I flew to Santiago, Chile at the beginning of a long-term stint in South America. My goal was to explore Argentina, with a bit of Chile as is common for many travelers. Tickets to Argentina were super expensive, and so I flew to Chile for a few hundred dollars less. I also have friends that live in Santiago, and I got to visit them for a few days which was a win all around. Instead of heading to Argentina after my time in Santiago, I decided to head north in Chile to Atacama

Stargazing in the Atacama Desert completely blew me away! Known for its clear skies and minimal light pollution, the Atacama is one of the world’s top spots for seeing the stars. I joined a tour to experience it firsthand, and from stunning constellations to glimpses of Saturn, it was an incredible night. The Rundown Around 9 p.m., we met at our designated pickup spot and piled into a van for a 20-30 minute drive deep into the desert, leaving civilization behind. The drive ou