San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

We have just spent a couple of weeks in the cooler climes of Argentina and Chile and to say that this part of our trip is on the other extreme would be an understatement! The temperature upon touchdown in Santiago was 31C compared to our departure temperature of around 9C from Puerto Natales. We had a couple of hours at the airport before our last leg to Camala in the Chilean desert. Arrived around 9 pm and then hopped in a van for transfer to our hotel. We drove and drove and drove and after what seemed like an eternity, arrived in the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama. We could see by the light of the full moon, silhouettes of mountains and we felt our ears pop as we reached various elevations. No houses (it seemed) and no lights other than oncoming traffic. At last we arrived in this adobe village where everyone was celebrating in the darkened streets. Apparently this happens every night...not just Friday night. It is a town filled with young backpackers and livelihoods are dependent on tourism.

We had our first tour with our guide (for the next 3 days) Victor, a native Peruvian, who took us to salt lakes with an abundance of wildlife from tiny briny shrimp, to flamingo and tiny birds that come from North America.

Below: Another beautiful hotel

Below: Our room

Below: The town

The salt lakes

Serious wildlife photographers

Difficult to believe that those are salt rocks

Below: Our guide Victor. We had to "rug up" against the winds and the sun. Lots of sunscreen used here.

Check out the clip below for one of the most adorable birds I have seen. They are called the Wilson Phalarope and apparently, come from North America

Below: Park attendants at the mountain lakes

Below: Another fox that bears a great name; Zorro Culpeo

Below: A Vicuna (look familiar?)

Returning to San Pedro, we stopped in a little village for lunch. Great roofs!!!

...then we stopped at another town and were thrilled to be invited to feed baby llamas

Tonight, we will visit archaeological sites....when the temperatures are cooler and the sun less intense.

Adios!