Excursion Enchanted valley petroglyphs tour at Coquimbo

Discover the Limarí Valley, which takes its name from the river which runs through it. This destination is a rich archaeological area with highlights including a petrified forest at the Pichasca National Monument, and the Enchanted Valley, located 19 kilometers southwest of Ovalle.

Drive 90 scenic minutes through Coquimbo before heading inland toward Ovalle. Heading inland from the coast, the scenery takes on a noticeably greener hue as lush, rolling valleys replace the arid coastal landscape. Reach the Enchanted Valley, where excavations have shown that groups of hunter-gatherers have inhabited this area for almost 4,000 years. The place now stands as an open-air museum and a site of great scientific and cultural interest. The main attractions here are the many examples of pictographs and petroglyphs across the hillsides, providing a reminder of times when the Indians of the El Molle Culture inhabited this valley of gargantuan boulders and murmuring streams.

This region is also of important agricultural significance as together with the Elqui and Choapa valleys it represents rich fertile transversal valleys running across the coastal mountains of semi-arid desert scrubland. A rich tapestry of crops covers the valley, especially the green carpets of grapes grown in impressive vineyards both for the early table grapes for export and for wine.

Return to the pier (90-minute drive).

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Limar