The Different Desert - ATACAMA

I've always perceived the desert as a huge quantities of sand. This was so untrue for the Atacama desert. It is very diverse, amazing. Unfortunately not all places can be explored in detail (meaning not everywhere you are allowed to walk).

Valle de la Muerte

Before going to the main attraction watching the sunset  in the Valle de la Luna, we were taken to see Valle del la muerte, and three Marias. 

  

 Frankly, I would have preferred biking to these attractions instead of taking the bus tour, as for me the fun is to do something.. not just see or watch. Nevertheless, so the Valle del la Muerte - looked very much like the name says - no life, just rocky mountains. And as it turned out, the name it holds now in fact is just a language mistake. as in the first place it was supposed to be Valle de la Marte as the name of the planet Mars, just in Spanish.

Valle de  la Luna

The sunset in Valle de la Luna is supposed to be something great. With all do respect, but I just could not get it. Am used to sunsets in Latvia that are colourful - pink, violet, blue, yellow sky, but here, all I saw is sun going behind the mountains. 

The valley formations are a beauty of nature though! 

Loads of people waiting for a sunset.
Not very romantic 

The Three Marias were amazing. Can't explain but I liked the place a lot. it was mysterious for me. The salt, clay formations mesmerism me.

In order to dive in the beauty of the valley, my advice -> go alone, with bike (loads of water) and have a stroll through the valley on your own. Or with a friend.

Geysers el Tatio

We were told to dress up warmly. While info search on internet I was reading it might get really cold, even -6degr.C. OK, so got my Patagonian jacket, fleece, long sleeved shirt. We were picked up by the tour bus around 4am. after driving around 2 hrs we came to the geyser area, where we got off the bus. and damned it was freezing cold. The area is a bit like inside a valley, so we had to wait for 30 minutes till sun started warming up. Seriously , that was worst moment of the trip. I should have put on thermo plants, thermo socks, gloves.

the geysers themselves are not huge or very active if compared to Iceland.. so a bit letdown here. 

And of course we were served breakfast : in geyser boiled egg, sandwich, coca leaf tea, bar of chocolate.

There is a possibility to have a swim also in a thermal pool. Unfortunately i was so cold still, i could not force myself to change for a bikini. 

On the way back to San pedro, we stopped at a pueblo Machuca, which is being maintened only for tourists. And had amazing empanada with lama (me)  meat and goat cheese (Dace). 

Church of Machuca

Me and empanada of lama

Salar de Atacama

The Atacama salt lake is the third biggest in the world, comprising 3000km2. The fun part about it is that the area is a part of Flamencos park. Overall, impressive salt field, with nice flamingos. 

The Laguna Altiplanica

The Laguna Altiplanicas are really beautiful. The blue water, mountains in various colors, amazing ! Would love to run around the biggest one, which is 15 km in perimeter. 

first time in my life : standing on my own shadow

If you have a chance to go to the highlands lagunas on your own, rent a car, and take as much time as you want to spend there. it is worth it. Moreover, we were told there is a trekking path uphill, so if you have a chance, you could do that. I don't doubt the view from atop is amazing.

Stargazing

Stargazing can be done the best in places with low light around, so a desert is supposed to be a perfect place. We asked out hostel receptionist to organize also stargazing for us.She did it via a tour company La Yana. NEVER! NEVER go with them. That was a major failure:

1. the bus was late

2. the guide was bad. - He was boring to death. This kind of people can be scientists, but never should work with people.

3. It was only 3rd night after full moon, so only in a short period the sky got very bright and you could not see the stars.