Fray Jorge Starlight Reserve

Fray Jorge Starlight Reserve, officially Bosque Fray Jorge National Park, lies in the Coquimbo Region of Chile, about 100 km from La Serena. In 2013 it became the first Starlight Reserve in South America, a designation recognising both its exceptional night sky and its unusual ecology.

Why Fray Jorge is a top stargazing spot

Managed by Chile's national forest service, CONAF, the 9,989-hectare park sees more than 280 clear nights a year, giving it some of the most reliable observing conditions on the continent. Its Starlight Reserve certification assessed sky darkness, clarity and transparency together with the site's cultural, scientific and landscape heritage, an unusually holistic recognition of what makes a night sky worth protecting.

What you can see

Fray Jorge's location in the Coquimbo Region places it within Chile's renowned astronomy corridor, where dry desert air and high altitude combine to produce exceptionally transparent skies. From here the Milky Way stretches clearly overhead, and being in the southern hemisphere, the reserve also offers views of southern-only sights such as the Magellanic Clouds on clear, dark nights.

Visiting Fray Jorge at night

The park is best known by day for its relict rainforest, a remnant of ancient forest surviving in a semi-arid zone thanks to the Camanchaca, a coastal fog system that also helps keep the surrounding area free of haze that would otherwise dull the night sky. As with any national park, check current visiting hours, night access and any organised stargazing activities with CONAF or Chile's national tourism board before you travel.

Best time to go

In the southern hemisphere, the Milky Way core is at its best from roughly February to October, and with over 280 clear nights a year on average, Fray Jorge offers good odds of a clear sky whenever you visit. Time your trip around the new Moon for maximum darkness, allow 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to dark-adapt, and use only red light once you are outside.

Getting there

Fray Jorge National Park sits in the Limarí Province of Chile's Coquimbo Region, roughly 100 km from the coastal city of La Serena, itself a well-known gateway for the region's observatories and astro-tourism.

See your named star from here

With over 280 clear nights a year in one of Chile's most celebrated astronomy regions, Fray Jorge is a genuinely good place to try to find a named star using its coordinates and a stargazing app. Browse the star catalogue to name your own star, and explore other observatories and dark-sky sites in the region for your trip.