March 11, 2017: Valparaiso-Pisco Elqui

Our destination on this day was Pisco Elqui. After strolling around Valparaiso for a while, we set off. It is 532km from Valparaiso to Pisco Elqui. The sun was shining (as every day) and at 25 degrees Celsius, you just want to be outside. Finding the road to the coast was not easy and took us some time. We then drove along the coast until Las Ventanas. The waves there are quite high and swimming there is not safe. However, the seals didn't seem to mind. We then continued the rest of the way on the highway. Unfortunately, the speed limit is 100 km/h. The guidebook mentioned that the Chilean police is very strict, so we followed that as well.

The landscape until La Serena was quite boring and we briefly considered changing our travel plan spontaneously and heading south instead. But when we reached Valle de Elqui, the landscape completely changed. It was green, covered with vineyards, and there was fruit and vegetable cultivation everywhere. All surrounded by these beautiful mountains and the bright blue sky. Unfortunately, it was already getting dark and we felt a bit uncomfortable on the road. Just before Pisco Elqui, we ended up in a police checkpoint. Somehow, they seemed satisfied with us and let us continue. The driver in front of us wasn't so lucky.

We finally reached our hotel, the Refugio Misterio de Elqui, around 10 pm.