ShoreTrips says...

Enjoy the magic of the desert climate in the north and the closeness of the fertile land of the central valley, where grapes are grown to produce amazing wines and piscos, all around the towns of La Serena and Coquimbo.

The Elqui Valley is a gorgeous arid valle east of La Serena that extends into the Andes Mountains. With some of the clearest skies found in the world, the Elqui Valley sits out of the way of the city and maintains a gentle, steady climate with little wind or precipitation year long. The valley has become a landmark in Chilean cultural geography: home to great poets, pisco production, and a beacon for esoteric groups and astronomers.

Enjoy the breathtaking scenery as you travel away from coast and closer towards the Andes mountains. On the way, you'll see the grapes that are cultivated to produce one of Chile's most famous spirits, "pisco". In the heart of the valley is the town of Vicuña. Here you will visit a local pisco distillery and sample the Chilean national aperitif. Made from grapes, pisco is similar to Italian Grappa and is most commonly made from the Muscatel Rose, Alexandria Muscatel and Austrian Muscatel grapes. Similar to wine production, the grapes are harvested, fermented, distilled, and stored in wooden barrels to taste.

The next stop of interest is a visit to Gabriela Mistral Museum. Mistral is a famous Chilean poetess and won the Noble Peace Prize for Literature in 1945. Born in Vicuña, she was a teacher by age 15. She taught throughout Chile and later in Portugal, Spain, France and Brazil. Her wonderful poetry reflects her love and admiration for the Chilean culture and the impressive natural environment of the Elqui Valley.