# Observatorio Astrofísico de Chacaltaya, Bolivia: what it is and when to go

> Observatorio Astrofísico de Chacaltaya is an observatory (Chacaltaya GAW Station) in Bolivia (La Paz), at 5,240 m above sea level. Interests: Stargazing. The best time to visit is all year round, a short season because of the altitude. In December there are 12 h 58 of daylight, and in June, 11 h 02. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/observatorio-astrofisico-de-chacaltaya/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-11
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Observatory · Stargazing
- **Local name:** Chacaltaya GAW Station
- **Where:** Bolivia
- **Elevation:** 5,240 m
- **You can go:** All year round.
- **Nearest airport:** LPB La Paz / El Alto, 19 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [chacaltaya.edu.bo](http://www.chacaltaya.edu.bo)
- **Coordinates:** -16.35025, -68.13139

## What it is and where

Observatorio Astrofísico de Chacaltaya is an observatory (Chacaltaya GAW Station) in Bolivia (La Paz), at 5,240 m above sea level.

It is in [La Paz](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/la-paz/), where this site lists 73 more places to see, 16 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are -16.35025, -68.13139; the nearest main airport is El Alto International Airport (LPB, La Paz / El Alto), 19 km as the crow flies. How to get around Bolivia (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-16.350247%2C-68.131393)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-16.350247%2C-68.131393)

It is one of the [Stargazing](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/estrellas/) places in Bolivia. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

Months when you can visit Observatorio Astrofísico de Chacaltaya: **all year round**, and the season is short because it sits at 5,240 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 12 h 52 |
| February | Possible | 12 h 32 |
| March | Possible | 12 h 07 |
| April | Possible | 11 h 38 |
| May | Possible | 11 h 14 |
| June | Possible | 11 h 02 |
| July | Possible | 11 h 07 |
| August | Possible | 11 h 27 |
| September | Possible | 11 h 55 |
| October | Possible | 12 h 23 |
| November | Possible | 12 h 47 |
| December | Possible | 12 h 58 |

In December there are 12 h 58 of daylight, and in June, 11 h 02. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

When to go to Bolivia in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Bolivia

To enter Bolivia there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport with six months' validity”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Bolivia checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Boliviano (BOB); plugs: Type A and C · 230 V · 50 Hz (115 V in some areas: check your charger's label); emergencies: 110 police · 118 fire · 165 ambulance.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Chacaltaya](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/chacaltaya/): Mountain in Bolivia · 475 m
- [Refugio Vista Panorámica Huayna Potosí](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/refugio-vista-panoramica-huayna-potosi/): Mountains · Hiking · 7.7 km
- [Salla Jipiña](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/salla-jipina/): Mountain in Bolivia · 8.2 km
- [Refugio Las Rocas 5130m](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/refugio-las-rocas-5130m/): Mountains · Hiking · 8.3 km
- [Q'ulini](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/cerro-q-ulini/): Mountain in Bolivia · 9.7 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Bolivia guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/).

## More in Bolivia: Stargazing

- [Max Schreier Planetarium](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/planetario-max-schreier-fisica-umsa/): planetarium in Bolivia
- [Observatorio Geomagnético de Villa Remedios](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/observatorio-geomagnetico-de-villa-remedios/): Observatory
- [Observatorio Geomagnético Patacamaya](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/observatorio-geomagnetico-patacamaya/): Observatory
- [Observatorio San Calixto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/observatorio-san-calixto/): Observatory
- [Planetario MultiProyector GOTO-GS](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/planetario-multiproyector-goto-gs/): Planetarium
- [Planetario y Observatorio Astronómico Ronald Muyzert](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/planetario-y-observatorio-astronomico-ronald-muyzert/): Planetarium

Every Bolivia place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/estrellas/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Observatorio Astrofísico de Chacaltaya?

It is an observatory (Chacaltaya GAW Station in the local language) in Bolivia.

### When is the best time to visit Observatorio Astrofísico de Chacaltaya?

All year round, and it is worth checking carefully: at 5,240 m the season is shorter than lower down. In December there are 12 h 58 of daylight, and in June, 11 h 02.

### How do you get to Observatorio Astrofísico de Chacaltaya?

The nearest main airport is El Alto International Airport (LPB), 19 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-16.350247%2C-68.131393) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Bolivia is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Bolivia map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Chacaltaya](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/chacaltaya/), [Refugio Vista Panorámica Huayna Potosí](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/refugio-vista-panoramica-huayna-potosi/), [Salla Jipiña](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/salla-jipina/). The rest is in [the Bolivia guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/bolivia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/4882313502), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).