Chile has a long and varied history and having a Chilean friend several years ago, it was somewhere I always fancied going.
I suspect most people visit the capital, Santiago, and then go South to the spectacular Patagonia region. However on this trip I headed North to the Atacama Desert before crossing into Bolivia.
It was Navy Day when we visited Valparaiso. These cadets were part of the parade
The altar and dome above it within the Santiago Cathederal
The edge of the Atacama Desert is barren but beautiful. The volcano in the top right is Licancabur.
El Tatio is a geyser field located in the Andes Mountains of northern Chile at a height of 4,200m. With over 80 active geysers, El Tatio is the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the third largest field in the world
El Tatio is a geyser field located in the Andes Mountains of northern Chile at a height of 4,200m. With over 80 active geysers, El Tatio is the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the third largest field in the world
The old part of Valparaiso in the hills is know for its complex and beautifully created graffiti.
The mountains and volcanoes glow orange in the light of the setting sun
Despite the Tatio Geysers spewing out boiling water and steam then nearby pools of water freeze overnight as the temperature plumets
The main street running through San Pedro de Atacama in the North of Chile. As you can tell its not a big town!
Easter Island is part of Chile and outside this museum stands one of the famous statues.
It was Navy Day when we visited Valparaiso. These officers were preparing for the big parade later in the day.
The old church building on the left sits next to and is reflected in a modern new glass building.
A road sign in the middle of nowhere as we left headed to Bolivia. Right for Chile or left for Argentina.
A statue of the pope on San Cristobal hill is backlit by the orange sunset.
Small cairns of rocks are silhouetted against the firey sky as the sun sets
Small cairns of rocks are silhouetted against the firey sky as the sun sets
Crystals of gem salt created by the high pressures and lack of humidity cover parts of the rocks. At sunset you can hear them cracking as they cool down.
A view down the central isle of the Santiago Cathederal
The snow capped mountains above Santiago catch the last light from the setting sun. The the bottom left construction continues on the “Gran Torre Santiago” which is (already) the tallest in Latin America.
The old part of Valparaiso in the hills is know for its complex and beautifully created graffiti.