Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon)

About this place

A desert valley in the Atacama, one of the driest places on Earth, whose rocks and dunes were shaped by wind and water over millions of years into a lunar landscape: hills of salt and clay, narrow canyons and jagged ridges in pinks, oranges and whites. It is part of Los Flamencos National Reserve. Its best-known stops are the Amphitheatre, a huge rock wall shaped like a Roman theatre, the Great Dune with its long sandy slope, the salt formations called the Three Marys, and, when open, salt caves with walls glittering with crystals. The finest time is just before sunset, when the hills turn red and violet and towering Licancabur volcano glows on the horizon. You can go by bike, on a tour or by car. Buy your ticket online the day before, as it is not always sold at the gate. The sun burns by day and nights are very cold, so carry plenty of water, a hat and layers.