Valle de la Muerte & Sandboarding★★€
Valle de la Muerte — The Valley of Death
Right next to the more famous Valle de la Luna lies the Valle de la Muerte (Valley of Death, sometimes also called Valle de Marte — Mars Valley). The name is said to come from a translation error: Originally it was called "Valle de Marte" (Mars Valley) because the red rock formations resemble the Martian surface, but a French priest read "Muerte" instead of "Marte" — and the name stuck.
The valley is less visited than the Valle de la Luna and offers a more intense desert experience: Massive red rock cliffs, deep erosion gorges, and huge sand dunes that are ideal for sandboarding — snowboarding on sand. Several agencies in San Pedro rent sandboards (5,000 CLP) or offer guided sandboarding tours (15,000–20,000 CLP).
Highlights
- Large Sand Dune: The main dune is about 100 meters high — the climb is strenuous (30 min in soft sand), but the descent on the sandboard is a rush
- Red Rock Cliffs: The erosion formations in deep red and orange are most photogenic in the afternoon light
- Total Silence: Away from the tourist groups, there is a silence that is almost physically palpable — no wind, no animal, no sound
💡 Tipp
Combine Valle de la Muerte in the morning (sandboarding in the morning coolness) with Valle de la Luna in the afternoon (sunset). Both valleys are adjacent and can be reached by bicycle. Sunscreen SPF 50+ is absolutely essential — the reflection from the sand greatly amplifies the UV radiation.