, which is good for spirit and body.
The village Vicuna, which was founded in 1821 by General O’Higgins, is about 60 km from La Serena. Coming from the South, you will get there by crossing a long bridge above the Rio Elqui.
The village is especially known for Gabriela Mistral. The Chilean Poet, who was the first and only woman in Latin America to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature, was born here as Lucila Godoy Alcayaga.
Located in the house where she was born, a museum in Vicuna is dedicated to the Poet.
All her live, Gabiela Mistral has been closely connected to her home village. She was buried in Monte Grande in 1957.
In Vicuna, life takes place around Plaza de Armas. Mueums like the Museo Entomologico Museo Historico de Elqui are located here.
Torre Bauer also attracts attention. It is named after the former mayor of Vicuna, Adolfo Bauer, who imported it as a memorial to his German ancestors in the city of Ulm. Today the Torre hosts the Tourist Information.
If you want to spend a little more time in Vicuna, you can take a trip to the lookout point Cerro de la Virgen. Here you get a fantastic view of the region.
The observatories around Vicuna have a view of their own to offer.
There is almost no other place on earth with the sky so clear and full of stars like in Elqui Valley. There are two reasons for this phenomenon: For one thing there is a large distance to the cities, so light can only be slightly reflected. Moreover, coastal fog keeps disturbing dust particles off. This results in a perfect blue sky at daytime and the guarantee of a good view of the stars on more than 320 days a year.
That’s why three of the most important observatories in the world are located on the mountains around Vicuna.
El Tololo is a mutual project of Chilean and US-American Universities.
Las Campanas is loacted farthest to the North and belongs to the Carnegie-Institute.
La Silla is operated by a European research team.
All three observatories are open to the public, but only during daytime and with long waiting lists.
Hence, more interesting for tourists is the observatory Mammalluca, a gift of the USA.
A multmedia show and the very enthusiastic staff provide an expressive insight into the stars.
Gazing through the 12-inch telescope one can recognize Saturn’s ring systems or Jupiter’s crater, while the tour guide is already brimming with enthusiasm about the next constellation. Tours in English or Spanish can be booked in the office of the Observatory in Vicuna.
Following Routa 41, you will reach the police station at the Argentinean border after about 120 km. The gravel road leads from here to the Pass Aquas Negras in 4753m heights. The pass is only accessible in summer.
In order to get to Valle Elqui you need to leave Routa 41 in Rivadavia in direction of Paihuano. Having left Paihuano, where the Town Hall is located, the road meanders into the narrowing valley.
In Monte Grande the tombstone of Gabriela Mistral can be visited. There is also a museum dedicated to the famous citizen of the village. The river Elqui divides into Rio Cochiguaz of the neighboring valley and Rio Claro. Right after Monte Grande, Pisco Elqui is located. Here you can get a spectacular view of the Andes Valley.