One of the greater gifts of seeing Atacama in the dead of winter is being able to experience a variety of landscapes within just a few hours. From reflective lakes hidden beneath snow-peaked mountains to rugged, pitch-black caverns found in deserts, a trip to Chile’s north lets you experience it all.
This is the second part of my series on the Atacama Desert. To read about Day 1‘s adventures, click here!
Day 2: The Altiplanic Lagoons & Moon Valley
El Pueblo de Socaire | The Town of Socaire
On our way to the Altiplanic Lagoons, we stopped by the small town of Socaire – the last stretch of civilization before reaching the lagoons. It’s charm lay in its peaceful quiet, with only a small child alongside his dog crossing our path before we set out.
Lagunas Altiplánicas | Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons
If a mirror is a reflection of the soul, then the Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons are a reflection of the heavens themselves. This winter wonderland surrounded by bright blue skies and bright blue waters easily became one of the most incredible sights during our short, three-day journey. With winter in full swing, the half frozen lagoons warmed up our hearts as they showed us what a wonder the world can truly be.
If there’s one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this: visit Atacama in June. You may need to bundle up at night, but the sight of these snow-covered mountains is unforgettable. Just don’t forget your winter jacket!
Laguna Chaxa | Chaxa Lagoon
Chaxa Lagoon – a beautiful sanctuary for flamingos and bird lovers alike. The reflective waters were dotted with pink plumage, their beaks diving into the water for plankton. In a place known for testing the very limits of life, this oasis beaming with birds and shellfish was a welcome surprise.
Valle de la Luna | Moon Valley
Considering that fact you feel like you’ve been transported to another planet, Moon Valley‘s name is wildly appropriate. In stark contrast to the frozen lagoons we saw just hours ago, Moon Valley’s desert terrain was like as sandy and dry as you could expect. The unforgiving terrain is reminiscent of the images we’ve seen of Mars, and rock formations molded by the wind look as if they’ve been sculpted by some abstract artist.
Formations like Las Tres Marias may challenge even the most imaginative person’s eye as they look for shapes within the sculpture made by Mother Nature herself, but their eerie resemblance to three praying figures is unmistakeable.
After witnessing the beauty of the Valley’s natural art, a definite highlight of the trip involved scaling through one of the salt caverns found in the Valley. Claustrophobics beware – these caverns are cramped and pitch black at times, but the view at the top is certainly worth the struggle.
In a day filled with opposites and contrasts, you can’t help but wonder how it is possible for there to be so much variation in landscapes just a few minutes’ drive from each other. Every bus ride became a transportation to another planet, another dimension filled with entirely new sights with one common feature linking them all – a characteristic silence that one can only find in the desert.
1 comment
Sie-haben einen fantastischen Blog Dank. Benetta Ignazio Walton