Bike the Valle de la Luna in the Atacama Desert

There are three plausible ways to explore the Valle de la Luna: bike, car, and tour bus. Biking is the most budget-friendly and arguably the most adventurous way to see the valley. You will also miss the crowds if you time it right. 

The spot indicated here is the entrance office for the park. If you don't have international cell coverage you can download an app like Maps.me. Ask for a map from the park ranger. This will show you all the main features of the park. 

Starting in San Pedro the entire route runs 10.5 miles from town and 10.5 back; a roundtrip of 21 miles to see the whole valley. There are multiple short hikes throughout. I recommend doing all or most of them. If you are in decent shape you can complete the whole trip in under 6 hours without rushing. There are a few hills, but nothing serious. The heat and aridity will make things a little more difficult though. 

In order to maximize time, beat the heat, and miss the tour crowds, try to leave San Pedro as early as possible. Many bike rental shops open around 8am, but if you have a multi-day rental, you could leave even earlier. 

Here are several major stops in order:

• Caverna de Sal (salt cave), very difficult to see if crowded, amazing if not
• Duna Mayor (large sand dune)
• Mirador Achaches (panoramic view of the Cordillera de la Sal)
• Amfiteatro 
• The Salt Mines
• Tres Marias (rock formations)

Most hikes are around a mile or less. There are clearly marked signs for every trailhead. Some are not on this list or the map, but don't be afraid to explore. 

Bring plenty of sunscreen, food, and at least 3 liters of water. I recommend getting (mind numbingly good) ham and cheese croissants from Panaderia Franchutería for a picnic lunch. 

Rent a solid set of wheels and not a janky rust bucket. Shop around until you find a new(ish) looking hardtail and run it through all the gears before committing. 

The entrance fee was 2,500 Chilean Pesos which was under $5 USD as of early 2018. Bring plenty of extra pesos just in case the fee has increased.