21st to 22nd November 2015. Atacama Desert, Northern Chile.

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I am now completing posting of my 2015 trip to Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Atacama Desert with final posts on the Atacama Desert.  You can find other posts on this expedition from the itinerary here.

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While this post is about my arrival in San Pedro de Atacama, the first few images are from the plane the previous day.  This one is from the southern coast of Chile or even the Straits of Magellan.  There are houses on the peninsula in the foreground.

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Sunset over a sea of clouds.

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We are now in the following day, on the flight between Santiago and Calama.  Note the huge volcanic crater at bottom left.

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Another view over the Atacama desert.  This is contiguous with the next image but the viewpoint has changed so I can’t align them.

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The Atacama Desert is the driest desert in the world and may also be the oldest, yet humans have lived here based around rivers and oases for 9,000 years.

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A couple of guanacos at the side of the road (I am now in the bus from Calama Airport to San Pedro de Atacama).

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Neighbouring house with satellite dish.

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This is the far end of the main street at San Pedro de Atacama.

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Turning back and walking in the other direction….

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San Pedro de Atacama is the launch pad for exploring the region, with 5,000 permanent inhabitants and at 2,400 meters (8,000 feet).  It was part of Bolivia until Bolivia lost its sea coast after the War of the Pacific in 1879 to 1884.

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