Camping Ganímedes
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Favourite
- Rural site on the banks of the Cochiguaz river in the Elqui Valley
- Quiet area for stargazing, fishing, birdwatching and hiking
- On-site restaurant serving breakfasts and dinners
Fancy stargazing and pisco sipping, 5,000 feet up? Camping Ganímedes is a rural site on the banks of the Cochiguaz river in Chile's Elqui Valley, an handsome mountain area and wine region around an hour's drive from the city of Vicuña.
It's a cinch to get out and about into the surroundings from here: the helpful site owners organise hiking and horse riding excursions into the surrounding valley, a diverse area of arid mountains and fertile plains mostly between 3,000 and 5,500 feet above sea level. There's a natural swimming spot on the river nearby too, and fishing is allowed.
With no light pollution and little noise, this is a great place to stargaze too, and several observatories are nearby to visit. If the view through the telescopes doesn't make your head spin, head to one of the many pisco distilleries to learn about production and sample the potent local tipple.
You'll need some food in among all that, so head to the on-site restaurant for breakfast, elevenses (or second breakfast) and dinners using fresh local produce and traditional recipes like goat kid stew, onion soup with white wine, and steak with goat cheese and mushrooms.
Camping Ganímedes aims to be sustainable with little impact on the environment, so there are recycling and reuse programmes but no electricity. Facilities are simple, clean and basic: showers, baths and toilets, and a washing-up area for pots and pans.
Campground type
15
15Open all year 
Tourist board rating
Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.- The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
- No bachelor/bachelorette parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
- Facilities/activities including horse riding, trekking, massages are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.
Languages spoken
English
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Features
Dogs allowed
Campfires allowed
Leisure on park
Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis WatersportsAmenities on park
Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area WifiGroups welcome
Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcomeRules
Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all yearThemes
Gastronomic delight Hikers’ paradise Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Spectacular scenery Wild camping Wildlife havenUtilities
Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energyNearby amenities
Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transportation nearbyType
Small (11-25 sites)Accessibility
Disabled facilitiesNearby leisure
Fishing nearby Horseback riding nearby Restaurant nearbyLocation
Camping Ganímedes
Fundo el Colorado
Paihuano
Elqui
Chile
1770000
Directions Timezone
America/Santiago -0300 (GMT-03:00)
GPS
-30.16168°N
-70.38091°W
Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.
Local attractions
If you fancy a change from fishing and swimming in the river and horse treks through the valley, turn your gaze skywards with a trip to the Cancana Observatory, 10 minutes' drive away, to travel the worlds beyond this one.
There's a wealth of stuff to see, do and sip in the villages dotted throughout the valley, such as Cochiguaz 10 minutes away, with a calendar of rituals and festivals dating back long before the Spanish colonists arrived. The village is also the starting point for hikes and horse treks up to the Laguna El Cepo, a dazzling gem of a glacial lake, 10,000 feet up and a spectacular spot for taking chilly dips at the top of Chile...
Sipped with ice and a dozen different ways, Chile's favoured firewater pisco hails from these parts: make for Pisco Elqui half an hour away to tour as many distilleries as you think you can manage. Alongside bottles to take home, you might want to fill your bags, boots and cases with local handicrafts (the market in Horcon 50 minutes away is a hot spot for souvenir buying), as well hosting regular Chilean-style rodeo events.
Further up the valley in Alcohuaz (an hour's drive), there's another fine space telescope and a correspondingly spaced out vibe, with local practitioners offering apitherapy and biomagnetism.
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Nearest campgrounds
Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Camping Ganímedes have a swimming pool? Yes View all features
- Is Camping Ganímedes dog friendly? Yes View all features
- What attractions are near Camping Ganímedes? If you fancy a change from fishing and swimming in the river and horse treks through the valley, turn your gaze skywards with a trip to the Cancana Observatory, 10 minutes' drive … Read more
- When can I check in and check out of Camping Ganímedes?
Read moreRV, travel trailer and tent sites Arrive: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Depart by: 4 p.m. - How much does it cost to stay at Camping Ganímedes? From $21 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.