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    Pisco Elqui

    Chile

    Pisco Elqui

    VillageCulture

    Pisco Elqui, located at around 1,300 meters in the upper Río Claro Valley, has borne the name of the grape brandy distilled here since 1936.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Chile
    7. Elqui Valley (Valle del Elqui)
    9. Pisco Elqui
    Pisco Elqui, located at around 1,300 meters in the upper Río Claro Valley, has borne the name of the grape brandy distilled here since 1936. The village, with its small plaza, is surrounded by vineyards and barren mountain slopes, serving many travelers as a base for distillery visits, stargazing, and excursions to Cochiguaz.

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Observatorio Migrantes

    1Observatorio Migrantes

    Not an observatory, but outdoor stargazing at approx. 1800m in La Isla sector, 15 mins from Pisco Elqui. The ~2-hour tour includes an intro, large telescope observation, and an astrophoto. Minibus pickup from your accommodation. Book ahead and bring warm clothes.
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    Cochiguaz

    2Cochiguaz

    The side valley branches at Montegrande, the road is paved to its end at approx. 1500m. Cochiguaz is a center for yoga, meditation, and retreat offerings. The Buddhist Estupa de la Iluminación is also here; according to chile.travel, it's accessible daily except Wednesdays from 10:30 AM to 6 PM.
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    Mirador Pisco Elqui

    3Mirador Pisco Elqui

    Viewpoint just under a kilometer southwest of the Plaza, overlooking Pisco Elqui, the valley floor vineyards, and the barren mountain slopes of the Río Claro Valley.
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    Cascada Luz de Luna

    4Cascada Luz de Luna

    Small waterfall 3 km northeast of Pisco Elqui, which you can reach on foot. Bring sturdy shoes and water.
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    Los Nichos Distillery

    5Los Nichos Distillery

    The distillery, located about three kilometers upstream from Pisco Elqui, states it has been operating since 1868 and is considered Chile's oldest still-active Pisco distillery. The approximately half-hour tours showcase stills, cellars, and the underground niches that give the distillery its name, concluding with a tasting. Tours start several times daily without reservation, and Pisco Sour and coffee are available in the salesroom.
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    Observatory Chakana

    6Observatory Chakana

    The private visitor observatory a few steps from the Plaza offers evening open-air astro tours with a lecture, also on Andean stargazing, and telescope observation. Astrophotography tours are also available. Groups are small, book in advance.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Amaretto plus

    Cozy spot in the village center of Pisco Elqui, near the Plaza.
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    2

    Coliflow

    Café and bistro on Calle Manuel Rodríguez in the village center, a spot for coffee and light meals.
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    3

    Destileria Artesanal, Doña Josefa De Elqui

    The artisanal Pisco distillery on Road D-485 operates a restaurant with country cuisine amidst vines and barrels: grilled ribs, oven-baked kid and lamb, beef in its own juices, salads, and traditional desserts. According to the owner, it's open for lunch from 13:00 to 17:30.
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    4

    Fayiva

    Small restaurant on Pasaje Piececitos, a few minutes' walk south of Pisco Elqui Plaza.
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    5

    Colores De Pisco

    Restaurant on Calle Arturo Prat on the western edge of the village center of Pisco Elqui.
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    Food & Drink in Pisco Elqui

    Im Dorf dreht sich vieles um Pisco, dazu kommen einfache chilenische Gerichte und vegetarische Küche, die mit den Zugezogenen ins Tal kam.

    Pisco

    The distilleries in and around the town, such as Los Nichos and Doña Josefa, offer tours and tastings.

    Pisco Sour

    The cocktail of Pisco, lemon, sugar and egg white is on almost every menu.

    Empanadas

    Baked pastries with cheese or Pino, a minced meat, onion, egg, and olive filling, are available at local spots.

    Cabrito

    Roast kid is a traditional regional dish; you can find it, for instance, at the restaurant of the Doña Josefa Distillery on road D-485.

    Craft Beer

    Cerveza Brother has been brewing on Calle Manuel Rodríguez since 2021; Cervecería Guayacán from Diaguitas also operates a beer garden in town.

    Culture and History in Pisco Elqui

    From La Unión to Pisco VillageThe place was originally called La Greda, named after the clay mined here, and was renamed La Unión in 1873 following a smallpox epidemic. In 1936, it was legally named Pisco Elqui, a move prompted by then-deputy and later president Gabriel González Videla. This step is part of the dispute with Peru over the appellation of origin for grape brandy. Gabriela Mistral, who spent her childhood in the valley, criticized the renaming.Pisco as a CraftPisco production has a long tradition here. The Los Nichos distillery, operating since 1868, is said to be Chile's oldest active distillery. Alongside larger brands, family businesses operate with small copper pot stills, many offering tastings for visitors.In the upper valley, artists, dropouts, and spiritually-oriented communities have also settled, particularly in neighboring Cochiguaz. This shapes the offerings of yoga, retreats, and handicrafts, for instance, in the workshops of the artisan village Horcón further up the valley.

    Getting there and around in Pisco Elqui

    Getting TherePisco Elqui is on Road D-485, branching off Ruta 41 at Rivadavia and leading via Paihuano and Montegrande into the Río Claro Valley. Buses run from La Serena via Vicuña; colectivos are also available from Vicuña.Around Town and BeyondOn Foot: The plaza, eateries, and most accommodations are close together.Cycling: The uphill road to Los Nichos and Horcón is good for cycling.By Car: For Cochiguaz and stargazing outside the village, a car or transfer is convenient. The track to Cochiguaz is unpaved.Evenings: After dark, buses are scarce; plan your return trips to Vicuña accordingly.

    Accommodations in Pisco Elqui

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    Nearby

    Montegrande

    Montegrande

    Montegrande is a small village in the Río-Claro Valley between Paihuano and Pisco Elqui, where Gabriela Mistral spent her childhood. The Casa Escuela, where she learned to read, and her grave on the edge of the village make it the most important memorial site for the poet.
    Elqui Valley (Valle del Elqui)

    Elqui Valley (Valle del Elqui)

    The Elqui Valley is a dry Andean valley in northern Chile, where Pisco is distilled and research observatories stand under one of the darkest night skies in the world. You come for the visitor observatories, the distilleries nestled between green vineyards and barren mountainsides, and for the traces of the poet Gabriela Mistral.The valley stretches eastward from La Serena on the Pacific coast into the precordillera of the Región de Coquimbo; Vicuña is its main town.
    Vicuña

    Vicuña

    Vicuña is the main town of the Elqui Valley and the birthplace of the poet Gabriela Mistral. Around the shady Plaza de Armas with the red Torre Bauer, you'll find museums, Pisco distilleries, and eateries. In the evenings, tours to the surrounding observatories depart from here.
    Aconcagua Provincial Park

    Aconcagua Provincial Park

    Aconcagua, at 6,961 meters, is the highest mountain in the Americas. The provincial park protecting it is located about 180 kilometers west of Mendoza on Ruta Nacional 7 towards Chile, just past Puente del Inca and approximately 15 kilometers before the border. The drive there passes the Potrerillos reservoir and through the Andean village of Uspallata.Even without summit ambitions, a visit is worthwhile: A short circular trail leads to Laguna de Horcones with views of the massive south face; those with more time can hike in a day to the first base camp, Confluencia. For all trails, you need a permit, which you acquire in advance. The main season for trekking and ascents runs from mid-November to mid-March. Just before the park, a stop at Puente del Inca, a natural rock bridge over the river, is recommended.
    Mendoza and the Andes

    Mendoza and the Andes

    Mendoza Province at the foot of the Andes is Argentina's most significant wine region: This is where most of the country's grapes grow, primarily Malbec. In a dry valley where only a small part of the soil is cultivable, irrigation channels make the landscape green. West of the capital, the road to Chile ascends to Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas.The region is most pleasant in autumn, when the grape harvest runs from late February to April, and in spring from September to November.

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