Great dune
Sandboarding.
kallerna — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paulo JC Nogueira — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Paulo JC Nogueira — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Paulo JC Nogueira — CC BY-SA 3.0
A desert valley very close to San Pedro town, ringed by jagged ridges of salt and clay in reddish brown and huge sand dunes, like the surface of another planet. It is called «Death Valley», and its original name is said to have been «Mars Valley», changed over time because the two words sound alike in Spanish. Its best-known feature is the great dune, a long slope visitors come to sandboard, with companies providing boards and instruction. Walking the valley's ridges reveals views over the desert and Licancabur volcano. Nearby is the Kari lookout, or Coyote Rock, a rocky edge over the Cordillera de la Sal and Valle de la Luna, one of the area's finest sunset spots. You can cycle to the valley from town in minutes. The valley has no shade and the sun burns by day, so go in the morning or late afternoon and carry plenty of water. Keep to permitted routes.
Sandboarding.
Salt and clay.
A sunset lookout.
Cordillera de la Sal, about 3 km west of San Pedro de Atacama
It is said its original name was Mars Valley for its strange look, which changed to Death Valley because the words sound alike in Spanish.
