Chile 2016

Sunday20November

Last wake-up in San Pedro de Atacama with the terrible dog   of the hotel owners, Hostal Illari.

For this last day, we take advantage of the hotel's services, which organizes excursions to the Salar de Tara. Indeed, it is advisable to go with a guide because some places (in the desert) are not marked at all, and even with a GPS, the risk of getting lost is not impossible.

We start this morning quickly in the high plains of the altiplano and even pass, at one point, 4,840 meters of altitude, so I can say that I have surpassed Mont Blanc by about thirty meters!!!   Then we descend towards the Salar de Pujsa located a little lower at 4500 meters of altitude, with a somewhat glacial wind...

Only one individual, much better equipped than us, peacefully enjoys the place. It is, of course, the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), perfectly adapted to this altitude and climate.

We leave the tracks to cross 'blindly' the desert of sand and stones to this viewpoint where we can take in at a glance all the relief that will take us to the Salar de Tara.

Then we take the van again to reach another elevated point giving us a magnificent panorama of the cliffs and the salty lagoon of Tara.

Tara is undoubtedly the most beautiful landscape the Atacama Desert has offered us, and it's not over yet, we'll be amazed when we approach the lagoon!...  

The 'cathedrals', name given to the rock needles at the end of the cliffs.

My feet on the Atacama pebbles!  

We approach the Tara salt desert, then we continue on foot to make the most of the place...

The Salar de Tara is part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve (of flamingos).

We are now at the foot of the 'cathedrals'.

We walk along the lagoon to reach the small houses where our picnic awaits!

But before eating, we enjoy this magnificent landscape. Between the white of the salt, the blue of the lagoon, the golden color of the fescues, the red of the desert, the blue of the sky, don't throw anything else in, everything is combined to feast your eyes!

A small sand tornado even adds to the scenery to make everything perfect...  

Behind the volcanoes, Argentina is very close, 30 kilometers from us.

The scene is further completed with, on the lake, Andean, James's or Chilean flamingos, too far to tell.

All we needed was some green to harmonize everything. There it is.

A painting in the middle of nature...  

We are in the Los Flamencos Reserve, so what could be more natural than to observe these Andean flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus), a species considered vulnerable because its population is declining.

We get back on the track and pass by the rocky peaks eroded by millions of years.

In its tumble, this rock stopped dead in the middle of its course.  

Another rock. This one on its pedestal. The monk of Pacana...

Return to San Pedro de Atacama, passing a little closer to Licancabur volcano. Inca villages have been found on its slopes. Licancabur means "mountain of the people".

The summit of Licancabur.

As promised, we return to the Valley of the Moon. This is also where we conclude our visit to the Eastern region of the Atacama Desert. We pick up where we left off 2 days ago and enter the "salty" part of the park. Here we are in front of "Las tres marias", an abstract interpretation of these rock formations, where one is supposed to see Christ and three Marys...  

Our last moments with our rental Pick-Up. A makeshift 4x4 in not very good condition, as it was unable to climb the slightest sandy incline......  

At the end of the park, an old salt mine in an apocalyptic atmosphere where everything has frozen in salt crystals...

The chasm leading to the mine.

My feet on ground completely cracked by a layer of salt. Even the car will struggle to move on this mineral surface.

We then go to a viewpoint where we think that yes, the Moon could have the same relief. Simply breathtaking, magnificent!  

In the distance, the Anfiteatro.

And at the very top, hikers at the end of the Duna Mayor...

After feasting our eyes, we leave San Pedro for Calama where we leave our car and spend the night. Tomorrow afternoon, we will take the bus to reach the coast and the city of Antofagasta.

Monday21November

Before leaving the city of Calama, a short walk starting with the small church of Saint John the Baptist.

The usual doll-like Virgin of Latin churches.

Once again, Jean Marie Vianney, known as the Curé of Ars, is present here. This is not the first time we have come across his statue in Chile. And I haven't found a reason for it....

Some paintings.

A stained-glass window depicting the Virgin del Carmen, patron saint of Chile.

Latorre Street and Manuel Rodriguez Park.

And off we go, here we are on the semi-cama bus that will take us for 5 hours to Antofagasta...