Laguna Miscanti

Laguna Miscanti

Valle de la Muerte

Valle de la Muerte

El Tatio Geysers

El Tatio Geysers

Machuca

Machuca

Cerro Miñiques

Cerro Miñiques

Valle de la Luna

Valle de la Luna

Cerro Medano

Cerro Medano

Georgia and Dirk

Georgia and Dirk

Chile

Atacama Desert

May 2019 • One of the highest and driest landscapes on the planet, this desert is usually explored with a group tour booked through one of the dozens of agencies that glut the tiresome tourist ghetto of San Pedro de Atacama. Much better to rent a 2WD and drive south along the surprisingly well maintained and blissfully empty Route 23. Desert contours and colors were a constant distraction (one volcano had multiple personalities as the shifting roadway and sunlight played tricks with its appearance). Georgia and Dirk came along the next day for a drive on rougher road heading north, and though we didn't make it as far as intended, it was fun to stalk vicuñas and flamingoes and drive backward on what seemed like our own private moonscape.

Laguna Miscanti

Laguna Miscanti

Valle de la Muerte

Valle de la Muerte

El Tatio Geysers

El Tatio Geysers

Machuca

Machuca

Cerro Miñiques

Cerro Miñiques

Valle de la Luna

Valle de la Luna

Cerro Medano

Cerro Medano

Georgia and Dirk

Georgia and Dirk

Georgia and Dirk