San Pedro De Atacama Moon Valley Tour & Sunset: A Detailed Review
Alright, if you’re thinking of heading to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, then, you, like your, most definitely need to make time for the Moon Valley tour, particularly if you stay to watch the sun sink below the horizon, it’s almost, just an amazing thing to do. Very seriously, that spot is super iconic, and seeing the sunset there is just a completely spectacular kind of adventure. Basically, though, before I tell you all about how pretty the colors are at twilight, it’s important to kind of understand what makes this tour special, alright?
What Makes Moon Valley Special?
So, the Moon Valley, or Valle de la Luna, as the locals may call it, truly does feel a bit like you’ve suddenly stepped onto another planet, doesn’t it? Instead of leafy green vegetation, or even red rocks, it has, in fact, very odd rock formations and otherworldly views that happen because over eons the wind and water basically beat up the earth around there. You know, and what’s left are these crazy shapes that might very well seem completely alien to any average person.
Actually, it’s more or less found within the Atacama Desert, supposedly the driest desert anywhere. This aridity arguably adds to the drama, really, so, it does indeed bring out a certain starkness, which then tends to make everything seem that much more breathtaking, or perhaps even scary. You could very easily feel a million miles away from everything you thought you knew about Earth, okay? By the way, this isn’t just a case of nice scenery, right? I mean, basically, there’s something about just being there that could make you reflect on our position in the cosmos – how big the cosmos is and how brief our lives may be, alright?
What You Might Expect On the Tour
Usually, now, these tours start sometime in the afternoon, arguably so you can finish up with the sunset showing all its radiant glory. Generally, you’ll find that the tour operators grab you right from your lodging and take you to different spots within the Valley, isn’t it? Typically, they like to run through these highlights:
- Las Tres Marías (The Three Marias): That tends to be rock formations that very arguably seem like they are, well, three tall figures sort of, alright? They have been molded through years and years of, say, wind erosion.
- Duna Mayor (The Big Dune): Get set to plod up this impressive sand dune, for instance! At the peak, so, that’s where, in short, a very good spot to scope the views happens to be.
- Anfiteatro (Amphitheater): The geography has produced what has to be a bowl-like construction, literally producing quite wonderful acoustics and truly amazing vistas.
- Mina de Sal (Salt Mine): Seemingly, you have the chance to walk right inside a salt mine; it could be, in a way, a reminder of how rich the ground around Atacama is in mineral deposits, right?
Alright, each of these pit stops provides unique photographic chances, like your travel pictures ought to be really incredible and wonderful, right? Just make certain to listen as your guide is giving information – the tour is also something of an educational exercise about local natural phenomena, as a matter of fact!
Sunset Viewing: A Climax To Your Day
I mean, honestly, the main reason most travelers make a choice to do the Moon Valley tour may be because, basically, it ends with, very, watching the sun do a proper slow fade behind all those stunning land features, obviously. Usually, your tour bus or van has strategically got you to the ideal sunset viewing location so that you have the best perspective achievable as the colors begin to play across the horizon. At that hour the skies change from a kind of dazzling bright blue to different types of oranges, pinks, and purples; it gives an awe-inspiring background against which the valley’s dark shapes now seem almost silhouetted, right?
By the way, this phase tends to be deeply immersive. Truly, that means there is an excellent reason that it’s commonplace that individuals simply stay quietly appreciating it for several minutes; it may indeed feel almost sacrilegious to talk, basically, you see, doesn’t it? What I did now remember very much was how that total change inside coloring affected my thoughts then; and the landscapes and my head have merged inside the total time and place, right?
Top Tips for an Amazing Moon Valley Tour
So, you want your experience to go smooth, don’t you? Or, more precisely, just somewhat wonderful? So, actually, in this situation I, too, would suggest keeping some important things like these thoughts in mind:
- What Clothes and Gear to Wear: Since it can indeed be dry and bright here, remember you bring along sunglasses, sun block plus a chapeau and perhaps dress up in layers and that means for when temperatures go down quickly after sundown, like you definitely wouldn’t like becoming seriously chilled out because you’ve lost oversight, alright?
- Being Well Hydrated: Since the arid atmosphere here dries one right out pretty quick now make sure that on yourself comes lots of drinks – that’s just about imperative as that total physical environment tends actually be rather unfriendly for us physical people generally, does it not?,.
- Height considerations: So, San Pedro usually stands pretty tall up there, and at high altitude some people seem affected by headaches maybe that or perhaps dizziness or difficulty you may have breathing, therefore simply take activities there, kind of softly; so, if you’re able do attempt acclimation during day or thereabouts until really proceeding just very difficult hikes around there – which may also tend very much really make that Moon Valley more awesome even then!!
- Digicam gear advice : Well , very basically do absolutely bring along either something good for your own video – then! So what type whether such gear takes professional models that take professional imagery or an easily operated cam or cellphone – still!, what you really also just would basically prefer that captures how awesome sunsets are , since if even perhaps otherwise memory escapes what occurs still remains right!?
- Check Weather: Very, that it’s normally just something wise on you which involves figuring away what temperatures do because you prepare which activities you might perform for the tour – weather makes some massive different as even cold climate changes make certain times harder whereas hot make them just completely horrible!!
Selecting a Tour Operator
Alright, you know, it might turn out there’re so, truly, countless tour firms close to San Pedro you know which basically makes choosing almost difficult , still doesn’t this!? At the end of the day so find someone nice so one with reviews which seem somewhat positive just what I have very nearly gone for then still! Don’t mostly be scared to perhaps have all of questions all figured that will give that peace minds also; then what exactly does their plan covers even the safety – also – because well those seem essential; then and make these types sure which will actually enrich not diminish journey.
Other Things to Know About Visiting Moon Valley
Okay, actually it turns out planning well tends just slightly beyond buying that great service itself even as, by how or where well basically, those variables form just experience in these unique locales! Actually think though about such extra tips even.
- Time to Visit: The Atacama weather holds fairly steady, arguably still, most do find those shoulder weeks which have much kinder heats not extreme winters even , best during seasons!!
- Regulations and Respect: Like please just definitely act decently plus avoid litter as very probably what you basically just think in maintaining unspoiled scenery as being there during posterity or perhaps posterity will definitely suck anyway otherwise perhaps then…!!
- Nearby Attractions: Very really if after this amazing Valley tour that wants to check something awesome so try browsing at El Tatio or just take your tour right toward seeing few Lagunas Altiplánicas instead .
Why This Tour is Totally Worth It
You will absolutely now see with, so basically the sunset, right that could even just almost simply alone render this totally memorable especially if considering how that changes hues; and because from there almost really nowhere might even probably get total different backgrounds entirely especially while really taking amazing photos but which could possibly remind you much better perhaps; and then beyond being aesthetic this also presents sort education regarding earth science particularly since it’s even rather odd geo setting here actually also there at such amazing destination then what one really requires what could really touch people and I that think has all .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best time to visit Moon Valley for the sunset?
Okay actually typically what that means mostly tour firms work with scheduling trips about evening ensuring just very spectacular backgrounds; still mostly even what season gives certain subtle coloring plus changes there with different sunlight; because you really want total view , therefore probably arriving a good space will usually help secure your own perfect viewpoint and photo option well right then ?
How physically challenging is the Moon Valley tour?
Really what I definitely saw seems how total trip probably stays within manageable ranges; really , for climbing smallish stuff just perhaps really something gradual really with mostly slow gradients still so definitely wearing shoes might give just more assist against losing grip particularly from something somewhat taller whereas perhaps going all really extreme ; just still do basically respect your body which means consider if perhaps these kinds are appropriate given any sort physical boundaries anyway .
Are there any restrictions on what I can bring into Moon Valley?
I mean it has to do somewhat around there to consider maintaining something very eco or the preserving sort then expect restrictions – so there won’t just likely almost often some litter allowed either like maybe drone use might stay quite strict mostly really do that that service firm just explain any very clearly mostly to not find something wrong for something not understood.
What should I do to prepare for the altitude?
Now that definitely seems something significant I just can’t simply enough highlight; so definitely acclimate maybe do maybe two full sun light for it till perhaps basically just totally running at almost something top then I feel even for such milder stroll stay slow and bring certain refreshment.