Moon Valley closes for training on 20 and 27 October 2026
Published on 10/18/2026 at 05:30 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
A staff-training closure at Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) will affect visitors near San Pedro de Atacama in Chile on 20 and 27 October 2026. The official notice covers the attraction within Sector 6 of Los Flamencos National Reserve and gives travellers two dates to avoid.
Moon Valley closes for staff training on two October dates
CONAF, Chile's national forestry corporation, states that Sector 6 will not receive the public on Tuesday 20 October and Tuesday 27 October 2026. The closure runs from 9am to 7pm on both dates and is linked to staff training, rather than to a public festival or commercial tour.
The notice excludes Tulor village from the closure. It therefore concerns the Moon Valley visitor area itself, including its marked trails and internal access road. The CONAF visitor notice identifies the sector, the purpose of the closure and each October date on the same page. The operator also repeats the measure in its October closure notice.
Moon Valley's trails sit within a protected desert reserve
Moon Valley forms part of Los Flamencos National Reserve in the Antofagasta Region. CONAF lists San Pedro de Atacama as the relevant commune and records the reserve's creation on 17 October 1990 by Supreme Decree 50 of Chile's Ministry of Agriculture.
The reserve describes several trails in Sector 6, including Duna Mayor, Cornisa, Mina Victoria, Achache, Tres Marias and Mirador Ckary. Their terrain includes dunes, rock ledges, salt formations and the remains of a former mine. The operator places the valley 13 km west of San Pedro de Atacama, beside the Cordillera de la Sal, and describes its geological formation as beginning approximately 33 million years ago.
That history gives the closure a practical consequence beyond a missed tour: on 20 and 27 October, visitors cannot reach the trails that present the reserve's salt and rock landscape. The separate Ckari viewpoint also remains closed until further notice after a safety assessment and roadworks, so the usual sunset viewpoint is not available even on visiting days.
Visiting Moon Valley: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Moon Valley is closed to the public on 20 October 2026 and 27 October 2026 for staff training.
- On other dates, the training closure does not apply, but the Ckari viewpoint remains closed until further notice.
- The site is west of San Pedro de Atacama and is approached through the secondary section of route 23-CH; visitors cannot enter on foot and must use a bicycle, motorbike or motor vehicle.
- The reserve lists marked routes with loose rock, steep drops near a former mine and exposure to wind-blown material. Visitors must remain on designated trails and follow ranger instructions.
- 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.
Searching for Moon Valley on social platforms
These links open searches for Moon Valley on each platform.
Frequently asked questions about Moon Valley
When does the Moon Valley closure take place?
The site closes to visitors on 20 October 2026 and 27 October 2026 for staff training.
Where is Moon Valley and how do you get there?
It is west of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile and is reached via secondary route 23-CH. Entry requires a bicycle, motorbike or motor vehicle rather than walking access.
What has changed at Moon Valley?
The Ckari viewpoint remains closed until further notice, while two full visitor closures are scheduled for 20 October 2026 and 27 October 2026.
