Moon Valley closes for staff training on 27 October
Published on 10/24/2026 at 14:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSOctober access changes
- CONAF closes Sector 6 of Los Flamencos National Reserve on 27 October 2026.
- Staff training affects every public entrance to Moon Valley on that Tuesday.
- The reserve was created in 1990 and includes Moon Valley near San Pedro de Atacama.
- Route 23-CH provides road access west of San Pedro de Atacama.
A planned closure will affect Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) near San Pedro de Atacama on 27 October 2026, when staff training will stop public access to the attraction. The closure concerns Sector 6 of Chile’s Los Flamencos National Reserve and gives travellers a specific date to avoid.
Staff training closes Moon Valley on 27 October
The National Forestry Corporation, known as CONAF, lists 27 October 2026 among four Tuesdays when Sector 6 will not receive visitors for staff training. The same notice identifies Sector 6 as Moon Valley, excluding the nearby Tulor settlement, and covers the full public-access period on that day.
The operator’s visitor notice also lists 27 October among the temporary closure dates. Its information identifies the site as the Valley of the Moon and warns that there will be no public service or entry during the training day. The CONAF closure notice and the operator’s visitor information name both the date and the place.
Moon Valley sits within a protected desert reserve
Los Flamencos National Reserve was created on 17 October 1990 by a decree of Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture. CONAF describes the reserve as a group of sectors in the Antofagasta Region, including Moon Valley in the commune of San Pedro de Atacama.
The attraction lies in the Cordillera de la Sal, or Salt Mountain Range. The local association says the geological formation process began approximately 33 million years ago, while Chile’s national tourism service describes dunes, craters, salt formations and sharp ridges shaped by wind and time. This setting explains why a staff-training closure affects the whole visitor experience rather than one isolated building or exhibit.
CONAF and Lickanantay communities co-administer the reserve’s visitor areas. The reserve authority lists paths such as Duna Mayor, Cornisa, Mina Victoria, Achache and Tres Marias in Sector 6, alongside an internal vehicle road and the Ckari viewpoint trail.
The October closure changes access to every trail
On 27 October, travellers will not be able to enter the sector, walk its trails or use its internal vehicle route. The notice is therefore more extensive than a closure of one viewpoint. It applies to the public access area while training takes place.
Outside the closure date, access remains regulated. CONAF says visitors should follow park-guard and Atacameño guide instructions, remain on marked paths and avoid removing rocks or other natural materials. Drones, fires, smoking, alcohol and disturbing wildlife are prohibited under the reserve’s visitor rules.
Visiting Moon Valley: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The entire Moon Valley sector is closed to the public on 27 October 2026 for staff training, according to CONAF.
- The closure covers public entry to Sector 6, including its visitor trails and internal vehicle route; a visit should be planned for another date.
- Moon Valley is reached from San Pedro de Atacama by secondary Route 23-CH, west of the town, in the Antofagasta Region.
- Entry is not permitted on foot, according to CONAF; visitors need a bicycle, motorbike, car or another permitted vehicle, and must stay on marked paths.
- The terrain includes sand dunes, salt and clay formations, ridges and marked walking trails, with risks including loose rock, strong winds and falls.
- Chile’s official language is Spanish and its national currency is the Chilean peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Moon Valley
When does the Moon Valley closure take place?
The closure takes place on Tuesday 27 October 2026 while staff training is held in Sector 6 of Los Flamencos National Reserve.
Where is Moon Valley and how do you get there?
Moon Valley is in the Antofagasta Region, near San Pedro de Atacama. CONAF lists secondary Route 23-CH as the access road to Sector 6.
What is Moon Valley?
Moon Valley is a desert attraction in the Cordillera de la Sal, with salt formations, dunes, ridges and marked trails inside Los Flamencos National Reserve.
