Chile 2016

Friday18November

Early wake-up today. We're heading with our car to see the El Tatio geysers, located an hour and a half drive from San Pedro. It's recommended to come early to best enjoy the water jets, which are more impressive at sunrise because the thermal difference between the water and the air is greater. And indeed, the air is not warm as we are not far from zero degrees; there's even ice in some places. Yes, the site is located on the altiplano at over 4200 meters of altitude. We even reached 4500 meters to get here!

It's already light and we're already wandering among the many geysers, each expressing itself in its own way.

You have to look everywhere to not miss the different biochemical manifestations produced by the geysers. Here, geyserite spheres, formed by the discontinuous deposition of silica contained in the water.

The rust color given by certain microorganisms...

Detail of the small "rusty" terraces or covered with geyserite.

The water reservoirs located deep beneath our feet emerge here through narrow conduits from which pressurized water at 80 degrees is discharged.

Andean gulls (Chroicocephalus serranus) not shy at all, mingling with tourists without a problem.

Minerals accumulate in terraces and veins form according to the microorganisms...

Oh yes, don't forget your gloves and hat to enjoy El Tatio!

The Sun, now well established up high and clear of any clouds, can illuminate the fumaroles.

My feet carried by microorganisms! Or at least by their mineral creations...

Here's our friend again, an Andean gull by nature, coming to tease my camera...

On the side, a pool has been set up to receive the hot waters of a geyser, allowing brave tourists to come and swim a few laps...

There are a lot of people, we'll come back when the buses have left the area!

We arrive at a beautiful bubbling geyser...

Panel translation: "The geysers are located in the high Andes mountain range, 129 km east of Calama and 98 km north of San Pedro de Atacama. At an altitude of 4320 meters above sea level, near the border with Bolivia. These are the highest geysers in the world".

Here are some microorganisms more creative than others...

Most visitors have left, having come in organized groups. So we are now just a handful of future bathers who will enjoy Mother Nature's hot waters... Hot waters??? Not at all! While the water filling the pool is around 80 degrees, the air around us is closer to 5 degrees, cooling down our little pool's water at the same time! So you have to stay close to the water flowing from the geyser but without getting too close to avoid burns... In short, suffice to say it was just about taking a "geyser bath" at 4320 meters; we won't often have the opportunity!    

Last panoramic view before hitting the road again and returning to San Pedro de Atacama.

On Route B245, we cross superb vast expanses, always above 4000 meters of altitude...

And at these high altitudes, there's one who doesn't make a difference: the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), a wild camelid well adapted to the high Andean plateaus.

We pass through the village of Machuca where we encounter the "domestic" version of the vicuña: the alpaca (Vicugna pacos), also accustomed to high altitudes.

"Alpaca wool is a very high-end fiber, softer, warmer, more resistant, and lighter than sheep's wool. It can be shorn annually, but its fleece can be kept for two or even three years. It is thus internationally recognized as one of the finest and most luxurious fibers in the world." © Wikipedia

In the streets of San Pedro, where 30 kilometers away, the Licancabur volcano remains sound asleep. Its last eruption dates back at least 10,000 years.