Valley of the Moon

This is certainly one of the best and most popular tours from San Pedro. It usually starts in the afternoon concluding after sunset you observe from an elevated viewpoint. During the tour you are taken to several interesting spots including rock formations, sand dunes and magnificent vistas of Atacama desert. Tasty local picnic with quality food and pisco sour is served at a picturesque place during the tour. We went with Pukarumi agency which I can highly recommend

One of the best places to visit — truly beautiful and unforgettable. Don’t miss it! I went there by bike. At the entrance, you need to buy a ticket from the machine, and you can pay by card. There are several stops along the way where you can park your bike or car and then walk for 5, 30, or even 60 minutes to reach different viewpoints. Going by bike can be challenging because of the strong sun.

Stunning views and different landscapes on each track. There are multiple tracks, one of them is 1.5 hour, the next is 1 hour, another one 30 minutes and a couple of small ones. It's not too easy, but not hard either. Walking up in sand is hard, especially in the heat, but most of the track is on rocky terrain. When there is sand try to walk on the sides, that could make it easier. You need to buy tickets online in advance.

Heavily visited but still recommended! Didn’t feel like we were tied up with a ton of other people. We went later in the days and it did get quite warm so might be nice to go earlier in the day. We also did the sunset mirador which I’d say is cool for the view of the valley from a new angle but be aware it gets very busy and they kick you out as soon as the sun sets so if you want a more relaxing time look for one of the many free mirador nearby. We went alone with a car which was nice to set our own pace. Recommend!

quite amazing place if the sun is shining, dull in cloudy weatsher, you really need the sun for the views and pictures to stand out. There are different closing times for each spot/stop... everywhere are the park staff, watching your every move, therly are at parking spots, trailheads, view points...they become quite angry if you happen to overstay the closing time... they sweep the trails and check cars... it would be much better if all the sights closed one hour later...they simply chase you out before the golden hour... as for the Duna Major... the trip is one way, you have to go viewpoint 1 than 2, they will not let you the other way.

The valley is a very big and impressive site. The landscape is vast, dry, and full of unusual rock formations and colours. It really does feel like you are on another planet. We joined a tour, which was good but a bit limited. We only stopped at two places inside the valley itself before heading off to the main viewpoint for sunset. The views at sunset were fantastic, wide open skies, golden light over the mountains. It was definitely the highlight of the tour. If you are happy to drive yourself, there is a lot more to explore on your own. You can stop where you like, take your time, and see more of the smaller sights within the area. The site is large, and there are walking tracks and lookouts spread around. Overall, it is well worth a visit, whether on a tour or self-drive. The scenery is unique and very different. Just be aware that tours tend to move quickly, so if you prefer to explore at your own pace, driving yourself may be the better choice.

Valle de la Luna lies approximately 13 km west of San Pedro de Atacama within the Cordillera de la Sal, a thin-skinned fold-and-thrust belt that partitions the northern Salar de Atacama basin. The valley exposes the breached Cordillera de la Sal Anticline—a structure formed through halokinesis, where buoyant Oligocene–Miocene salt of the San Pedro Formation pierced upward through overlying sediments. The defining feature is extreme folding. Alternating layers of white salt/gypsum and red claystone frequently stand vertical or overturned, indicating diapiric piercement rather than simple compression. El Anfiteatro, a massive semi-circular cliff, represents a plunging syncline limb where resistant cemented sandstones surround a hollowed softer core. The valley is a textbook example of salt karst. Even minimal moisture—fog or rare decadal rains—drives landscape evolution due to halite’s high solubility. Subsurface dissolution has created extensive cave systems with flow banding visible in salt walls. Sharp serrated ridges (rillenkarren) form from dissolution runnels, their extreme sharpness reflecting the absence of soil cover. The Duna Mayor is a transverse climbing dune formed where salt ridges baffle westerly winds, with dark volcanic sand contrasting against the white evaporite substrate. The iconic Tres Marías spires consist of vertically bedded San Pedro Formation claystones and siltstones cemented by salt. They are geologically ephemeral—one spire collapsed in recent years due to natural weathering. The persistence of soluble halite outcrops is possible only due to extreme aridity, making the valley a terrestrial analogue for Martian chloride salt deposits.

This is the best natural reserve/park I have ever been to. It is taken care of to an incredible level. At the start you get a personal explanation of the park and there are multiple small hikes that are all worth doing. In total we walked for about 2h and drove around as well. If possible I would recommend doing it in a rental car or by bike, since you can enjoy the place at your own pace and see everything you want. Definitely a must see in this region.