The highest-rated Valle de la Luna tour with a real sample, and the cheapest one too.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before it starts; bad weather means a reschedule or a full refund
- Duration4 hours
Valle de la Luna is the eroded salt-and-clay valley in the Cordillera de la Sal, 13 km west of San Pedro de Atacama, and it is the excursion almost everyone does first because it is close, cheap and timed for the sunset. This four-hour tour is the cheapest of them and carries the best rating of any Valle de la Luna product with a sample worth trusting: 4.77 from 333 reviews. It matters more than it looks, because getting into this valley independently is harder than most visitors expect.
Compare Atacama ToursKey facts
half-day sightseeing- Duration
- 4 hours
- Meeting point
- Collected in San Pedro de Atacama; the operator confirms the time when you book
- Price
- CLP 31,113 per person
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before it starts; bad weather means a reschedule or a full refund
Included
- ✓ Moon Valley Sightseeing Tour
- ✓ Visit:
- ✓ Amphitheater
- ✓ Duna Mayor
- ✓ Tres Marías Rock Formation
- ✓ Sunset (Route)
- ✓ Departure: From our agency, located at: Tocopilla #418, San Pedro de Atacama town center
- ✓ Drop-off: San Pedro de Atacama Town Center
Not included
- ✗ Food
- ✗ Beverages
- ✗ Tips
- ✗ NOT included: Entrance ticket to the National Reserve (CLP 10,800- Chilean pesos, per person) ... You must purchase it before the sightseeing tour at valledelaluna.com ...
- ✗ If you have trouble purchasing your ticket, please contact us for assistance at +56966501961.
Why you cannot simply walk in
CONAF and the Atacameño communities that co-administer the reserve require tickets to be bought at least a day ahead, online, and there is no pedestrian entry at all. Cyclists get a separate and much earlier window. A great deal of published advice still says to walk or cycle in for sunset; under the current rules you cannot. Coming on a tour removes the problem.
The sunset, and what it actually does
The Cordillera de la Sal turns through pink, orange and violet as the light goes, and the valley faces the right way for it. That is why every operator runs the same slot and why the viewpoints are busy. It is still worth it; just do not expect to have the place to yourself.
What you see before the sunset
Las Tres Marías, the salt caves and the Gran Duna, roughly in that order. The salt crust audibly cracks as the temperature falls, which is the detail most people remember afterwards.
What is not included
The reserve admission. CONAF publishes it at CLP 10,800 general and CLP 5,400 reduced for over-60s and 11-to-17-year-olds. Check whether your booking includes it — one listing in this inventory does, and it is named below. Drones and alcohol are not permitted, including in the vehicle.
Bad weather
The operator offers a reschedule or a full refund if the weather turns, which in this valley means the rare summer rain that closes the roads rather than cloud.
Who should not book this
- Anyone hoping to arrive on foot
- People who dislike crowded viewpoints at sunset
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Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) from San Pedro de Atacama
CLP 404964.54 from 205 reviews and an hour longer. More time in the valley, a slightly weaker record.
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Valle de la Luna Sunset Tour with Cocktail and Admission Included
CLP 73347Includes the CONAF admission, which has to be bought a day ahead and cannot be bought at the gate. If you are booking late, this solves a real problem.
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Check prices & dates
Book your tickets in advance: popular time slots sell out.
Compare Atacama ToursHow to book
The button takes you to the operator's GetYourGuide listing, where you choose a date and pay them. Free cancellation 24 hours ahead. If you are booking at short notice, look at the alternative that includes the CONAF admission, because that ticket cannot be bought at the gate. This site earns a commission at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk or cycle in instead?
Not on foot — pedestrian entry is not permitted. Cyclists have a separate morning window, not a sunset one. Tickets must be bought at least a day in advance online.
Is the entrance fee included?
Not in this one. CONAF publishes CLP 10,800 general and CLP 5,400 reduced. One product in this inventory includes it and is named on this page.
How long is the walking?
Short, but on uneven salt crust and sand. Comparable tours describe a 40-minute walk in the valley.