San Pedro de Atacama

The lovely town of San Pedro de Atacama is founded in the north of the big “Salar de Atacama” (the biggest salt flat in the country,Chile). It is maybe one of the most beautiful places in Chile.
The town is founded in one of the many oases that are formed from the rain that is produced by the “invierno Boliviano” in the most arid desert of the world.
Because of that it is amazing when you go there and you find, in the middle of the desert, a place with a lot of vegetation, really exuberant desert formed by Chañares, Algarrobos and Pimientos(trees).
In the fields covered by green that seems to come from the rainy regions, agriculture was practiced since Ancestral time, keeping the same methods of crop raising used thousands of years ago. It Is a miracle and the people who are born here gives thanks to nature (pachamama).

Environment

San Pedro is located at the bottom of the “Cordillera de los Andes”, which is 6100 metres high. North of San Pedro, in 40 km away, is the majestic “Lincabur” volcano (5916 m. High), the name means “town`s hill / cerro del pueblo” and it was worshipped by Incas who carried out ceremonies and made offerings in the crater of the volcano.
15 km. Inland you will find the misterious “moon`s valley /Valle de la luna”, which is called this because the shapes and colours of the rocks gives the scenery a moon appearance. If you watch the sunrise in this place, watching how the light change the colours of the volcanos far away, you will feel an intense color red that will turn these moments to a wonderful experience.

High Plateau

High plateau is a big plateau that is located between 4000 and 4600 meters high. The landscape is totally different from San Pedro. Here it is very common to find swamps with water, small lakes and salt flats.
Despite the climate you can also find animals that have adapted and they are able to live on water that contains high levels of salt and arsenic.
The big geologic activity is not just of the volcano, there are the magnificent “Geysers del Tatio” (420 m.). If you want to wach the geysers, the best hour to go is at dawn, so I recommend you San Pedro at half past five in the morning, so you will arrive to “Tatio” around seven o`clock in the morning.
Thermal springs close to geysers will allow you to enjoy a delicious hot bath while you wach the sunrise. Water temperature can reach 54º C.

Finally, if you want to finish the ride in a good way you have to visit Puritama to enjoy an exquisite hot bath. Puritama is a hot river and it is located in a deep canyon.

On the other hand we can`t say good bye without referring to the sky of San Pedro which is a beautiful show during the night, and the milky way is really shining.
Definitely San Pedro has the most spectacular view of sky on the planet.

By Romina G.T.