Rainbow Valley and El Tatio Geyser

Yesterday we took a little trip to a canyon nearby. That is, we tried to. The road there was not really a road and was dominated by a large herd of llamas. After the boss didn't let us through - see photo - we decided not to drive all the way to the end of the valley and thus save the rental car. So we only saw the beginning of Rainbow Valley and got a glimpse from above. But that's okay, the trip was still beautiful and we had a lot of fun with the llamas. That's why today's photos are more animal-oriented.

Today, in the middle of the night, we got up and joined a never-ending line of vehicles at 5 o'clock to see the famous El Tatio Geysers. Good 1.5 hours in the dark on partly moderate roads. But it was worth it. We were there before sunrise and it was bitterly cold. The thermometer showed -3 degrees at 4,300 meters above sea level. But we were prepared and therefore were able to enjoy it. Moreover, it quickly got warm when the sun looked over the mountain peaks. The tour is touted as an absolute highlight here, as is the sunset in Valle de la Luna. Well, I would say: It's really beautiful, but not as special as mentioned everywhere. However, of course, the trip was still worth it. The area encompasses about 80 geysers, and there are hot springs where you can also bathe. Many visitors took advantage of that, but we did not. After 2.5 hours, we drove back and arrived in San Pedro de Atacama around noon.