The Atacama Desert.
A story in four chapters.
I spent the week of Christmas 2022 in Bolivia visiting the salt flats of Uyuni and the desert lagoons.
During the course of that trip we drove to the border with Chile to drop off a group of Brazilians who were on their way to the Atacama desert, completing a journey that many who are in the area undertake. I didn’t have the time then to visit the Atacama, but vowed that some day I would.
In 2023, I found a deal that the Explora Atacama was running. I jumped at the chance, and booked a four-night stay over Labor Day weekend. It was great to be able to see the other side of the Andes and to enjoy the hospitality of the lodge.
Click on the chapters below to read more.
1.
Arrival and a hike through the Chulackao Canyon.
Augustine meets me just outside the arrivals area. He holds a small sign that I miss. A woman working for a taxi company asks me if I need one. I shake my head and tell her I’m with Explora. She points him out to me.
2.
Hot springs and sandy roads.
The next morning I am up at 06:45 in order to take a leisurely breakfast before our 08:00 assembly time. In the morning I plan to hike to the Puritama hot springs and in the afternoon to hike through a “rainbow” canyon in the Domeyko range to the south.
3.
The breathtaking Volcan Blanco hike.
It’s another early morning as I eat a leisurely breakfast before meeting our guide. We’ve to hike through a valley of geysers to Volcan Blanco and beyond, covering around 8 km and hovering at an altitude of of 4,200 meters.
4.
Horseback, high winds, and our final excursion.
Nacho stops me the afternoon before to talk about my plans for the next day. Winds have picked up in the afternoon and there are high wind warnings for Cerro Toco the next morning with gusts of 100km/hr predicted. We’ll have to update the plan.