Valle de la Luna

Valle de la Luna, a valley with various unique rock formations, is probably the place in the Atacama desert I'd heard most about before going. It's a must see because, as the name suggests, it looks more like the moon than a place on earth.

We went on a tour there on our first afternoon in Atacama. Although I was feeling quite ill that day, I still was able to appreciate the strange beauty of this dry, dusty place.

Valle de la Luna is just a few kilometres outside of San Pedro de Atacama, so it's easy to get there. Once we arrived, there was a short tour through a cave, which my boyfriend and the majority of people on the tour did. However, the guide said it wasn't a good idea for people who don't like small spaces, so me and a couple of others explored the surrounding area instead. It was fun to look around and see a cave (without going too far inside!), some interesting rock formations, and some rocks with crystals on them.

The next place we went to in the valley was Las Tres Marías (the three Marys). These are three rocks that sort of look like people praying. However, at some point in the past, the head fell off one of them!

During the final part of the tour, we climbed up three peaks to be able to see great expanses of the valley. It wasn't easy as I was feeling so rough, but it was worth it for the views! 

The big rock at the back of the first picture is known as "the amphitheatre".

Valle de la Luna was completely different to anywhere I've been before. The scenery was really impressive, and I'm glad I managed to see it, despite being ill. I felt awful that night, and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do anything the next day. Thankfully, I woke up feeling alright and could completely enjoy our tour to Salar de Atacama; another very unique and fascinating place that I will write about next!