Οι καλύτερες οικογενειακές πεζοπορίες στην Αντοφαγάστα

check timetables and prices before traveling. the site is magnificent 😍

The Valley of the Moon area was originally named “Las Salinas” due to the great amount of salt that allowed the development of a small salt mining operation and extraction. One of the mines is the Victoria Mine whose owner was Gabino Aguilar who named the mine after his wife Victoria Vilca. Source: https://valledelaluna.com/en/el-valle-de-la-luna/

It's worth taking a closer look and looking at the salt crystals. If there aren't any loud hordes around, you can really hear the cracking and crackling.

As far as I understand, there are only two of the "Three Marys" left - a tourist hugged the third one and a piece broke off. That's why the path is regulated and you're not allowed to go close to the rock formation.

The Temple of San Pedro was built in 1557, possibly dependent on the Bishopric of Cuzco, but the building that remains today is the result of an extension of the previous temple from the mid-18th century, which in turn underwent partial reconstructions after earthquakes and fires. The Church of San Pedro is the largest of the Atacama churches. It was built on a stone foundation and for its construction mortar, clay plaster with straw and carob, chañar and cactus wood bound with leather strips were used. Built in the shape of a Latin cross with a single nave 41 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, it has two side chapels that give it the shape of a cruise, in addition to a baptistery near the entrance, a sacristy in the rear, a choir and a bell tower made of adobe from 1965, when it was built to replace an older one made of wood. It has all the characteristics of the Andean mestizo style: a compact volume, adobe walls almost a meter wide and a gable roof that ends in continuous eaves. Inside, the main altar has an altarpiece with stucco and painted motifs on the wood, adobe and stone structure in the Baroque style. The Church of San Pedro de Atacama was declared a Historic Monument in 1951. Due to the damage it suffered from the earthquakes that struck the region, important restoration work began in 2014, which included the installation of two ancient paintings of unknown angels. Source: https://www.monumentos.gob.cl/monumentos/monumentos-historicos/iglesia-san-pedro-atacama

All information about San Pedro de Atacama (in English, Spanish, Portuguese) at https://sanpedroatacama.com/

There is a lot going on here, especially in the evenings; in the mornings the street seems deserted. If you are looking for souvenirs or a tour operator, this is the place for you.

Caracoles is the main tourist street in San Pedro. There are primarily souvenir shops, tour providers and restaurants here.