Embarking on the Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena, we journey along the coast, passing areas
renowned for their local papaya production. As we venture inland, the landscape transitions to lush
vineyards, dedicated both to the export of table grapes and the crafting of pisco (a Chilean traditional
spirit) and wine.
A short drive brings us to the heart of the Elqui Valley, where we explore charming towns such as
Vicuña, Montegrande, and Pisco Elqui. Along the way, we’ll visit notable attractions, including the
impressive Puclaro Dam and an artisan pisco distillery, offering a glimpse into the region’s rich
traditions.
Elqui Valley is also the birthplace of Gabriela Mistral, the celebrated poet-diplomat and the first Latin
American to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. During this tour, we’ll visit her childhood home,
now a museum, to delve deeper into her life, legacy, and literary contributions.
This tour offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and the vibrant flavors of the
Elqui Valley.

What is included:

Transfer from and to accommodation in La Serena (Beach or downtown areas)
Transportation
Tour guide
Pisco Distillery tour and tasting
Entrance ticket to Gabriela Mistral Museum in Montegrande
Lunch at a solar Kitchen restaurant (appetizer, main course, dessert and beverage)

Itinerary

Departure from La Serena
Visit the Puclaro Dam
Visit to a Pisco Distillery (Tour and tasting)
Lunch at Villaseca solar restaurant
Stop at Paihuano viewpoint
Visit to Montegrande Town
Visit to Gabriela Mistral´s schoolhouse museum in Montegrande
Visit to Pisco Elqui town
Visit to Vicuña City
Return to La Serena

Schedule

We do pick ups from 08:00 to 09:00 in La Serena. In case your accommodation is out of our pick-up
area, we can coordinate a meeting point.
We return around 6:30 PM.

Important

We do the tour from Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year. We do not operate the tour on
Mondays because Puclaro dam and Gabriela Mistral Museum are closed.
During the low season you can do the Elqui Valley tour and Mamalluca observatory on the same day.

Weather

In spring and summer, it is quite hot, so we suggest wearing light clothes, sunglasses, use sunscreen
and a hat.
In autumn and winter, we suggest to dress warmly and in layers, because we can go from very low temperatures to high temperatures, due to the earth wind.

Detailed Route

La Serena

We start picking up at 8:00 AM along Avenida del Mar, from Enjoy Casino to El Faro, then
we take Francisco de Aguirre Avenue towards downtown. After 9:00 AM once all the group has been
picked up, we leave towards Elqui Valley.

Puclaro Dam

We visit the Puclaro dam, walking along the half kilometer long wall at an almost ninety meters high from where you will have a panoramic view of the Elqui Valley. You can also visit a small handcraft market with souvenirs, in spring and summer you can discover and try the Copao, fruit of the cactus, a unique gift of nature.

Premium Artisan Pisco Distillery

Crossing the road and the endless fields of grapevines, a few kilometers from the town of Vicuña, we will visit one of the Pisco distilleries, where you will enjoy a tour of its facilities and get to know the process of elaboration of Chilean pisco and taste its varieties.

Lunch

We will stop at a typical restaurant in the Elqui Valley to enjoy a delicious lunch. A complete
menu with appetizer, main course, dessert and beverage. The menu options will be discussed directly
with the guide.

Montegrande and Gabriela Mistral’s schoolhouse museum

We will visit Montegrande, a small town that witnessed a large part of Gabriela Mistral’s childhood, there is a site museum that was her schoolhouse and the local post office.

Pisco Elqui

Another town we will visit is Pisco Elqui, known for being one of the most touristic places in the Valley. You can walk through its square where you can find a beautiful water fountain and church, across the street you can buy a handmade ice cream or visit the craft market.

Vicuña

We finish our adventure through the corners of the Valley in the City of Vicuña. We will visit
the Bauer Tower, the old municipal building and Vicuña Arms square, full of sculptures and motifs
inspired by Mistral’s work.

Elqui Valley Tour