Valle Arcoiris
Valle Arcoiris
4.5
Admission tickets
from
£30.66
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4.5
903 reviews
Excellent
587
Very good
212
Average
90
Poor
11
Terrible
3
George
8 contributions
Jan 2020
Another place if you love geology you must to visit. Here we can find different kind of minerals and the visible stratification and action of the faults makes this place a "geologist holy grail". Fortunatly as I did private tours, we did this visit after lunch when the area was completly empty and I spent several hours walking and taking photos of this geo wonder.
Written 15 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ali921
Edinburgh, UK1,487 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
It should be on everyone's list of places to visit when in the Atacama. Come early morning because there is little shade. The colours against the blue sky are stunning. You are not allowed to climb them (unlike Peru) for two reasons: belong to the indigenous folk; it avoids damage to the fragile natural environment. Well done Chile
Written 24 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judith G
Aberdeen, UK117 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
We went with Flamingo tours and were collected from our hotel. The bus was full so we had to squeeze into two seats right at the back of the bus. It was a very tight space and not a very comfortable journey to get there. The guide was good explaining everything in Spanish English and French. First stop on a trip was to the rainbow valley. The guide walked us around the site and explained all of the geology which was very interesting. We then were given breakfast at the side of the van. We were then taken to see the petroglyphs. We had to pay an entrance fee for here. There were very basic toilets there but no running water to wash hands. There were drawings of animals like llamas, flamingoes and foxes. Headed back to San Pedro and were dropped off in town so we could walk back to our hotel around 130 pm. It’s really sandy and dusty there as is everywhere in San Pedro.
Written 23 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
felixmeee
Calgary, Canada4 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
We went to San Pedro de Atacama in early March 2017 and spent 6-7 days visiting the main attractions. The Valle de Arco Iris was the best of all. They are incredible mountains, with amazing formations and incredible combination of colours (more colours than the rainbow, actually). The tour is good for 1/2 day to a full day. It is usually combined with the petroglyphs.
We rented a car right in San Pedro (booking in advance recommended). The drive was easy, although in some areas the road is rough. The car worked, but an SUV would be a better choice. Being on our own gave us the freedom to do whatever we wanted and was actually cheaper than the tours (for 2 people). If you rent a car in San Pedro (only one agency available), you can return the car in Calama (because most if not all the cars are based there), saving the transportation from San Pedro to the airport. They tried to charge me for a drop off in a different place, but when I asked them why the charge if I was doing them the favour of taking the car back to Calama, they dropped the charge.
We rented a car right in San Pedro (booking in advance recommended). The drive was easy, although in some areas the road is rough. The car worked, but an SUV would be a better choice. Being on our own gave us the freedom to do whatever we wanted and was actually cheaper than the tours (for 2 people). If you rent a car in San Pedro (only one agency available), you can return the car in Calama (because most if not all the cars are based there), saving the transportation from San Pedro to the airport. They tried to charge me for a drop off in a different place, but when I asked them why the charge if I was doing them the favour of taking the car back to Calama, they dropped the charge.
Written 24 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LondonHi
London, UK53 contributions
Feb 2020
you can go with your 4X4, honestly you don't need a guide or a tour bus to go there. This place is magic, like if you just landed on red planet.
Written 25 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mamiya7
Sycamore, IL271 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This was a not a very long stop for us, but we did see some interesting petroglyphs that we had not seen before. They revolve around animals. The interesting thing is that you can see how they evolved from earlier crude animal shapes to more refined ones. There is an interesting fox or dog-like one and many in the llama or guanaco family. There is a welcome bathroom stop here.
Written 2 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OzJ0hn
Miners Rest, Australia19 contributions
Oct 2018 • Solo
Group tour with Desert Adventure. I enjoyed the journey to Rainbow valley more than the valley itself. You can see some great wildlife on the way. Problem was the bus we were in. 4 rows with 3 seats in each. No aisle, just a very narrow gap to right of seats. Miserable experience getting in and out at various stops. Unsafe too. No way rows 3 and 4 could get out easily if there was a problem. Whole group utterly fed up by end of tour. TripAdvisor won’t let me post this under Desert Adventure because I’ve just posted a review for another tour with them (gave it 5 stars). Didn’t want to review the 2 tours together, because the experiences were too different. If you’re going on any tour with any company in San Pedro, ask how the seating is set out in your bus.
Written 21 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeaDaluz
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile42 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
I hesitate to tell you how beautiful this place is, because it is not at all yet protected in any way. When you visit, please leave it as you found it and refrain from taking any more rocks away! The variety and contrast of colors in the rocks and formations (leading into) this spectacular valley are surprising. After visiting tens of times with different geologists I learn more every time - this place is unique in the world! Not only its beauty is striking because of the constrasting colors and crazy shapes, but the fact that here there are ancient rocks formed deep inside the earth that we usually never even see on the earth´s surface, plutonic and hypabyssal beauties, makes it even more fascinating. Despite the fact that you will find extremely few guides who actually really DO understand its formation and provenance, it is a fabulous quiet and awe inspiring tour. An hour and a half drive from Sn Pedro. Combines easily with a wealth of other less visited sites (Rio Grande, Yerbas Buenas, Matancilla).
Most tours will also take you for a quick stop at the Yerbas Buenas petroglyphs (ancient graffiti on ignimbrite blobs) in a huge landscape between deep canyons. Then you will drive into the Matancilla valley, soothing green and water trickling through a beautiful valley. I recommend taking your time in the ArcoIris valleys, rather than jamming in the petropglyphs, which really deserve your full attention on another separate excursion if you have the time (and a really good guide to give you teh low-down), Absolutely worth while.
Remember, please help us keep it intact !
Most tours will also take you for a quick stop at the Yerbas Buenas petroglyphs (ancient graffiti on ignimbrite blobs) in a huge landscape between deep canyons. Then you will drive into the Matancilla valley, soothing green and water trickling through a beautiful valley. I recommend taking your time in the ArcoIris valleys, rather than jamming in the petropglyphs, which really deserve your full attention on another separate excursion if you have the time (and a really good guide to give you teh low-down), Absolutely worth while.
Remember, please help us keep it intact !
Written 17 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScottW007
New York City, NY247 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
The sights were just stunning. Multiple colors are visible in the rocks and hills--including green, white, purple, orange, and pink. It is somewhat similar to Zion National Park in Utah, but Valle del Arcoiris is even better.
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobSt23
Sydney, Australia618 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
Rainbow Valley is a rough road out of Calama in Chile’s Atacama Desert. It is a scenic road, with interesting plants and local llamas to see. The actual valley has a small entrance fee.
Rainbow Valley is best seen by going with a guide in a suitable 4-wheel drive vehicle, though it is possible to get there self-driving. I went with Altiplano, and they come highly recommended.
The walls of this valley glisten in the sunlight thanks to the abundant gypsum deposits. The varying colours are not quite rainbow but there are hues of red, white and green. The rock formations are worth the visit.
Rainbow Valley doesn’t have the same status as the nearby Moon Valley but is more condensed and more colourful and only takes a few hours to visit. It should be on your list of places to go when in the Atacama area.
Check out my other reviews of places, hotels and experiences throughout South America.
Rainbow Valley is best seen by going with a guide in a suitable 4-wheel drive vehicle, though it is possible to get there self-driving. I went with Altiplano, and they come highly recommended.
The walls of this valley glisten in the sunlight thanks to the abundant gypsum deposits. The varying colours are not quite rainbow but there are hues of red, white and green. The rock formations are worth the visit.
Rainbow Valley doesn’t have the same status as the nearby Moon Valley but is more condensed and more colourful and only takes a few hours to visit. It should be on your list of places to go when in the Atacama area.
Check out my other reviews of places, hotels and experiences throughout South America.
Written 1 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola buenas tardes en San Pedro de Atacama hay locomotora o buses interurbanos para ir a las playas como bahía inglesa o playa de la virgen y cuanto demora el traslado.
Me ayudan porfavor.
Written 17 January 2021
Si vous cherchez une agence hors des sentiers battus avec de la rando pour y arriver je vous conseille vivement Norte Grande outdor. Si vous voulez une visite plus traditionnelle vous pouvez aller chez Atacama Connection ou Latchir Expedidiones
Written 27 December 2018
Hola! consulta, es un tour que se pueda hacer el segundo día en la mañana de estar en San Pedro? hay harto que caminar? uno se puede apunar? es suficiente tiempo menos de 24 horas para aclimatarse? Saludos!
Written 11 October 2018
Si. Es bueno darse el tiempo para observar tanto los petroglifos como las formaciones geológicas. Hay poco resguardo del sol y no requiere caminar tanto.
Written 19 October 2018
We are leaving in 10 days to visit the San Pedro area. Too many great things to do!
We reserved a pick up truck to rent but are not sure what we actually will receive. Is the rainbow Valley a place one can easily get to with a rental car? And if so, how much of it can one see without a pretty decent 4 x 4?
thanks for any assistance?
Written 18 April 2017
getting to the Rainbow valley may take some preplanning with a map. Not sure as I went with a guide, but maybe an hour from San Pedro on the highway to Calama and then a secondary road all the way to the valley. Interesting drive with wild guanacos. The valley is small - get out of the car and walk around. Don't miss going to the petroglyphs nearby.
Bottom line: there's a road to the valley, not just a dirt trail.
Written 18 April 2017
O Vale do arco-íris fica no caminho de quais outros passeios?
Written 10 July 2016
Oi Angela, tudo bem? Esse passeio do Valle do Arco Íris é feito junto com Yerbas Buenas-Petróglifos que é um parque com inscrições rupestres nas rochas e muito legal para conhecimento histórico de Atacama.É um passeio de meio dia mas eu gostei muito, são formoções rochosas bem interessantes, coloridas e bonitas.
Written 24 November 2016
Hola, tengo pensado ir a San Pedro de Atacama en 10 días y visitar el Valle del Arco iris, la consulta que te quiero hacer es si se puede hacer en un auto común? Tengo alquilado un Peugeot 208 no es camioneta ni 4 x 4 desde tu experiencia, pensas que se puede realizar en un auto común?
Sobre todo saber como está el camino, gracias. Saludos.
Written 24 January 2016
Ningún problema. Claro que hay que manejar con precaución después de las lluvias del invierno boliviano...
Written 5 February 2019
Andrea, tengo pensado ir a San Pedro de Atacama en 10 días y visitar el Valle del Arco iris, la consulta que te quiero hacer es si se puede hacer en un auto común? Tengo alquilado un Peugeot 208 no es camioneta ni 4 x 4 desde tu experiencia, pensas que se puede realizar en un auto común?
Sobre todo saber como está el camino, gracias. Saludos.
Written 24 January 2016
Hola. Nosotros hicimos el trayecto en un auto común, no en 4x4. El camino es sencillo (carretera asfaltada) hasta casi el final. Al final el camino es malo (baches, cruzar algún arroyo, animales sueltos), pero manejando con cuidado es posible hacerlo en auto común. Espero que os guste (creo que la luz para este sitio es mejor de mañana o medio día que de tarde)
Written 25 January 2016
Tengo locomoción , taxis o bus que me trasladen desde el hotel hasta San Pedro el pueblo?
Puedo comprar boletos de atracciones locales cuando se arriba al hotel?
Written 16 September 2015
Si hay transfers desde el aeropuerto a San Pedro, también buses desde el terminal de Calama. Y en el centro de San Pedro está lleno de agencias y en algunos hoteles puedes contratar directamente. Hay en algunos lugares que debes pagar entrada a parte porque se encuentran a cargo de comunidades indígenas. Espero que te sirva de ayuda.
Written 17 September 2015
María Teresa quiero ir solo al valle arco iris si me puedes o pueden ayudar como gracias
Written 23 April 2015
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