Moon Valley & Death Valley, San Pedro de Atacama

This is a full-day excursion that leaves from the town of San Pedro de Atacama and travels along the mountains of the Cordillera de la Sal. This region was once a giant lake that eventually dried and rose above Chile's Atacama Desert. Millions of years of erosion by rain, wind, and sun resulted in the stratifications, different colorations, and natural sculptures that exist here today.

The first visit is to the Valle de la Luna, part of Los Flamencos National Reserve, a protected area famous for its flocks of flamingos who reside in the seasonal lakes here. The area is also known for its sand dunes and distinctive rock formations that have been shaped by thousands of years of wind and salt erosion. This caused the terrain to become similar to the lunar surface, which is how the "Valley of the Moon" got its name. One such formation, Las Tres Marias (The Three Marias") are a series of three granite and clay formations that jut dramatically out of the ground like a sculpture carved by mother nature. 

Then it's off to the Valle de la Muerte (Valley of Death). Hyperbole aside, it actually earned its name due to the high dunes with narrow ridges found throughout the area. Not surprisingly, these dunes also make ideal spots for sandboarding. The tour ends at one of the highest points of the Cordillera de la Sal—the Mirador de Kari viewpoint—which is the perfect vantage point to watch the spectacular Atacama sunset.