San Pedro De Atacama - world of its own! — San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Where I stayed
Hostal Tuyasto San Pedro de Atacama
Hostal Tuyasto San Pedro de Atacama
Wow... 17 hours later I'm transported to a desolate, isolated, silent desert town LITERALLY in the middle of nowhere! My hostel is sandwiched between a hustling tourist street on the edge of desert sands and the higher (still snow capped) mountains!! As I pulled into the 'bus station' which resembled a wooden shack and a sand covered parking lot, I sat upon the bus while the driver reversed into a 'parking space' with a little bit if fear but he had amazing driving skills. I then set off on the desert (no road marks or road signs) roads with an English couple in toe that I acquired on exiting the bus as I headed to Hostal Tuyatso. I was not disappointed when I arrived, it was a really trditional place and a cool experience. The hostal was a serious of connected buildings attached to the family's house that were really warm, friendly and welcoming. A definite recommendation especially when your first view in the morning on exiting the hostel is the snow capped mountains. A five minute walk down the dusty streets takes you to the main street that has restaurants and bars galore separated by tourist/travel office after tourist/travel office. Yes this place is extremely touristy but quite frankly it would not survive without tourists and it's really only a bed for the night or two for you to see some of the most amazing natural formations and scenery and to take a 4x4 jeep tour through the national park and salt flats on my journey to Uyuni Bolivia. So in San Pedro I had an awesome time. My first evening was spent visiting the Lagoon of Cejar. Wow - I dived in (well slowly walked it) and it was mucho frio (freezing) but such an experience all the same. No matter how much I tried to sink, I just floated!!! The water was very high in salt (more salty that the Dead Sea) and you can't duck your head under water for poisonous reasons so you just float on the surface without even trying! Next were two fresh water lagoons, one of which we were alble to dive bomb from the top - so I did! It was so cold I nearly froze, good fun though. The final stop was Lake Tebenquinche. I just paddled my feet here because sunset was approaching at it was getting cold. We stayed at this lake to watch the sunset as the lake acts like a mirror reflecting the colours on the mountains. It was one of the best sunsets I have ever seen. We had some snacks and a pisco sour provided by our tour rep. As the sun was just finally dipping beihind the mountains and we were just driving away, the moon reared its head on the other side. Its the first time I have ever seen the sun set and the moon rise at the same time. It was beautiful and an experience I will never forget. The second day was spent chilling in the morning and then an afternoon excursion to Valley de lunar (valley of the moon) part of the salt mountain ranges. It was named this because apparently an astronaut took a picture from space and in the rainy season when all the sand is washed away the surface looks similar to the surface of the moon. This trip was amazing. The landscape and scenery were breathtaking! I visited death valley, the salts caves and the three marias but the ultimate was climbing a huge valley side to the very top and watching a beautiful and peaceful sunset. I am a little late in posting this beacause I have had litmited access to wifi. I got my jeep on Tuesday 2nd to head across the national park and salt flats to Bolivia. I will post again to tell you all about that....It was out of this world experience...... Chow for now mi amigos. X