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Magellan Project: Detailed Itinerary

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Tuesday, July 22
USA / SANTIAGO
Depart from your home city for Santiago, the capital of Chile. (Overnight flight - meals aloft)

Wednesday, July 23
SANTIAGO
Upon our arrival we transfer to our five-star hotel located in one of the most exclusive quarters of Santiago. An afternoon city tour will introduce us to this city at the foot of the Andes. Included in our visit will be the excellent pre-Columbian Museum that chronicles 4,500 years of pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas. This evening we gather for an orientation and welcome dinner. Hotel Plaza El Bosque ( D)

Thursday, July 24
SANTIAGO / CALAMA / SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
This morning we fly north to Calama and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama where we spend three nights. Check in at Hoster?a San Pedro. Lunch at a local restaurant in San Pedro. Afternoon excursion to the Salt Mountains and the Moon Valley created by the erosion of the Salt Mountains. Sunsets are spectacular from the height of the sandy dunes. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Optional night observation of the southern skies with 5 amateur telescopes. Hostería San Pedro ( B,L,D)

Friday, July 25
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Depart at dawn and drive up to the high Andean peaks to the famous El Tatio geysers. Observe the fumaroles, small geysers and craters made of multicolored mud. Return through an imposing landscape that features spectacular views of the Tocorpurro and Sairecahur volcanoes. Stop along the way for lunch at local restaurant and for a visit at the Termas de Puritana hot springs for a chance to bathe in warm mineral waters.

Upon arrival back at the hotel the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.This evening Professor Bertschinger will give an introductory lecture on "The Cosmic Menu of Dark Energy and Dark Matter." Dinner will be at local restaurant. Hostería San Pedro (B, L, D)

Saturday, July 26
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
This morning depart for Salar de Atacama. Along the way visit Toconao, a little village famous for its lava stone constructions (liparita) and its church whose roof and doors are made from cactus wood. Explore an immense inland sea dating back millions of years, with pink flamingos nesting in its small lagoons and visit to the high plateau lagoons of Miscanti-Mi?iques. Look for the wildlife of the area including vicu?as, and viscachas.

This afternoon Visit the ALMA Operations Facility Site with a special lecture.

This evening enjoy Professor Bertschinger's second lecture "The Search for Gravitational Waves and Black Holes."

This evening participate in an optional night observation of the southern skies with 5 amateur telescopes with expert Alain Maury. Hostería San Pedro (B, Box L, D)

Sunday, July 27
SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA / CALAMA
Visit the archaeological site of Pukará de Quitor and the Museum of Father Le Paige. In the afternoon depart for Antofagasta, a port city where the majority of copper in Chile is exported. Along the way, we'll stop for photos at the Tropic of Capricorn. This evening Professor Bertschinger will give a presentation on "The Biggest Telescopes in the South: What Are They Doing?"
Dinner at the Hotel Radisson. Hotel Radisson (B,L,D)

Monday, July 28
ANTOFAGASTA / PARANAL/LA SERENA
This morning drive to the Paranal Observatory, home of the VLT (Very Large Telescope) often described as the world's largest. Enjoy a private escorted visit of the Observatory. Return to Antofagasta and transfer to the airport for your flight to La Serena. Upon arrival in the afternoon transfer to the Hotel Costa Real. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening Professor Bertschinger will lecture on the topic "We Are Not Alone: Other Planets, Other Earths?" Dinner at the Hotel Costa Real. Hotel Costa Real (B, D)

Tuesday, July 29
LA SERENA
This morning depart for a city tour of La Serena, including the beautiful handicraft market La Recova and the Museum. Later, we continue our trip to the Elqui Valley. Stop at one of the most famous Pisco companies in Chile. Pisco is liquor made from distilled wine and is normally drunk with lime juice and sugar.

In the afternoon travel to Monte Grande, former residence of the Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Gabriela Mistral. A drive along the Elqui Valley affords views of the olive, custard apple and papaya plantations. Dinner this evening is at the Hotel Costa Real. Travel to Collawara Observatory for a viewing of the night skies. Hotel Costa Real (B, L, D)

Wednesday, July 30
LA SERENA / LAS CAMPANAS
Today we travel north of La Serena by coach to Las Campanas Observatory in the Chilean Andes for a tour of the Magellan Project site and the two 6.5 meter optical telescopes. There will be a private visit to the interior of the installations. Return to our hotel early this evening for dinner with special guests and scientists. Hotel Costa Real (B,L,D)

Thursday, July 31
LA SERENA / CERRO TOLOLO OBSERVATORY / SANTIAGO
This morning visit the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (CTIO) (4-meter optical telescope). CTIO is the second largest astronomical observatory in the Southern Hemisphere, located at an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level in a region with some of the clearest skies in the world.

Late in the afternoon transfer to the airport for a flight back to Santiago. Hotel Plaza El Bosque (B, L)

Friday, August 1
SANTIAGO / USA
Today we explore the Maipo Valley and Colchahua Valley, the beautiful valleys of Chile's central region where renowned Chilean wines are produced. Later we'll gather in the gardens of the historical Viña Santa Rita for a farewell lunch. We return to our hotel and the remainder of our afternoon is unscheduled before our late return flight home. (Overnight flight - B,L)

Saturday, August 2
USA
Arrive in the USA for your connecting flight home.

This itinerary is subject to change.

To reserve your space on this program, please call the MIT Alumni Travel Program at 800-992-6749 or email the Travel Program at compass@mit.edu.