Moon Valley Tour San Pedro de Atacama: Sunset Salt Range

The valley's rock formations are sculpted by a hundred million years of mineral folding, not by the moon.

A guided tour of Moon Valley in San Pedro de Atacama's Salt Mountain Range, where you explore salt caves, stone statues and dunes on foot before watching the sunset at the Coyote Stone viewpoint. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for hotels near town; the tour runs 4 to 5 hours with a professional guide in English or Spanish, and you'll need to bring cash for entrance fees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Moon Valley and sunset

• Hotel pickup in San Pedro de Atacama
• Visit Cordillera de la Sal viewpoint
• See Licanantay viewpoint over salt mountains
• Tour salt caves and Las Tres Marias statues
• Explore amphitheater and central sand dune
• Watch sunset at Coyote stone viewpoint
• Return to hotel in San Pedro de Atacama

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel between 2:30 and 3:40 p.m., depending on the season. The guide drives you in an air-conditioned minivan to the Salt Mountain Range, where three main stops unfold across the afternoon. First comes the Cordillera de la Sal viewpoint in the Valley of Death, where the desert opens into formations carved by wind and water over millennia. Next is the Licanantay viewpoint, where you look down at the salt mountains from above and see how the desert's colors shift across the rock.

The core of the tour is Moon Valley itself, where you walk on foot through three sites: the salt caves, the salt statues called Las Tres Marías, and the amphitheater formation. You'll climb the large central sand dune—the walk is moderate and the ground is sand, so trekking shoes and comfortable clothes matter. The guide leads you to the Coyote Stone viewpoint, where you wait for sunset. As the sun drops, the rock faces turn colors and the landscape takes on the otherworldly look the valley is named for. After the sunset, the drive back to San Pedro de Atacama takes you to the city centre.

Bring cash for the entrance fees, a windbreaker or jacket, gloves, water, sunblock and sunglasses. The air is thin and the sun is intense, even in the late afternoon. If you're staying in a hotel outside the town centre, confirm your pickup location and time at least a day ahead—the included pickup applies only to hotels near town.

What’s included

• Transport by air-conditioned minivan.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in the city centre.
• access to the three main viewpoints in the Salt Mountain Range and all three sites within Moon Valley.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Gray Line Chile

Is this one for you?The tour includes hotel pickup, which settles the transport question if you don't have a car or are staying without one—you just confirm your hotel location a day ahead and the guide collects you at the scheduled time. The fixed afternoon departure and the sunset timing mean the day's sequence is already planned; you show up and the guide handles the route, the stops and the timing.

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Top questions

What exactly is Moon Valley and why does it look like the moon?

Moon Valley, or Valle de la Luna, is a formation in the Salt Mountain Range shaped by water and wind over a hundred million years of mineral folding. The result is a landscape of sharp peaks, dunes, caverns and natural depressions in stone and sand that resemble a lunar surface, especially at sunset when the rock faces catch the light.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

You'll walk on foot through the salt caves, past the Las Tres Marías statues, through the amphitheater, and climb the large central sand dune in Moon Valley. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness, and the ground is sand, so wear trekking shoes and comfortable clothes designed for walking on uneven terrain.

What time does the tour start and when do I get back?

Hotel pickup runs from 2:30 to 3:40 p.m. in winter or 3:00 to 3:40 p.m. in summer, depending on the season. The tour lasts 4 to 5 hours total, including the drive back to San Pedro de Atacama's city centre after sunset.

Is hotel pickup really included, and what if my hotel is outside town?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but only for hotels near San Pedro de Atacama town. If you're staying elsewhere, confirm your pickup location and time at least one day before the tour so the guide knows where to collect you.

What do I need to bring?

Bring cash to pay entrance fees at the site. You'll also need a windbreaker or jacket, gloves, water, sunblock and sunglasses. The desert is cold in the evening and the sun is intense, even late in the day, so layering and sun protection are essential.

Will the guide speak English?

The tour includes a professional guide who speaks either English or Spanish, depending on the group. Confirm your language preference when you book.