4AM is very, very early but that was when our alarm rang so we could catch the 4:30AM pickup for the bumpy drive up, up, up to the Tatio geysers. Why so early? Because the geysers are most active right at daybreak when the air is cold. Sneaking a peak out the van windows in the wee hours of the drive did reward us with a stunning night sky, and the Milky Way visible to the naked eye. After a chilly and early morning, the next stop was the...

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We took a full day tour to see the salt flats (or salars) of Atacama. Ancient volcanic activity isolated these regions, and as the climate changed, the lakes dried and left vast deposits of salt. Like our time at Valle de la Luna, the scenery expanded our imagination of what our planet can look like. We chose a more expensive tour company, Cosmo Andino, that takes in one more stop that the other tours skip. This was completely worth the extra...

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San Pedro de Atacama lies on the northern end of Chile, right at the doorstep to Bolivia. Today, this tiny town exists almost solely for tourism from the otherworldly landscapes within a few hours drive. The adjacent volcanic mountain range is clearly visible from the center of town, reminding visitors of the massive forces that created the nearby sites. Just three kilometers from town lies the remains of a twelfth century fortress built by...

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As much as we enjoyed Santiago, Valparaiso was an absolute delight. The port city is a short and scenic bus ride from Santiago through wine country to the coast. On arrival, we couldn’t miss the two things Valpo is famous for: hills & color. For its vast number of hills, the city built its first ascensor in 1883 to help transport people up and down the slopes. The ascensors are a charming hybrid of elevator and funicular, and we...

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Here’s our quick post of pictures from Santiago that hardly does the city justice. We really enjoyed being in Santiago; the city is very walkable with lovely green spaces and life all around. The city welcomes visitors to just wander around with several paseos, streets open only for pedestrian traffic.

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Our final day in the park was an easy walk from the entry office at Laguna Amarga to Lago Sarmiento. This is also known as the wildlife trail, and we saw lots of guanacos. These grass munchers looked like a mashup of a camel/giraffe/deer/horse (but most closely related to a llama). Back in Puerto Natales, do not miss a meal at Asador Patagonicus right off the main square. They roasted the most delicious lamb we have ever...

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