Place to visit
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.
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
- 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, 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.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
It is one of the Stargazing places in Bolivia. In Kokai 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.
- JanPossible12:52
- FebPossible12:32
- MarPossible12:07
- AprPossible11:38
- MayPossible11:14
- JunPossible11:02
- JulPossible11:07
- AugPossible11:27
- SepPossible11:55
- OctPossible12:23
- NovPossible12:47
- DecPossible12:58
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
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.
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. 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 you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- ChacaltayaMountain in Bolivia475 m
- Refugio Vista Panorámica Huayna PotosíMountains · Hiking7.7 km
- Salla JipiñaMountain in Bolivia8.2 km
- Refugio Las Rocas 5130mMountains · Hiking8.3 km
- Q'uliniMountain in Bolivia9.7 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Bolivia guide.
More in Bolivia: Stargazing
- Max Schreier Planetarium: planetarium in Bolivia
- Observatorio Geomagnético de Villa Remedios: Observatory
- Observatorio Geomagnético Patacamaya: Observatory
- Observatorio San Calixto: Observatory
- Planetario MultiProyector GOTO-GS: Planetarium
- Planetario y Observatorio Astronómico Ronald Muyzert: Planetarium
Every Bolivia place under Stargazing, each with its season, is on its page.
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 opens the route on the map, and how to get around Bolivia is explained in its country guide.
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, Refugio Vista Panorámica Huayna Potosí, Salla Jipiña. The rest is in the Bolivia guide.
Keep reading
- La Paz73 places to see in and around La Paz, Bolivia: Illimani, Chacaltaya, Mururata. Best time: April to September.
- Stargazing8 places for stargazing in Bolivia, from Max Schreier Planetarium to spots hardly anyone knows. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- BoliviaBefore travelling to Bolivia: 10 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for ninety days per year and your passport must be valid for six mon…
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.