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- Duna Mayor (the Big Dune) — A steep sand dune that you can climb for a 360° panorama over the salt-carved Cordillera de la Sal. Best at late afternoon: the light turns the valley leathery red and gold, then you can slide down like a lazy moon explorer. (Personal favorite — the silence and colors from the top are worth the puffed-out lungs.)
- Anfiteatro (The Amphitheater) — A huge, bowl-shaped erosion feature with layered rock walls that look almost amphitheatric. Its scale and texture are dramatic in a way most mountain trails aren’t—more sculpted stone than trees—so it feels theatrical and prime for photos.
- Las Tres Marias — Three tall, pillar-like rock formations that stand like sentinels in the valley. They’re great for getting a sense of scale and show how wind, salt and time can sculpt
- Duna Mayor (the Big Dune) — A steep sand dune that you can climb for a 360° panorama over the salt-carved Cordillera de la Sal. Best at late afternoon: the light turns the valley leathery red and gold, then you can slide down like a lazy moon explorer. (Personal favorite — the silence and colors from the top are worth the puffed-out lungs.)
- Anfiteatro (The Amphitheater) — A huge, bowl-shaped erosion feature with layered rock walls that look almost amphitheatric. Its scale and texture are dramatic in a way most mountain trails aren’t—more sculpted stone than trees—so it feels theatrical and prime for photos.
- Las Tres Marias — Three tall, pillar-like rock formations that stand like sentinels in the valley. They’re great for getting a sense of scale and show how wind, salt and time can sculpt vertical, almost architectural shapes.
- Cordillera de la Sal ridges and salt-sculpted valleys — Jagged ridges, salt crusts and narrow corridors make parts of the trail feel alien: dried ocean beds, cracked salt surfaces and sharp spines of rock. Keep an eye out for hardy desert life—small lizards and birds—so you remember it’s not completely lifeless.
- Sunset & stargazing viewpoint — The valley’s wide horizons deliver spectacular sunsets, then the near-absence of light pollution turns the sky into a dense Milky Way display. Bring layers—it cools fast after dusk—and linger if you can; the night sky is part of the Valle de la Luna experience.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
Gong Bath in the Magic Forest in San Pedro de Atacama
✓ Free cancellation
Geysers del Tatio
✓ Free cancellation
Aire Libre - Astro Tour with big telescopes
✓ Free cancellation
Ascent of Toco Volcano
✓ Free cancellation
Full Atacama - SORBAC (group tours)
✓ Free cancellation
Private Tour of the Moon Valley
✓ Free cancellation
3-Day Tour in San Pedro de Atacama with Tickets and Food
✓ Free cancellation
Bike Tour to Garganta del Diablo, includes bike
✓ Free cancellation
Full Day Tour to Red Stones, High Plains and Chaxa
✓ Free cancellation
Astrophotographic tour with Andean worldview
✓ Free cancellation
Best Backpacking
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.