Valley of the Moon closes on 13, 20 and 27 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 06:45 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Valley of the Moon will close to visitors on 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 for staff training.
- The closures affect sector 6 of Los Flamencos National Reserve near San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.
- The Ckari viewpoint remains closed until further notice, while the wider site continues to have access restrictions for visitors on foot.
Valley of the Moon near San Pedro de Atacama will close to visitors on 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 for staff training. The landscape in Chile's Antofagasta Region forms sector 6 of Los Flamencos National Reserve, so the notice affects access to the protected site itself. The site operator and Chile's national forestry corporation have published the same October dates.
Staff training closes Valley of the Moon on three October dates
There will be no public service or entry on 13, 20 or 27 October 2026. The dates are part of a temporary closure for staff training, rather than a festival or a change to the landscape's permanent status. The operator's closure notice lists the dates alongside the site's visitor information.
CONAF, the state body responsible for Chile's protected areas, identifies the affected area as sector 6 of Los Flamencos National Reserve and gives the closure period as 9am to 7pm on each listed Tuesday. Its official reserve notice also excludes the nearby Tulor settlement from the sector 6 closure. Visitors planning a trip from Western Europe should therefore avoid scheduling this attraction on 13, 20 or 27 October 2026.
The reserve setting shapes access to Valley of the Moon
The attraction lies west of San Pedro de Atacama in the Salt Mountain Range, a geological landscape of mineral and sedimentary rock, dunes and eroded formations. The operator places it 13 km (8.1 miles) west of the town, while the national tourist board directs visitors west towards Calama on Route 23.
Several marked paths cross sector 6, including the Duna Mayor, Cornisa, Mina Victoria and Tres Marias trails. CONAF describes these walks as easy, but records risks including loose material, rock falls and falls beside a mine shaft. That combination makes the training closures especially relevant to travellers: on the three dates, neither the viewpoints nor the marked walks in the affected sector can be reached.
The operator separately states that the Ckari viewpoint remains closed until further notice after a safety assessment following an earthquake. This means a visit outside the training dates may still have a different viewpoint arrangement from earlier itineraries, even though the wider attraction continues to receive visitors on other dates.
Visiting Valley of the Moon: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The temporary closure applies on 13, 20 and 27 October 2026. No public entry is available in the affected sector on those dates.
- The Ckari viewpoint is closed until further notice, so sunset plans cannot rely on that viewpoint. The operator says the closure is linked to a safety assessment after an earthquake.
- The site is 13 km (8.1 miles) west of San Pedro de Atacama on the road towards Calama. Access is by private vehicle, bicycle or guided tour, and visitors on foot cannot enter the main site.
- The protected area includes marked trails through dunes and rock formations. CONAF lists loose material, strong winds and falls as risks on some routes.
- Los Flamencos National Reserve is co-managed with Atacameño-Lickanantay communities. Visitors must follow the instructions of park staff and local guides and remain on marked paths.
- 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 Valley of the Moon
When does the closure take place at Valley of the Moon?
The attraction closes to visitors for staff training on 13, 20 and 27 October 2026. The affected dates are Tuesdays.
Where is Valley of the Moon and how do you get there?
It is 13 km (8.1 miles) west of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile's Antofagasta Region. Visitors can travel by private vehicle, bicycle or guided tour on Route 23.
What has changed at Valley of the Moon?
The Ckari viewpoint remains closed until further notice after a safety assessment following an earthquake. The wider site also has three temporary closure dates in October 2026 for staff training.
