Vicuña

It houses the office of tourism.

The church was inaugurated in 1909. In the current church It is possible to observe the paintings in the sky of its main nave with religious motifs, made by students of the School of Fine Arts in Santiago, using colored earth from the area. It has an image of the Virgen del Carmen, who accompanied the Chilean troops during the War of the Pacific, and donated by Bishop Florencio Fontecilla. It also keeps the baptismal font where the poet Gabriela Mistral received the first oil paintings. Occasionally, there is a display room for ancient images and religious items used in the Valley.

If you came here because you were told the valley offers the most stunning views of the night sky, you will be disappointed. Nowadays, the city produces so much light pollution, you will have a hard time finding a spot that is really dark. Even deeper into the Pisco valley, it will be hard to keep up the darkness due to the ever increasing flow of tourists into this region. However, do not be disappointed and kill your sadness with a fine Pisco (coke, sour or pure).

It provides tours in Spanish and English. Tours are in the evening and include star observation using big telescope, outside constellation description using laser pointer, taking pictures of the moon and short theoretical PowerPoint. Tours can be booked on the same day at the office: Gabriela Mistral 260. Instead of taking a minibus, you can also hike there and potentially see the night sky after dusk.

Dedicated to the life and work of the Chilean poet, Lucila Godoy Alcayaga, Nobel Prize for Literature in 1945 and National Prize for Literature in 1951. The museum was built in the original old house of the poet, which she used in her first years of life, remaining intact until today.

Check out this scenic dam between La Serena and Vicuña.

Climb the small mountain (the one with the antennas on) just north of town for a complete panorama of the surroundings. Mind the sun, and bring some water along.

This popular festival has more than 100 years of history in the Elqui Valley. It is based in Vicuña, and is celebrated in the months of January and February. It consists of the participation and competition of each town, through the election of a Queen, with dances, invited artists and a great parade of floats with groups and individual costumes.