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81 Tours & Activities
How to Spend 3 Days in San Pedro de Atacama
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Nature and Wildlife
82 Tours & Activities
5 hours (Approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 1 more
Good for avoiding crowds
Overview
Discover the otherworldly landscape of the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) on an exciting excursion from San Pedro de Atacama. Marvel at sharp peaks, undulating sand dunes and rugged caverns as you journey through one of the driest and most diverse deserts on earth. Explore the area on foot with an interesting and insightful guide, ascending to the top of a vertiginous dune to watch one of the most spectacular sunsets you’ve ever witnessed.
- Be wowed by the lunar-like landscape of the valley, which lies in the Salt Mountain Range
- Explore its many geological formations, from canyons to caves to depressions, with a guide
- Learn about its physical history at an onsite exhibition
- From the top of a sand dune, watch the sunset cast a glow over the valley
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Depart from your San Pedro de Atacama hotel in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan to begin your journey into the heart of the desert. Relax during the scenic 8-mile (13-km) drive into the protected sanctuary of the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley.)
Make a short stop to admire the unearthly landscape of the Crodillera de Sal (Salt Mountain Range), a rugged collection of canyons and sand dunes, before continuing to the entrance of the magnificent Moon Valley.
Pay the entrance fee (not included in the tour price) then begin browsing the enthralling exhibitions of the museum, gaining insight into the geology and ecology of this unique place. Accompanied by your knowledgeable guide, venture to a small cave to explore the fascinating formation then ascend to the summit of a sand dune to watch the sun set over the valley. Climbing the dune only requires average physical fitness.
Watch the sun caress the gentle curves of the landscape as it makes it descent, casting an eerie orange glow over the sands. Appreciate the distinct beauty of the desert from this unique vantage point, and then return to the van for the relaxing ride back to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.
Make a short stop to admire the unearthly landscape of the Crodillera de Sal (Salt Mountain Range), a rugged collection of canyons and sand dunes, before continuing to the entrance of the magnificent Moon Valley.
Pay the entrance fee (not included in the tour price) then begin browsing the enthralling exhibitions of the museum, gaining insight into the geology and ecology of this unique place. Accompanied by your knowledgeable guide, venture to a small cave to explore the fascinating formation then ascend to the summit of a sand dune to watch the sun set over the valley. Climbing the dune only requires average physical fitness.
Watch the sun caress the gentle curves of the landscape as it makes it descent, casting an eerie orange glow over the sands. Appreciate the distinct beauty of the desert from this unique vantage point, and then return to the van for the relaxing ride back to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.
Itinerary
Your day trip from San Pedro de Atacama begins with hotel pickup from the Hotels on the pick up list (Hotels list with pick up included: Hosteria San Pedro de Atacama, Casa de don Tomas, Altiplánico, Kimal and Poblado Kimal, Cumbres, Iorana Tolache, NOI Casa Atacama, Don Raúl, Tulor). If your Hotel is not included on the list, please approximate directly to the meeting point located at Ignacio Carrera Pinto #451, San Pedro de Atacama, at the same time specified.
The best place to enjoy the much anticipated Chilean sunset is in the Salt Mountain range, the location of the Mars and Moon valleys. The valleys contain a variety of stone, sand-like formations - a result of water and wind. As the sun sinks below the horizon, experience the wonder of the area and its close resemblance to the moon.
In the evening, one of the most expected moments is the sunset and the best place to appreciate it is the mountain range of the Salt, with its Mars and Moon Valleys that are saline and sacrilegious conformations product of the mineralogical folding that has taken place for one hundred million years and that originated small mountains of capricious and sculptural forms that at sunset resemble a Lunar landscape. We will visit 3 main points, starting with a view to the Cordillera de la Sal in the Valley of death. Incredible landcapes from the desert we can find here, and amazing postals too!
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Not Included
After the Cordillera de la Sal, we will visit the Licanantay viewpoint where you can see the mountains of salt from above. Beautiful landscapes, where the desert gives us the opportunity to see how great and incredible is it, full of colors and history behind its sand, rocks and mountains.
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Not Included
Finally, we will visit the Valley of the Moon, where 3 sites are visited. First, a tour of the salt caves is subsequently the salt statues "Las Tres Marias", the amphitheater and the large sand dune in the central part of the Moon Valley. We wait for the sunset at the Coyote stone. After an incredible scenic sunset, we begin the trip back to your Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Not Included
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Product code: 6315CJCMOON
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