- Address: San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta, Chile.
Chile is one of the most amazing countries in the world, which is a long strip of land sandwiched between the majestic Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Despite the rich cultural heritage and many historical attractions , the main decoration of this region is undoubtedly its nature. Magnificent beaches, first-class vineyards and snow-covered volcanoes are the reasons for which millions of tourists come here every year. One of the most popular and famous places in Chile is the Lunar Valley (Valle de la Luna), located in the most arid desert of the Atacama planet. Let's talk about it in more detail.
Where is the Moon Valley?
The lunar valley is located in northern Chile, about 17 km from San Pedro de Atacama , surrounded by the hills of the Cordillera de la Sal mountain range. An original guide to this place is the largest in Chile and one of the world's largest salt marshes of Salar de Atacama, which impresses with its size: its area is about 3000 km², and its length and width are 100 and 80 kilometers, respectively.
As for the weather in this region, the climate here is droughty. There are even places that have not been raining for hundreds of years. The night is much colder than the day, so everyone who wants to visit the Valle de la Luna should take with him several warm jackets or sweaters. The average annual temperature is +16 ... +24 ° С.
Riddles of nature
The lunar valley of the Atacama Desert is the most enigmatic and romantic sight of Chile. All year round, thousands of tourists come here from different parts of the globe in order to admire the enchanting landscapes.
The secret of the Moon Valley lies in a unique landscape, reminiscent of the surface of the moon - hence the name of this place. In fact, nothing unusual is present here: numerous stone and sand formations of different shapes and sizes were carved under the influence of strong winds and regular precipitation. However, due to the impressive range of colors and textures, this place really looks like something unearthly.
When the sun goes down, the Valle de la Luna seems to find life: silent shadows reflect on the edges of the hills and gorges, the wind blows among the rocks and the sky plays in different shades - from pink to violet and finally black. If you look at the photo of the Lunar Valley, you can also see small white areas - dry lakes, where, thanks to different salt composition, there appeared formations similar to man-made sculptures. Thanks to this natural beauty, in 1982 this place was given the status of a natural monument.
How to get there?
The lunar valley is part of the National Park Los Flamencos, located on the border of Chile and Argentina, so you can get here from both countries. The nearest town is Calama - from Valle de la Luna about 100 km. You can overcome this distance by car or taxi. The journey takes about 1.5 hours. For the budget tourist, the best solution is to book an excursion at one of the local travel agencies.