Valle de la Luna Tours

Valle de la Luna is about 13 to 15 km from San Pedro de Atacama, and most visitors see it on an afternoon tour that ends at sunset. Entry costs CLP 10,800, sold online only at valledelaluna.com for a set time slot. The park is closed on 6, 13, 20 and 27 October 2026. The Whipala Valle de la Luna Shared Sightseeing Tour was $35 per person when we checked on 3 October 2026.

At a glance

Tickets: buy them before the tour

The park is run by the Asociación Indígena Valle de la Luna, a Lickanantay community association, and it sells tickets online only. Each ticket is valid for the date and time slot printed on it, so book your tour first, ask the operator what time the group enters, then buy the ticket for that slot. On 13 August 2026 the park was admitting pre-bought tickets only, and you should plan on that every day.

Most tours leave the fee out of the price. The Whipala tour asks you to buy it yourself at valledelaluna.com before the tour and gives a phone number for help if the purchase fails. On the Ruta Chile Moon Valley tour the operator gets the ticket and you pay the guide.

The two tours we recommend

The Whipala shared tour, rated 4.8 from 344 reviews, leaves from the agency at Tocopilla 418 in the town center and drops you back there. The route covers the Amphitheater, a hike up Duna Mayor, the Tres Marías formation, Quebrada Honda and a long stop for sunset on the route. It is not suitable for children under 8, people over 70, pregnant women or anyone with limited mobility. If weather cancels the tour, you can reschedule or take a full refund. Our breakdown of the Whipala tour goes stop by stop.

The Ruta Chile tour, from $41 and rated 4.6 from 209 reviews, collects you from your accommodation in San Pedro, brings snacks, visits the salt caves and the Tres Marías, and ends on the Gran Duna for sunset. It is the better choice if your hotel is a walk from the center. See our Ruta Chile Moon Valley breakdown.

Sunset with Mirador Ckari closed

For years the classic sunset spot was Mirador Ckari, also called Kari. It has been closed since at least 27 May 2026. The park cites a safety review after an earthquake, and the local council described road work in August 2026; either way, no reopening date has been given. Sunset tours now use other points inside the park, such as the great dune on the Ruta Chile tour and the sunset stop on the Whipala route. If a sunset view matters to you, ask the operator where the group watches it before you book.

The park’s opening hours also shape the afternoon. From September to March, vehicles enter between 09:00 and 17:00, so the group has to be inside before the gate cut-off and stays on for the light.

Fitting Moon Valley into your trip

Valle de la Luna sits at about San Pedro’s altitude, which makes it the classic first excursion after you land. It suits the afternoon of your arrival day if your flight lands early. The 4-Day Magic Desert Tour does exactly that: transfer from Calama Airport, then Moon Valley in the afternoon, and it asks you to book a flight arriving before 10:00. On the 3 Perfect Days in Atacama package, Moon Valley is the afternoon of day two. Both are compared on our Atacama tours with airport transfer page.

A sunset in the valley pairs well with a stargazing tour later the same night. Save the 4 a.m. start for El Tatio for the end of your stay. Our things to do in San Pedro guide sets out the full order.

Practical tips

• Check the date. Tuesdays in October 2026 (6, 13, 20, 27) are closed days, so book another afternoon.
• Buy the ticket on valledelaluna.com yourself unless your tour says it handles it, and keep the QR code on your phone.
• Bring water, sun protection and shoes for sand. Food and alcohol are not allowed inside the park.
• Carry a warm layer. The desert cools fast once the sun drops.
• Stay central if you book the Whipala tour; it starts and ends at its office in town. See where to stay in San Pedro.

Quick recommendations

• If you are staying in the center → book the Whipala shared tour and walk to the start.
• If your hotel is outside the center → book the Ruta Chile tour with accommodation pickup.
• If you want Moon Valley on your arrival day → choose the 4-Day Magic Desert Tour and an early flight.
• If you want the classics in one booking → Best of Atacama: 4 Tours in 3 Days, which includes Moon Valley at sunset.