In Chile’s Elqui Valley — one of the clearest-skied places on earth, and the reason the world’s great observatories cluster nearby — Elqui Domos is one of only a handful of true astronomical hotels anywhere, and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere. Its geodesic domes have removable roof panels and elevated loft beds, so you fall asleep looking straight up at the Milky Way, telescope by your side.
Why it made our list
It’s stargazing turned into a place to sleep. Each dome comes with its own telescope, there’s an on-site observatory with astronomy talks, and the valley’s famously dark, dry skies do the rest. For anyone who’s ever wanted to sleep under the stars — literally — this is the one.
What guests say
It rates 8.1/10 on Booking.com:
- The open-roof domes and the night skies are the whole point, and guests rave about them.
- People love the in-dome telescopes and the guided stargazing.
- Honest cautions: domes are cosy and simple (it’s about the sky, not luxury), and it’s a remote valley best paired with a Chilean road trip.
The consensus: unmissable for stargazers — come for the sky, and don’t expect a five-star resort.
Good to know
- Price: from around $155/night for a dome.
- Best time to visit: year-round; skies are clearest outside the brief rainy spells.
- Getting there: in the Elqui Valley, a few hours inland from La Serena.
- Suits: stargazers, couples, road-trippers.
Details verified against the property’s booking page at time of writing. Prices are indicative and change — confirm current rates before booking.