---
title: "Valle de la Luna Entrance Fee and Opening Hours"
date: 2026-10-08
canonical: https://tours-atacama.com/valle-de-la-luna-tours/valle-de-la-luna-entrance-fee-hours/
---
The **valle de la luna entrance fee** is a separate line item from whatever a tour operator charges for transportation and guiding, and mixing the two up is the single most common source of confusion I see when people plan this visit. The park entrance fee itself is set and collected by CONAF, Chile's forestry service, which manages the Los Flamencos National Reserve that Valle de la Luna sits inside.

I will break down what that fee generally covers, how opening hours work, and exactly what a booked tour saves you compared to showing up and paying at the gate yourself. Because fees and hours are adjusted periodically by the park authority, I am deliberately avoiding pinning an exact figure here, and I would always confirm the current number directly before you travel.

## How Much Is the Valle de la Luna Entrance Fee?

The fee is set independently by CONAF and adjusted periodically, so any specific number you read anywhere, including on this site, should be treated as a snapshot rather than a guarantee. As of my last check, a standard guided sunset tour from San Pedro de Atacama runs from around EUR 70 per person for transportation and a guide, with the entrance fee itself either bundled into that price or charged separately depending on your booking date.

My honest advice: confirm the current fee directly with CONAF or your tour operator before you travel, since prices here genuinely do shift and I would rather send you to the current source than quote a number that may already be out of date by the time you read this.

## What Are the Official Opening Hours?

The park runs on set daily hours managed by CONAF, typically open through the daytime and into the early evening to accommodate sunset visits, though exact opening and closing times may vary by season. I would not assume last year's hours still apply exactly, since reserve management occasionally adjusts the schedule.

My honest take: if you are visiting independently rather than on a booked tour, check the current hours directly with CONAF before you drive out, especially if you are timing your own visit around sunset. A booked tour removes this guesswork entirely, since the operator already builds the pickup time around current park hours.

## Is There a Daily Visitor Cap?

Protected reserves like this one commonly manage visitor numbers to limit wear on sensitive formations, and Valle de la Luna is no exception. I do not have a current, verified cap figure to quote confidently, so I would not repeat a specific number here that might already be outdated.

I would treat this as one more reason to book in advance during busier travel seasons rather than assume you can simply show up and get in. A guided tour operator generally handles this logistics layer for you as part of the booking.

## What Does a Booked Tour Include That Independent Entry Doesn't?

A guided tour typically bundles round trip transportation and a bilingual guide alongside entry, and depending on your booking date, the entrance fee itself may be included in that price rather than paid separately at the gate. Independent entry means you handle your own transportation, your own timing against opening hours, and the entrance fee out of pocket regardless of when you book.

My honest read: the value of a guide here goes well beyond convenience. Someone who knows which pull offs fill up early and exactly how the light moves across the formations is worth more at this specific site than at almost any other Atacama excursion, since so much of the appeal depends on timing you can not easily reproduce on your own first visit.

## Should You Pay at the Gate or Book a Tour With It Included?

If a tour already includes the entrance fee in its price, that is usually the simpler and often cheaper overall option once you account for arranging your own transport independently. If you are comparing two similarly priced tours, I would always check which one actually bundles the fee rather than assuming price alone tells the full story.

I would read the fine print on your specific booking confirmation rather than guess. My [full Valle de la Luna overview](/valle-de-la-luna-tours/) compares tour formats side by side if you are still deciding which one to book in the first place.

## Does the Fee Differ for the Sunset Tour?

No, the entrance fee itself is the same regardless of which tour format brings you into the park. What differs is whether your specific sunset tour booking happens to bundle that fee into its price or leaves it as a separate charge, which comes down to the operator and the date you book rather than the time of day you visit.

My [sunset tour guide](/valle-de-la-luna-tours/valle-de-la-luna-sunset-guide/) covers what else that specific format includes beyond the entrance question if you are leaning toward the evening version.

![Simple infographic comparing a tour ticket icon bundling transport, guide and entrance fee against a separate entrance gate ticket icon, flat design, generic labels only, valle de la luna entrance fee comparison](/images/blog/san-pedro-de-atacama-valle-de-la-luna-entrance-fee-hours-2.webp)

## Can You Visit on an E-Bike Tour Instead?

Yes, and the same entrance fee rules apply regardless of whether you arrive by van or by bike. The fee itself has nothing to do with how you get around once you are inside the park, only with the park authority's own entry rules.

My [cycling guide](/valle-de-la-luna-tours/cycling-valle-de-la-luna-guide/) covers what that version involves if the physical side of an e-bike tour appeals to you more than a standard van visit.

## Is the Fee the Same for the Valle de la Luna in Bolivia?

No. A separate, unrelated site near La Paz, Bolivia also carries this name, and it runs under entirely different management with its own separate fee structure. The entrance fee discussed on this page applies only to the Chilean site outside San Pedro de Atacama.

My [full breakdown of every Valle de la Luna](/valle-de-la-luna-tours/valle-de-la-luna-bolivia-vs-chile/) sorts out which site is which if you are not sure which one your search results are actually describing.

## Where Can You See the Best of the Valley for Your Money?

Whichever format you choose, I think the Tres Marías and Mirador de Kari deliver the most for the time and fee you pay, since both are included on every standard tour format without needing a premium add on. Spending your visit chasing lesser known corners of the park without a guide is a good way to miss the stops that actually justify the trip.

My [photo spot guide](/valle-de-la-luna-tours/valle-de-la-luna-photography-viewpoints/) breaks down exactly which viewpoint rewards the time you spend there, if getting the most out of your entrance fee matters to you.

## My Honest Recommendation

Confirm the current entrance fee and opening hours directly with CONAF or your tour operator before you travel, since both are adjusted periodically and I would rather you check the live number than trust a fixed figure from any article, including this one. Check your specific booking confirmation to see whether the fee is already bundled in, and if it is not, budget for it separately at the gate. For the official current rules, [CONAF](https://www.conaf.cl), Chile's forestry service, is the source to check directly. For everything else this site compares, [every San Pedro de Atacama tour](/) is worth a look before you finalize your trip.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the entrance fee always included in a Valle de la Luna tour?**
Not always. It depends on your operator and booking date, so check your specific confirmation rather than assuming either way.

**Do opening hours change by season?**
They may. CONAF manages the schedule and adjusts it periodically, so I would confirm current hours before an independent visit rather than relying on an old figure.

**Can I pay the entrance fee with a card at the gate?**
Payment methods at the gate can vary, so I would bring cash as a backup regardless of what you read about card acceptance, just in case.

**Is the fee different for kids?**
Many reserves in Chile offer reduced rates for children, though I would confirm the current policy directly with CONAF rather than assume a specific discount applies.

**Does the fee cover re-entry on the same day?**
I would not assume so. Most reserve entry tickets are built around a single visit, so check your specific ticket's terms before planning to leave and come back.