Atacama Desert Bike Tour: Moon Valley Ride Review

So, if you’re like me, that is you crave something seriously out of the ordinary, you are maybe pondering trading that everyday grind for an adventure. And honestly, there are not many spots that stack up to the Atacama Desert, way up in Chile. It is almost like stepping onto another planet, I am talking about views that honestly, pictures really can’t capture, but you probably knew that anyway. A very cool way to see it, honestly, is on two wheels. Let me tell you all about my experiences pedaling through the Moon Valley—which I can tell you is a top spot. I hope you discover if this tour is right up your alley and maybe get tips to make your own adventure absolutely unforgettable.

Why Bike the Atacama Desert?

Okay, so the Atacama Desert might be known to be a supremely dry place on earth, yet it’s overflowing with landscapes that I can tell you, simply stun. You have these massive sand dunes, then bizarre rock formations, not to mention canyons that look like they were crafted very delicately by an artist. In a way, hopping on a bike gets you close, personally to all this wild glory compared to, say, seeing it from a tour bus window, as you can agree. The air? Almost clear. The quiet? Seriously unreal. And honestly, getting a bit of exercise in while soaking it all in? That’s a serious win-win, if you ask me.

Plus, you get to feel like quite a little explorer. Many tour operators actually map out rides to take you off the typical tourist trail and that takes you down paths you probably wouldn’t hit if you are tooling around solo. That said, doing the Atacama by bike is a responsible way to travel, that helps keeps your footprint a little lighter in an incredible environment.

Choosing Your Atacama Bike Tour

So, when choosing your tour operator, it is probably worth taking a look at a few points. To start, think about the experience level. So are you very fit and basically eat mountains for breakfast, or would you rather a cruise that doesn’t make your lungs feel like they are going to quit on you? Moon Valley tours tend to fall on the easier side. Then, think about what you’re very keen to get from the trip. And is that scenery, the history, or burning a crazy amount of calories?

Very cool operators like Cosmo Andino and Atacama Magic mostly are packing different focuses. Also, keep a close eye on what is specifically included in your tour price. Is it literally just the bike and a guide, or are they slinging in things like snacks, water, or even transport from your lodging? Top notch companies ought to include a quality bike fitting plus that handy safety equipment.

Bike and Gear Quality

Okay so this is important. Take a super close look at the kind of bikes a tour dishes out, it’s really critical for your comfort and overall safety. So a good tour ought to boast bikes that can deal with the rocky, occasionally sandy environment without feeling like a clown is riding them. Honestly, you will want something robust and really easy to handle.

Make really sure that the operator can fit you with a bicycle in the exact right size. After all a bike that’s too huge, or really small, can absolutely ruin what you should get to enjoy. Also look to see if your rental gives you extras like a helmet (honestly, a very obvious must-have) gloves to prevent your hands feeling terribly raw and maybe sunglasses. It’s simple to just bring those things along.

The Guide Makes a Difference

Basically, a brilliant guide doesn’t just make certain you’re headed in the best route. But you’re gonna want a guide that basically changes the tour into something extraordinary. Honestly, they’re basically treasure chests jam packed with knowledge. Your guide needs to chat very easily about the area, maybe share tales of the local culture.

I can tell you that the fantastic ones I’ve met do not shy away from telling me all about local plants, odd rock formations and the geological history. A pretty outstanding guide ought to basically be pretty well trained in first aid and also that crucial bike repair skill. It is seriously a comfort zone boost when you have got somebody around that just knows what they are up to. As a matter of fact ask your potential tour company directly what type of training they give their guides. You never know when it is actually going to come into use.

My Moon Valley Bike Experience

Okay, I’m going to go through what a bike trip is honestly likely to be like as I pedal around the Moon Valley. Almost, it starts with meeting up with your group typically sometime in the afternoon. Basically, Moon Valley shines its very greatest just before dark. That golden light starts to seriously shift landscapes to something simply unreal. After getting the bicycle set up and a concise run through about safety, you basically begin.

What you notice right away is, that it’s just breathtaking, what you might expect. It isn’t really called Moon Valley for nothing: that scenery is incredibly wild. So the path does weave past gigantic dunes, and dips down into dried up riverbeds. Every pedal offers really unique spots, that seriously ask for a photograph. As a matter of fact at particular points, the guide can pause to offer little snippets. Maybe like why a formation appears the direction it appears, or also a quick overview about the local fauna.

As your excursion hits closer and closer to twilight, so the valley actually changes into this kaleidoscope with reds, oranges and purples. You end up halting at prime lookout positions to grab photos, just soak this all in. What a fantastic tour wraps up by getting you back to San Pedro as dusk basically turns towards full darkness, your mind basically humming with images from the tour.

What to Bring on Your Ride

Basically to take the Moon Valley ride I took to actually succeed, some stuff just needs to be with you, for instance. Really first, hydration—bring heaps of H2O, maybe 3 liters very minimum. After all that dry desert actually will suck moisture out of you, without you so much as noticing, I promise you. Use sunscreen to prevent the nasty burning that results from the sun glaring down without any clouds basically in view, mostly a must.

After the sunlight dives downward it then does cool a bunch in the Atacama, so also bring a sweater, or any additional jacket. Bring that phone plus your camera and it’s maybe worth getting a portable battery. Also get a hold of small snacks, similar to energy bars. You may want that sugar fix during the middle of those trips. A tiny rucksack definitely comes in super handy so you are able to stow these must bring objects plus whatever you gain during the afternoon.

Is a Bike Tour Right for You?

Bike trips around Moon Valley mostly are ideal if you enjoy a hint of activity. But mostly those that take pleasure from nature’s spectacular scenes find themselves deeply touched from those kinds of excursions. Therefore when that description matches you it is highly probable you are going to basically take pleasure in the Moon Valley experience from a bicycle. The tour is basically manageable with cycling, just given to be cautious.

Those trips commonly don’t pose a tough strain; therefore anybody, almost who’s okay at average fitness has mostly got to find those excursions pleasant. It mostly serves as a special technique just to engage, mostly with nature for those basically with small ones too! And also guides, will just watch out mostly for their well being and also make certain any member can proceed according just to their own speed. Don’t consider those excursions whether mostly with little tolerance mostly for sandy, or dust-laden trails! Even though companies mostly make certain your bikes tend to be fit with you and tend to be well kept some soreness tends to become evident given an entire day driving them mostly upon rough areas.

Other Activities in the Atacama Desert

What’s really rad concerning this Atacama mostly has mostly got to relate, at how different the experiences mostly are in a place which mostly might appear barren to be truthful; yet that has this magic! One really obvious stop: Tatio Geysers at daybreak. Yeah, yeah I can admit it involves actually waking earlier than seems, truly civilized yet I believe in fact they may, potentially tend, probably happen, clearly as the finest vista any place near the place; basically with jets involving vapor gushing upward towards heaven.

Additionally, one really shouldn’t fail mainly to inspect the Salt Flat, they often offer this unique texture, basically together with flamingo lagoons as the scenery! And what could potentially top up this travel schedule beyond any doubts remains as a nighttime gazing adventure basically inside any dark remote patch because its skies here mostly are known for that. Moon Valley cycling mostly serves just like basically an unforgettable occasion and only forms mostly a tiny fraction involving that bucket list! The Atacama mostly does hold something only really, everyone.

Stargazing Tours

So when the sun slips away in the Atacama, well a whole other planet comes awake literally above your head. And because the desert holds claim to some of the absolute darkest, cleanest skies globally it makes it really ideal, in every way for anyone into astronomy.

Stargazing excursions here range almost from very casual tours through to some literally high tech expeditions working seriously cool telescopes, and experts in astrophysics that help clarify cosmic phenomena. Some basically let you do pretty slick astro-photography or even permit use of very high end astronomy tools. Doesn’t matter if a seasoned astronomy ace, and even complete beginner— the Atacama nighttime environment is extremely something totally unique that most probably should not fail at it anyway.

Sandboarding

Did that seem right saying biking through sands in that desert, mainly got you mostly interested so one could maybe boost, that thrill seeking to become that subsequent standard. Check the place where to actually learn to, mostly navigate in some sands, on basically any wooden plank! So locations similar mostly to Death Vale have this basically very significant high sandbank; those offer extremely heart jolting plunging from really pretty big inclines!

So for many who basically did ride sand-ski, never previously before do note this skill basically comes across reasonably without problems and has got that special sensation associated; in a way almost like floating! So while you’re simply basically beginning hire oneself an authorized guide! Mostly they can share tips on safety besides guaranteeing every visitor maximizes amusement while not putting at actual, actual menace during any escapade.

Lagunas Altiplánicas

So mainly should anyone actually crave some gorgeous photography scenes, then schedule oneself a trip somewhere nearby in these Laguna Altiplanicas region. A scenic twin sea just like, for sure, Miscanti furthermore Meñiques mostly sit cozily nestled near toward high points belonging inside those Andes with, with waters; whose blue skies appear only therefore vivid opposite; a setting composed toward rough terrain with very sparse plant life just tends towards deliver amazing graphics.

While heading in the location one basically might discover an excess that relates towards plant together together together mainly including vizcachas, possibly perhaps Andean fox, mostly also diverse kind belonging, with bird life; for a travel is probably really visually enriching plus creates truly, honestly gorgeous graphics during.