Moon Valley closes for training on 6 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 07:07 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) near San Pedro de Atacama will close to visitors on 6, 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 for staff training. The temporary closure affects the desert site itself, making the dates relevant to travellers planning a visit in Chile.
Moon Valley sets four October closure dates
The Valley of the Moon Indigenous Association, which operates the site, says there will be no public service or entry on the four Tuesdays. The notice describes the closures as training days and advises visitors to plan around them. The operator lists the closure dates on its visitor information page.
The same schedule appears in a notice from Chile's national forestry authority, CONAF, for sector 6 of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Its wording identifies the Valley of the Moon area, except for the Tulor settlement, and specifies that it will not receive visitors on 6, 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 during staff training. This provides an official local confirmation of the access change. CONAF confirms the October closure.
Moon Valley's training closure affects a desert reserve
The site is part of the landscape around the Salt Mountain Range, where wind and time have shaped stone and salt into dunes, craters and sharp ridges. The operator says the geological formation process began approximately 33 million years ago, with sedimentary and mineral rocks later affected by faults and folds.
The closure dates therefore affect more than a single viewpoint. The association's notice applies to the site as a whole, while a separate restriction remains in force at the Ckari viewpoint. That lookout has been closed since 27 May 2026 during a safety assessment following an earthquake, according to the operator. The October training days are a separate, scheduled interruption rather than an extension of that restriction.
Access to the Ckari viewpoint remains restricted
Chile's national tourism board describes the landscape as a place of dunes, craters and ridges in the Atacama Desert. It records the attraction as 13 km (8.1 miles) west of San Pedro de Atacama on Route 23, with access by private vehicle, bicycle or guided tour. Chile Travel explains the location and route.
For visitors, the practical distinction is important: on 6, 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 there is no entry to the main site, while on other dates the Ckari viewpoint is still not available. The sunset experience may therefore use a different authorised location when a visit takes place outside the training closures.
Visiting Moon Valley: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The entire site is closed to visitors on 6, 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 for staff training.
- The Ckari viewpoint remains closed until further notice, so it cannot be used as the viewing point during the October visit period.
- Moon Valley is 13 km (8.1 miles) west of San Pedro de Atacama on Route 23 towards Calama. Visitors can travel by private vehicle, bicycle or guided tour.
- The terrain includes dunes, ridges, craters and marked paths. The operator asks visitors to stay on designated walkways and not remove rocks or other natural material.
- Chile's official languages are Spanish and the 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 temporary closure take place at Moon Valley?
The site is closed on 6, 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 for staff training. The closure applies to the Valley of the Moon area identified by the operator and CONAF.
Where is Moon Valley and how do you get there?
The attraction is 13 km (8.1 miles) west of San Pedro de Atacama on Route 23 towards Calama. Access is possible by private vehicle, bicycle or guided tour.
What is Moon Valley?
It is a desert landscape of stone and salt in Chile's Atacama region, with dunes, craters and sharp ridges shaped by wind, time and geological movement.
