La Serena - Santiago Study Tour

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College Study Abroad

FALL BLOCK II - LA SERENA

La Serena, the capital of the Coquimbo Region, was founded in 1544 and is the country’s second-oldest city. The Elqui Valley, 400 km north of Santiago, lies at the southern end of the Atacama Desert in the Coquimbo region. It is known for producing table grapes and other fruits, as well as pisco, Chile’s second most popular alcoholic beverage, after wine. The region is characterized by a sunny, desert-like climate, less than 70 millimeters of annual rainfall, dry rocky terrain, steep valleys and temperate hills cooled by strong winds from the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. All these features present these northern skies as the perfect location for many astronomical observatories.


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The Parque Pedro de Valdivia is the perfect place to enjoy nature and hiking trails. In this park you will find trees such as eucalyptus, Chilean palm, Alamos, Cypresses and Willows. There is also a mini zoo where you can see llamas, ostriches, chickens, condor, turtles, guanacos, goats, tricahue parrots, condor and Cai monkeys, among others.