San Pedro de Atacama and the Atacama Desert: the driest desert in the world

Buenos a todos,

This post is a bit late as I have been camping in the desert and therefore obviously had no connection at all.

So after being in Puerto Madryn, I changed my plans again to travel with my funny English friends I meet in El Calafate. They were in Santiago and planned going north to San Pedro de Atacama so I went all the way back to Santiago to celebrate Halloween with my brother Felipe and then:

Leaving by plane to see one of Southamerica‘s highlights: the Atacama desert. 

We have been renting a camper and discovered it on our own. This has been challenging as the so called camping places are nowhere to see. Also you need to return everyday to San Pedro as there is no other gas station anywhere. Roads are bad, no signs and some aren’t even on the map but taking this relaxed gives you the possibility to have an incomparable experience and getting to see more than others. 

I have never seen a place like the Atacama desert before. Best to describe it would be pictures:

Valley of Moon

Part 2

Moon rising (purple sky) after the sunset (Valley of Moon) 

Lagune Cejar (so salty that you float)

Lagune Tebinquinche (my personal highlight)

Salt everywhere

Flamencos at the national park

Alpacas

Sunset 

Geysire El Tatio

There is much more to see which is the reason I might return. But for now I will be leaving to Bolivia doing the salt flats. 

So next post will hopefully be on time again. 

Still alive

Hannes