Rainbow Valley Tour from San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Rating: 
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 4 hours
Visit the Rainbow Valley and its surrounding attractions on this morning tour from San Pedro de Atacama. With a local guide, you’ll head to the Domeyko Mountains, where mineral-rich rocks of various colors give the striking Rainbow Valley its name. Then admire ancient petroglyphs at Hierbas Buenas, and explore the tiny village of Rio Grande, where you can browse handicraft stalls and snap photos of its unique architecture. Hotel transport is included.
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Visit the Rainbow Valley and its surrounding attractions on this morning tour from San Pedro de Atacama. With a local guide, you’ll head to the Domeyko Mountains, where mineral-rich rocks of various colors give the striking Rainbow Valley its name. Then admire ancient petroglyphs at Hierbas Buenas, and explore the tiny village of Rio Grande, where you can browse handicraft stalls and snap photos of its unique architecture. Hotel transport is included.
Your half-day tour starts with hotel pickup by van for the 1-hour drive from San Pedro de Atacama to the Domeyko Mountains (Cordillera Domeyko), part of the Andes. This is where you’ll find the Rainbow Valley, named for the multicolored rocks that get their various hues — from white to red to black — from the mountains’ mineral makeup.
Hop out of the van and spend about an hour here with your guide, wandering around the valley and admiring the ‘rainbow’ of colors — a great photo opportunity! Then return to the van and head to Hierbas Buenas, the site of pre-Columbian ruins famous for its petroglyphs. Take a 25-minute walk with your guide to see and learn about these messages and drawings — including animals like llamas and flamingos — carved into the volcanic rock by the ancient native inhabitants.
Continue your tour to your last stop, the village of Rio Grande, named for the river that borders it. Home to less than 100 residents, the village is known for its agriculture and handicrafts. Learn a bit about its history from your guide, and then walk around to see its distinctive architecture, characterized by stone and mud walls, thatch roofs and beams made of cactus and carob tree wood.
After the return drive to San Pedro de Atacama, your tour ends with hotel drop-off.
Hop out of the van and spend about an hour here with your guide, wandering around the valley and admiring the ‘rainbow’ of colors — a great photo opportunity! Then return to the van and head to Hierbas Buenas, the site of pre-Columbian ruins famous for its petroglyphs. Take a 25-minute walk with your guide to see and learn about these messages and drawings — including animals like llamas and flamingos — carved into the volcanic rock by the ancient native inhabitants.
Continue your tour to your last stop, the village of Rio Grande, named for the river that borders it. Home to less than 100 residents, the village is known for its agriculture and handicrafts. Learn a bit about its history from your guide, and then walk around to see its distinctive architecture, characterized by stone and mud walls, thatch roofs and beams made of cactus and carob tree wood.
After the return drive to San Pedro de Atacama, your tour ends with hotel drop-off.
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