By bike through the Muerte valley
Through the dead landscape
Cycling around San Pedro de Atacama II: To the west of the relatively lively valley of the San Pedro River, there is another interesting area full of thousands of differently colored rounded ridges – Valle de Muerto (Death Valley). It is actually a 3km wide and 7km long area sandwiched between the plateau desert. The second stage of a full-day cycling trip around San Pedro de Atacama leads through this area.
In the valley of the river San Pedro
The passage through the Death Valley follows the previous drive to the Garganta del Diablo, from where you have to return less than a kilometer to the turnoff leading through the red ridges. If you do not want to visit Garganta del Diablo, it is about 5 km from the turnoff from San Pedro de Atacama. The valley of the river San Pedro itself, which you will ride in any variant, is very picturesque.
Exit to the saddle
A dirt road full of potholes slowly rises from the valley of the San Pedro river. You can still enjoy the bizarre formations around you. However, altitude can be a problem for some if they are not acclimatized, for example from neighboring Bolivia. Not that you would be at risk of altitude sickness at about 2,500 m above sea level, but on a bike uphill you may be quite short of breath.
Amazing panorama of San Pedro area
The effort of climbing the valley is rewarded with an amazing view of this bizarre landscape. Famous Altiplalan volcanoes such as Licancabur, Sairecabur and many others can be seen on the horizon.
Tunnel to the Valley of Death
The road culminates at about 2,600 m above sea level in a two hundred meter long tunnel. There is a huge fallen stone in the middle of it, so it is impassable for cars and it will not add to your feeling of safety.
View of the Death Valley
After passing through the tunnel, you will have a view of a truly desolate, lifeless landscape. Typical badland, with a typical name.
The desolate landscape of the Death Valley
Despite the complete abandonment and aridity, this landscape also has its great charm.
Road between desolate ridges
After you descend into the main valley, you will have a few kilometers drive between the smooth ridges.
The end of Death Valley
Just before the end of the journey through the Death Valley, you will come to a ridge on which there are sand dunes and strange rock formations.
Across the dunes to the ridge
Here it pays to get off the bike and try to climb the dunes to the ridge somewhere.
Amazing view of Death Valley
From the sand dunes is the most beautiful view of the Death Valley, looking from here like a sea of ridges. Licancabur is still on the horizon.
Solitaire
Before climbing the plain, where the least interesting part of this great sightseeing trip around San Pedro de Atacama awaits you, enjoy the lonely huge boulders that have rolled here from the rock ridge.
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