The Elqui Valley in northern Chile is one of the world's premier stargazing destinations — a centre of astro-tourism on the edge of the Atacama, with Bortle 1–2 skies and over 300 clear nights a year. The dry Andean air and minimal light pollution have drawn major observatories to the region, including nearby Cerro Tololo and Gemini South. The valley hosts dedicated public observatories and astro-lodges built specifically for visiting stargazers. At 30°S, the southern sky is breathtaking: the galactic core passes overhead, and the Magellanic Clouds, zodiacal light, and gegenschein are all routinely visible.