Day 22 On top of the world in the Chilean Altiplato

 

We were picked up at 6.00 am for a full day tour of the Salt Flats and the Altiplano (high plateau). Our first stop was in the middle of nowhere for breakfast. The tour guide and driver got a table out of the minibus and put out hot drinks, fresh bread, cheese and lots of other breakfast bits and then proceeded to make scrambled eggs on a camping stove. We were parked on a minor road with no vegetation around, just a flat ground made up of clay, salt and sand. It was very nice though.

 

 
The road next to which breakfast was set up

 
Breakfast location

We then went to see the Flamingos at the salt flats at Chaxa Lagoon. Most of the flamingos were quite a distance away although we did manage to see some in flight and there were also a few other wading birds around the lakes. These are a different species to those in Galapagos and the species we saw were either Chilean, Andean or Puna Flamingos.

 
The Salt Flats - Chaxa Lagoon

 
Chilean Flamingo

 
Andean Avocets at the lagoon

 
Salt flats lagoon

 

 
White Flamingo

 
Paul at side of lagoon

 
Flamingo in flight


We then started the long drive up to the Altiplano to one of the highest lakes in the Andes called Salar de Aguas Calientes and very near the border with Argentina. We were then at an altitude of 4,300 m. The lake was vast and a very beautiful blue colour. We went on a circular 3.5 km walk to the lake and then around part of the lake although we were only allowed to walk on the pillow lava and not on the lake shore. We saw a few more flamingos here but there were far away.  We really started to feel the effects of the altitude and found ourselves getting very breathless and unable to talk as we walked the hill back to the minibus.

 

 
Lake high in the Andes

 
Lake high in the Andes

 
View of lake on the path down

 
View of lake and dried up salt bed

 
First view of lake from minibus

                         View across lake

The next stop was at 2 smaller lakes, Laguna Miscanti and Laguna Miniques. There was a guided walk for the first and biggest of the 2 and then a view point for the second. We saw Giant Coots (Tagua cornuda) and Vicano, which are similar to the Guanaco but smaller. The giant coots were quite aggressive and seemed to be fighting with the gulls.

 

 
Laguna Miniques

 
Vicano at Laguna Miscanti

 
Giant Coot

 
Vicuna

 
Giant Coot on nest


We then went for lunch at a small village called Socere but left immediately afterwards. It was only a small farming village and not much to see outside the main road.

We thought we were going back to the hotel but the guide asked the driver to stop at the point where we crossed the “Tropic of Capricorn” which is at latitude of just over 23deg south. 


 

By now it was very hot and we took some photos and carried on to the small town of Toconao where the guide had hoped to show us a craft workshop but when we got there it was closed. We had a walk around the town centre and a look in a few shops and in the church and then came back to the hotel.

 

 
Toconao Church

 
Toconao Church

 
Houses in town

 
Clock tower and fountain in main square

 
Paul on outside pulpit


After getting a shower we went into the town and this time found the correct town centre. We had taken the wrong road yesterday. The centre was very lively and there was a concert going on in the main square. We listened to it for a while and then had something to eat nearby.

 
Street lamps in town centre

 
San Pedro de Atacama Town Hall

 
San Pedro de Atacama Church

 
Andean musicians in main square

 



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