Traveling Northern Chile, Chap2: Atacama desert

We discovered the Atacama desert in 94, during our honeymoon trip, and liked it so much, that this is our fourth visit. The fascination with the variety of light, texture and colors of the landscape, and it’s uniqueness remains intact, the roads keep getting better, the maps more precise, making exploring easier and safer

Valle de la Luna

Laguna Cejar (Salar de Atacama)

Laguna Verde (Bolivia)

Lagunas Miscanti y Miniques

Domesticated Llamas, on the way up to paso de Jama

Mixed herd of donkeys, llamas and goats on the Salar

Vicuñas near Machuca

Toconao

Machuca

Caspana

Chiu Chiu

Hotel Altiplanico

San Pedro de Atacama now has an enormous choice of hotels, ranging from the youth hostel, to the 5* all inclusive resorts. Fortunately, most of them are constructed respecting the local colonial or indigen style. They are generally build with adobe, and rendered in sandy earth or painted with white lime wash, giving to the village ot’s airs of mini hippie-metropolis of the desert.

The hotel Altiplanico aims to reproduce a traditional indian village, with it’s integrated colonial influences, it is made of earth-sand rendered adobe. It’s very carefully planned with a circular path running along the 29 huts that each house a room. The decoration is quite restrained and includes localy manufactured fabrics, wood carving and sand carved symbols on the exterior walls. The central area is landscaped with local plants needing very little water, and several path run through them and to the central hut which contains the restaurant, lounging area, and reception. It’s size, it’s peace and the very nice attending crowd, makes it a perfect spot to relax after a day of exploration.