Movimiento Travel

All passengers enjoys a starry night: watching the sky and see the stars. It’s an opportunity to be surprised at how tiny we are facing the vast universe.

Tourism astronomical independent of the season we meet, is in constant growth, and Chile is one of the best places to appreciate it.

The Region of Coquimbo, in Chile, is also known as the “Region Star” capable of providing a clean sky for astronomical observation. This allowed the proliferation of observatories in the area, in turn boosting its tourism edge. They can use large telescopes and all the instrumentation with which scientists have given life to these places.

Observatories
Some visitors will be fleeting: Certain sectors, in which astronomers are working every day, will be open to the public so that we know what it is.

For example, the International La Silla Observatory, located in La Higuera, we can make use of telescopes ready, every Saturday afternoon throughout the year (except June and July because of the weather conditions). The tours are free and are assisted by specialized guides.

Another interesting place to visit is the Inter-American Observatory Cerro Tololo, in the province of Elqui, at 2200 meters above sea level. Annually receives many visits from students in the investigative framework, and also welcomes travelers who want to learn about their facilities, on Saturday morning and afternoon.

Astronomical Observatories
On the other hand, there are other tourist character observatories have been created especially for the enthusiastic traveler can feel an expert overnight. For this it has adapted facilities and some even have a museum where you can learn more about the subject.

Pangue Observatory, in the Elqui Valley, has 30 degrees south latitude, allowing it to boast of one of the best views of the heavens that surround it. As in most of these establishments, visitors can use the computerized telescopes and enjoy tours and observing sessions.

For those who want to take pictures of what they see, you can visit the Observatory collowara in Churqui hilltop at 1300 meters above sea level. The premises have prepared a telescope to capture images. Other features include direct observation decks outdoors, and an auditorium where visitors can enjoy audiovisual material.

The astronomical map
It’s large number of observatories, both scientific and created for tourism that can be distributed over the region of Coquimbo, both the province and in Choapa of Limari, through the province of Elqui.

Beyond the wonders of the sky, the Coquimbo region has beautiful valleys, mountains, spas, and various attractions such as cultural centers, museums, exhibitions and churches. It also has several offers of accommodation and local cuisine.

The trek puts you in direct contact with nature, walking paths through the mountains, next to a river or in the middle of a forest. It’s a long ride but fun. So before you get ready for the long walk, find out what to wear, what level of difficulty of your route and some safety measures to be quiet and go off to adventure.

The trekking is a long walk in a natural setting, usually away from civilization. The idea of trekking is to reach those places that can only be reached by foot, horseback or bicycle, and is a great effort is rewarded with a goal: a waterfall, an amazing panoramic view, a hidden lake. The sole purpose is to know that place the end of the trail.

Trekking is an activity that emerged from the mountain. The mountaineers, who climbed the Himalayas and peaks of great difficulty, must first reach the mountain base where they spent many days walking studying what the best way to go. The route up the mountain was a journey in itself and not all were able to go up, or were in a state to do so. Thus was born as a separate activity.

Although it usually takes more than one day, you can go hiking for a few hours. The difficulty varies depending on terrain. You can do trekking combined with other activities like horseback riding, biking or rappelling. The trekking is quite enough, but with its rules. Learn everything you need to know before trekking:

Difficulties
Most of the time the trek is done through trails, roads and valleys. Although the paths may be blurred, the most important challenge is the location of the path but the human effort required to reach the end of the road. In trekking there are 4 levels of difficulty and all walks properly marked to indicate what level correspond:

* Difficulty No. 1
Son walks free of small and large steep slopes. The paths are well defined and the end of the road tends to be a lookout. No experience is needed to make this trip. They are short and easy hike on good trails and a low altitude, with an appropriate infrastructure for walkers and good signage.

* Difficulty No. 2
It is an adventure, a little longer with some challenges in the road. The trail difficulty is still low, but may be at higher altitude (5,500 meters above sea level). The route has an infrastructure and appropriate signs. The highest mountains are already closely.

* Difficulty No. 3
It is a walk with a more ambitious path and steep, more than 5,500 meters. The road is seen in some sections can be blurred and difficult to follow the trail that at times crosses rivers and crosses or other difficulties. Mountaineering experience is required.

* Difficulty No. 4
It is a very difficult trek, where they are sometimes combined with hiking and climbing at altitudes higher than 5000 m and no infrastructure.
On High Mountain environment is, in uninhabited areas. You must have experience in mountaineering rope and appropriate equipment.

Who can trek
The type of people who can practice trekking varies with the level of difficulty of the trail. In a Level 1 trekking do not require fitness, but walkers must provide several hours of hiking with some uphill sections. Not recommended primarily for people with respiratory or heart problems and pregnant women.

Trekking Level 2 is required some physical training. Being a long journey that can last several days, the walker must have resistance. For trekking Level 3 and 4 is important to have previous experience and be in good physical condition.

A weighty matter
Note that the duration of the activity, you must carry a team for the night, feed, take shelter and water. When preparing the pack keep in mind that will bear the burden for hours. That’s why your team should be light. Take only the essentials.

The team
When hiking is only a few hours at a difficulty level 1, the computer is essentially a bottle of water, shelter (according to season and location) and refreshments. However, as we progress in difficulty, we will need more items. A hiking backpack is essentially complete 10 things you can not miss:

1. Food and water to withstand the days that the trip, providing extra precaution.
2. Mostly comfortable clothes, a raincoat and overcoat.
3. Flashlight or lantern.
4. First aid kit.
5. Fuel and elements to start a fire.
6. Matches.
7. Knife or knife.
8. Sunglasses and sunscreen.
9. Compass or GPS.
10. Updated the road map

Security
Many of the safety rules for hiking are based on having a little common sense. However, it is good to remember to avoid problems or accidents:

* Do not start any tour if you’re not sure you support the level of difficulty.
* Bring the right equipment. Even when they are in a difficult way, do not forget to bring water and a snack.
Alerts the rangers * for the difficulty of the path requires.
* Find out about dangerous animals in the area.
* Calculate the travel time, taking into account that the round trip may have a different duration depending on the slope of the trail.
* If the trek lasting several days and you can access natural water purifier is to avoid carrying extra weight during the entire trip.
* If this is your first time on a difficult trek, be sure to get an experienced guide.
* When the path is not well marked, turns your GPS or compass and map. Do not trust your intuition: is it safe.

Philosophy walker
Trekking is an experience that puts you in direct contact with nature. There is weakness and smallness of man before the imposing landscape. Only we can make these sites remain as they are. Care for the environment and follows the philosophy of LNT (Leave No Trace: Leave No Trace), who intends to take a conscious attitude while traveling, including keeping the waste to throw enabled sites and avoiding a fire in fire-prone areas.