03/07/2026 04:46 - Turismo
In the heart of the Atacama Desert in Chile stands La Residencia, a hotel that defies the planet's most extreme conditions. Located at an altitude of 2,000 meters, this impressive structure does not host ordinary tourists. Instead, it is owned by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and houses astronomers and engineers working on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the future Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).
To guarantee the success of astronomical observations, the hotel imposes very rigorous rules. To prevent light pollution, night lights are forbidden, allowing a dark and clear sky where the Magellanic Clouds can be seen with the naked eye. Furthermore, alcohol is prohibited on the premises, ensuring that scientists are in optimal conditions for their demanding work.
The striking design of La Residencia caught Hollywood's attention, serving as the filming location for the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace in 2008. But beyond cinema, the place is the cradle of historic scientific discoveries: thanks to the VLT, the European Southern Observatory achieved the first image of an exoplanet, a milestone in the history of astronomy that opens doors toward the understanding of more distant universes.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
