Resources for Travel in Chile – the Northern Region Around San Pedro de Atacama
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Posted by Karin-Marijke Vis Aug 13, 2009 |
One of our highlights of Chile was the Tatio Geysers, north of San Pedro de Atacama. At six o'clock in the morning a spectacular show of steaming fumaroles started, and lasted until the sun hit the sky about two hours later. The Tatio geysers were an awe-inspiring sight, so many sprayed their water around at the same time that it was difficult to choose where to go first. They shot up and then died down again, resting for a next explosion.
At nine o'clock the place was empty of tourists again; vicuñas reappeared, as did our first vizcacha. It jumped like a hare, with much shorter forelegs than hindquarters, and had a long tail. When it sat still it had exactly the same colours as the green-yellow tufts of grass and was hardly visible.
In San Pedro de Atacama it's easy to rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding areas or to rent a car to discover a broader region around the town. While San Pedro de Atacama is a very touristic town, we didn't find it annoyingly so. It had the feel of a village with friendly and helpful inhabitants.
Below you will find links to informative articles about the copper mine of Chuquicamata as well as about well-known sights around San Pedro de Atacama and the lovely, the lesser-known, colonial towns near Calama, which we discovered while driving around the countryside. Enjoy!
Jan 17, 2009
The world's largest open-pit copper mine is nothing less than impressive; the owner, Codelco, organizes bus tours that give a glimpse of this industrial masterpiece. more...
Jan 15, 2009
Enjoy the Atacameño villages of Chiu Chiu, Lasana and Caspana, where ancient forts, petroglyphs, churches and museums tell their Indian and Spanish histories. more...
Dec 25, 2008
Enjoy San Pedro de Atacama with its shaded plaza, a colonial church and well-set up museum. It is also a base for trips to its surrounding, surreal landscapes. more...
Dec 25, 2008
Rent a car, a bike, a horse or set out on foot to explore San Pedro de Atacama's history and nature; visit its surrounding archeological ruins and majestic landscapes. more...
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