Catarpe – Valle de la Muerte

First, a bus will take you from San Pedro to the Catarpe Valley, where the hike begins by following an old trade route for nitrate. The track leads uphill, until it reaches a tunnel cut out of the rock that once housed supplies for the local mines. Beyond the tunnel, the route follows a mountain ridge from which there are beautiful views onto the green Catarpe Valley – a fascinating contrast to the surrounding desert landscape. The route continues onto a large sand dune located above the Valley of Death (Valle de la Muerte), which can either be descended at a leisurely pace, or – much more fun – you can run or slide down the dune at full pelt. Afterwards, the hike continues through the unique landscape of dunes and rocks making up the Valley of Death. Those with sufficient energy can continue onwards, to the ruined Pukará de Quitor fortress.

Good trekking boots are recommended for this excursion.

This tour offers the option of minibus transport as far as the tunnel, which cuts the duration of the hike by one hour.