Ruta del desierto - Valle de la muerte - San Pedro de Atacama
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 13.11 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,089 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,089 ft
- Max elevation
- 8,768 ft
- TrailRank
-
77
5
- Min elevation
- 7,979 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 4 hours 16 minutes
- Time
- 6 hours 19 minutes
- Coordinates
- 3608
- Uploaded
- January 14, 2019
- Recorded
- January 2019
near San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta (Chile)
Viewed 6210 times, downloaded 179 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
English (castellano debajo):
The starting point is from San Pedro de Atacama. It's highly recommended to start early in the morning as after it will be quite hot, so if you try to do it after 8:00 am, just take it into account. Obviously, in any way, you must have sunscreen, water and a visor or hat no matter what.
The initial idea was to hike a bit longer and trough the dunes (something similar to this https://www.wikiloc.com/mountain-biking-trails/valle-de-la-muerte-catarpe-san-pedro-de-atacama-5906289), but in the entrance they recommended me not to do it as it was very hot and I could finish too exhausted. Even with that, as I like to do loop trails, they told me that there was a shortcut to take (with no signs) which is going down through a dune.
The final route it's quite flat and affordable except in three moments:
- The ascent to Altos de Quitor: short but very steep
- The rise to the lookout point: no more than 50 meters but very steep
- The descent through the dune: you descent on sand, which is burning; and I did it running.
For the rest of the way just take into account that there will be lots of time walking on sand, which is not very pleasant nor fast.
There is the possibility to see the arquelogical ruins of Pukara de Quitor, which will take you around two hours (CLP$ 3.000 per person for chilineans and CLP$ 5.000 per person for foreigners).
The death valley is one of the most recommended places to try trekking and sandboard and there are also several tours which offer it.
The entrance to the Valley is not free and it costs 3000 chilinean pesos anda there is a restroom on the entrance (but remember, withouth drinkable water).
Castellano:
La salida es desde el centro de San Pedro de Atacama. Es recomendable salir pronto por la mañana ya que luego hará mucho calor, por lo que si sales más tarde de las 8:00 tenlo en cuenta. Obviamente, en todo caso, protección solar, agua y gorro son imprescindibles.
La idea inicial era hacer un circuito un poco más largo a través de las dunas (recorrido parecido a esto: https://www.wikiloc.com/mountain-biking-trails/valle-de-la-muerte-catarpe-san-pedro-de-atacama-5906289), pero en la entrada me recomendaron no hacerlo ya que por el calor podría acabar bastante agotado. Aun así; como me gusta hacer rutas circulares; me dijeron que había un atajo por el que poder ir (no señalizado) que es bajando a través de una duna.
La ruta final que hice es bastante llana y asequible excepto en tres momentos:
- La subida a Altos de Quitor: tramo corto pero muy empinado
- La subida al mirador: son como 50 metros hacia arriba
- La bajada por la duna: bajas por arena; que quema mucho; y yo lo hice corriendo.
Para el resto de la ruta hay que tener en cuenta que mucho rato andarás sobre arena, lo que no es tan rápido ni muy cómodo.
Existe la posibilidad de ver las ruinas arqueológicas de Pukara de Quitor, que te llevará alrededor de 2 horas (CLP$ 3.000 por persona para chilenos y CLP$ 5.000 por persona para extranjeros)
El valle de la muerte es uno de los sitios más recomendables para practicar trekking y sandboard y hay varios tours que lo ofertan.
La entrada cuesta 3000 pesos chilenos y existe un baño en la misma (recuerda, sin agua potable).
The starting point is from San Pedro de Atacama. It's highly recommended to start early in the morning as after it will be quite hot, so if you try to do it after 8:00 am, just take it into account. Obviously, in any way, you must have sunscreen, water and a visor or hat no matter what.
The initial idea was to hike a bit longer and trough the dunes (something similar to this https://www.wikiloc.com/mountain-biking-trails/valle-de-la-muerte-catarpe-san-pedro-de-atacama-5906289), but in the entrance they recommended me not to do it as it was very hot and I could finish too exhausted. Even with that, as I like to do loop trails, they told me that there was a shortcut to take (with no signs) which is going down through a dune.
The final route it's quite flat and affordable except in three moments:
- The ascent to Altos de Quitor: short but very steep
- The rise to the lookout point: no more than 50 meters but very steep
- The descent through the dune: you descent on sand, which is burning; and I did it running.
For the rest of the way just take into account that there will be lots of time walking on sand, which is not very pleasant nor fast.
There is the possibility to see the arquelogical ruins of Pukara de Quitor, which will take you around two hours (CLP$ 3.000 per person for chilineans and CLP$ 5.000 per person for foreigners).
The death valley is one of the most recommended places to try trekking and sandboard and there are also several tours which offer it.
The entrance to the Valley is not free and it costs 3000 chilinean pesos anda there is a restroom on the entrance (but remember, withouth drinkable water).
Castellano:
La salida es desde el centro de San Pedro de Atacama. Es recomendable salir pronto por la mañana ya que luego hará mucho calor, por lo que si sales más tarde de las 8:00 tenlo en cuenta. Obviamente, en todo caso, protección solar, agua y gorro son imprescindibles.
La idea inicial era hacer un circuito un poco más largo a través de las dunas (recorrido parecido a esto: https://www.wikiloc.com/mountain-biking-trails/valle-de-la-muerte-catarpe-san-pedro-de-atacama-5906289), pero en la entrada me recomendaron no hacerlo ya que por el calor podría acabar bastante agotado. Aun así; como me gusta hacer rutas circulares; me dijeron que había un atajo por el que poder ir (no señalizado) que es bajando a través de una duna.
La ruta final que hice es bastante llana y asequible excepto en tres momentos:
- La subida a Altos de Quitor: tramo corto pero muy empinado
- La subida al mirador: son como 50 metros hacia arriba
- La bajada por la duna: bajas por arena; que quema mucho; y yo lo hice corriendo.
Para el resto de la ruta hay que tener en cuenta que mucho rato andarás sobre arena, lo que no es tan rápido ni muy cómodo.
Existe la posibilidad de ver las ruinas arqueológicas de Pukara de Quitor, que te llevará alrededor de 2 horas (CLP$ 3.000 por persona para chilenos y CLP$ 5.000 por persona para extranjeros)
El valle de la muerte es uno de los sitios más recomendables para practicar trekking y sandboard y hay varios tours que lo ofertan.
La entrada cuesta 3000 pesos chilenos y existe un baño en la misma (recuerda, sin agua potable).
Waypoints
Photo
Intersection
8,583 ft
Intersection
Comments (1)
You can add a comment or review this trail
I have followed this trail View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Great one!