Place to visit
Valle de la Luna, Chile: what it is and when to go
Valle de la Luna is a Geographical feature in Chile (Toconao). Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is October to April. In December there are 13 h 24 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 36. It has articles in 16 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Chile: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.
In a nutshell
- What it is
- Geographical feature in Chile · Nature, Wildlife
- Where
- Chile · San Pedro de Atacama
- Best time
- October to April.
- Nearest airport
- CJC Calama, 80 km as the crow flies
- Website
- monumentos.gob.cl
- Run by
- Conaf
- Coordinates
- -22.94463, -68.29384
What it is and where
Valle de la Luna is a Geographical feature in Chile (Toconao). It has articles in 16 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Chile: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
11.951 hectáreas protegidas que albergan características geomorfológicas y paisajistas que le otorgan la calidad de lugar de interés científico y turístico. El rasgo topográfico más importante es el bloque plegado, conocido como Cordillera de la Sal.
It is in Toconao, where this site lists 10 more places to see, 39 km from the centre.
Its coordinates are -22.94463, -68.29384; the nearest main airport is El Loa Airport (CJC, Calama), 80 km as the crow flies. How to get around Chile (train, car, bus) is covered in its country guide.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
- Run by
- Conaf
It is one of the Nature and Wildlife places in Chile. In Kokai it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.
When to go
The best time to visit Valle de la Luna is October to April.
- JanBest time13:16
- FebBest time12:46
- MarBest time12:10
- AprBest time11:28
- MayPossible10:54
- JunPossible10:36
- JulPossible10:43
- AugPossible11:12
- SepPossible11:52
- OctBest time12:33
- NovBest time13:08
- DecBest time13:24
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
In December there are 13 h 24 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 36. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.
| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | October to April | May to September |
| Wildlife | October to April | May to September |
It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Valle de la Luna has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and Kokai puts it in the right month for you.
When to go to Chile in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Before you go to Chile
To enter Chile there are 8 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Book domestic flights and Torres del Paine places”: they are all, with their deadlines, in the Chile checklist. Currency: Chilean peso (CLP); plugs: Type C and L · 220 V · 50 Hz (the Spanish two-pin plug usually works); emergencies: 133 police · 131 ambulance · 132 fire brigade.
In Kokai you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.
What is nearby
- TulorArchaeological site in Antofagasta Region, Chile5.9 km
- Pukará de QuitorPreinca fort of Lickan Antai people10 km
- Church of San Pedro de AtacamaChurch building in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile10 km
- Museo del MeteoritoMuseum10 km
- R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological MuseumFormer Archaeological Museum in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile11 km
Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in the Chile guide.
More in Chile: Nature
- Ojos del Salado: highest volcano in the world
- Llullaillaco: stratovolcano in Chile and Argentina
- Beagle Channel: strait of Chile and Argentina
- Atacama Large Millimeter Array: 66 radio telescopes in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile
- Copahue: stratovolcano nestled on the border between Argentina and Chile
- Fitz Roy: mountain of Chile - argentina
Every Chile place under Nature, each with its season, is on its page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Valle de la Luna?
It is a Geographical feature in Chile. It has articles in 16 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Chile: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.
When is the best time to visit Valle de la Luna?
October to April. In December there are 13 h 24 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 36.
How do you get to Valle de la Luna?
The nearest main airport is El Loa Airport (CJC), 80 km as the crow flies. From there, directions opens the route on the map, and how to get around Chile is explained in its country guide.
How do I add it to my trip?
With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Chile map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.
What else is around here?
Nearby you have Tulor, Pukará de Quitor, Church of San Pedro de Atacama. The rest is in the Chile guide.
Keep reading
- Toconao10 places to see in and around Toconao, Chile: Valle de la Luna, Purico complex, University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory. Best time: October to April.
- Nature666 places for nature in Chile, from Ojos del Salado to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: October to April. Each with its own season by altitude and daylight.
- ChileBefore travelling to Chile: 8 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for tourism for up to 90 days and a valid passport is enough; on entry…
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, and from Wikidata, CC0. More about Valle de la Luna on Wikipedia). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.