Travel guide to the top of Cerro Pachon

Cerro Pachón is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,696 meters (8,845 feet) above sea level, located in the Coquimbo Region of Chile.

Cerro Pachón

Is the road to Cerro Pachón paved?

Set high in the foothills of the Andes, in the north-central part of the country, the steep road to the summit is mostly paved, with a few concrete sections. The last 200 meters are a well-developed, graded unpaved road. It’s called Camino Centro Astronómico.

What’s on the summit of Cerro Pachón?

The summit hosts the Gemini South Telescope, the SOAR Telescope, and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Named after American astronomer Vera C. Rubin and nearing completion in Chile, the Rubin Observatory will soon begin an ambitious 10-year survey of the southern sky. With an 8.4-meter mirror and the largest camera ever built for astronomy and astrophysics, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will capture the cosmos in exquisite detail and help answer some of our biggest questions about the universe. Due to its elevation, the drive is not recommended for people with hypertension, cardiovascular, or lung problems. Minors under 6 years old are not permitted.

How long is the road to Cerro Pachón?

Starting from the D317 road, the ascent is 14.9 kilometers (9.25 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 951 meters. The average gradient is 6.38 percent.

 

 

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