Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon)

Valley of the Moon is a fantastic moon landscape that is a part of the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range) belonging to the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is a small depression of salt ground, 1,650 feet (500 m) in diameter, that exhibits odd sculptural shapes. These are the result of a sequence of transformations on the earth's crust caused by the folding of the watery ground underneath the salt lake. Because of its lack of humidity, there is no life here, which has turned it into one of the most inhospitable places on the planet.

Location

Region of Antofagasta, 331 km (206.8 mi) northeast of Antofagasta. San Pedro de Atacama is 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest. Map.

When to go

Year-round.

Attractions

Cordillera de la Sal.

How to get there

Santiago-Antofagasta: by airplane, public transportation or car. Antofagasta-Calama: via land by public or private transportation. Take Route 5 North, then take Route 25, around Carmen Alto, until you arrive in Calama. From Calama head southeast on Route 23, approximately 57 km (35.6 mi) later you will find the turn off to Valle de la Luna. See Transport

Activities

Trekking. Activities Index

Services

In San Pedro de Atacama, lodging, food, transportation.

Surroundings

San Pedro de Atacama, Atacama Salt Deposit, Aldea de Tulor.