LA SERENA 30.01.2023

So today we are changing locations again! And without the tourist bonus this time! After checking out of the Hotel Terral, Karin shouldered her two backpacks and carried the large suitcase on wheels (with two extra Pisco bottles!) as well as my backpack. It was already 11 o'clock and the sun was high as we made our way to the bus station on foot. We passed by the landmark Torre Bauer for the last time! Until today, we still don't know what significance it has for the city, but since access was blocked, it didn't really catch our interest. After crossing the fairground, we found the terminal hidden in the next side street. One step up, two steps down, and the call of 'La Serena! La Serena!' echoed towards us. The bus seemed to have been waiting just for us. With the help of the driver, we loaded our suitcases and backpacks into the back of the bus (without control receipts), handed 6,000 pesos to the man, and after a 'Muchos Gracias!', we were on our way. The bus wasn't completely full and we sat comfortably inside. The air conditioning, in the form of open windows, provided fresh air and we said goodbye to Valle Elqui. The ride took about 30 minutes longer than with the Collectivo, but it was much more peaceful and pleasant. Occasionally, someone would get off and people by the roadside with their arms outstretched would be picked up. That's how our regular bus drove towards La Serena. Unfortunately, these bus lines can't be found on the internet and they can't be compared to our public transport at all. But they are super cheap, because where else can you get a good hour-long ride for about €3? In La Serena, we finally found out where the buses back to Vicuña depart from. On our next visit (?), we'll go there directly from the airport! The bus stop was right next to the main bus station in La Serena, so we went there first to get our tickets for the trip to Santiago. So many counters with different offers! Some of the bus company representatives were sitting in small cubicles with only one person, while others had three counters and were wearing the smart uniforms of the bus company. But everywhere, people were standing in line! We chose according to the departure time and Expresso Norte seemed to be the best option with its non-stop service departing at 1 p.m. and arriving at 7 p.m. We had to show our passports again and paid for our tickets (23,000 pesos per person, about €25). For 6 hours, hopefully on a deluxe bus with booked seats in the upper section right by the windshield, it wasn't too much to pay. The prices for these journeys are almost the same everywhere, despite there being so many different providers.

Now that we had our tickets in hand, we took a taxi to the hotel. And that's where things get tricky without looking back! Our original plan was to go to Coquimbo, but upon closer examination, we realized that this city is the economic center of the region. La Serena, on the other hand, is the tourist destination! From here, most of the tours to the attractions start. So, in Vicuña (where the hotel had reliable Wi-Fi), we cancelled the previously booked accommodation and looked for a hotel in La Serena. Close to the beach and affordable! That's how we came across Hotel La Palma Serena and went through Bookingcom to book it. The price on Bookingcom was €10 higher than if we had booked directly with the hotel. I wrote to the hotel, but didn't receive a response, not even to my inquiry about breakfast and a king-size bed like we had booked through Bookingcom! So, we booked through the hotel platform. The deal couldn't be cancelled, and we were supposed to pay 50% of the price stated in dollars in pesos via bank transfer! Okay, but not possible without a Chilean bank account! That's when Franzi stepped in and transferred the money from her account after a phone call!

Upon arrival, we were met with the "Spanish language barrier" once again! In any case, we paid the requested amount, but not without showing our entry documents (PDI, tax-free), and found out that our room wasn't ready yet, we had arrived too early! We could leave our luggage behind the reception and went to "Ecotourismo La Serena". We had previously inquired about a tour to the penguin islands and had received confirmation for the next day. The office was within walking distance, but the heat made the journey feel even longer! Still, we were excited to walk right next to the beach, in the front row. There was so much activity by the water and at the stands next to the road. Quite bustling! At the famous lighthouse (Faro Monumental), the main road turned off and we finally reached the agency, completely soaked in sweat. Here, we had no language difficulties, on the contrary, the man recognized us based on the German conversations between Karin and me, and guessed that we were from Berlin! German tourists are the second largest group of travelers here. The pick-up time was set for 6 a.m. and was supposed to be punctual. He could only laugh at our experiences in San Pedro and when he heard that we were asked to pay an extra 15,000 pesos for an English guide in Iquique, he just shook his head. On the way back, we tried to take a shortcut, but the dusty streets of the second row didn't make it easy for us, especially since the backpacks with our newly purchased basics were quite heavy! As a result, our room was ready. It wasn't as spacious as the ones we had in previous days, but it was cozy, with a mini-bar fridge and a balcony. The hotel is five minutes away from the beach and isn't a big complex, even though its name is supplemented with "Convention-Center". It has three floors with a pool and individual houses scattered in the well-kept garden. There, we also found wooden bathtubs that are heated with a wood stove. We had already used such a tub in the sauna facility in Eibenstock, but that was in the winter with light snowfall!

The hotel recommended La Mia Pizza for dinner, which was also mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide and was nearby. The food was very good, Karin had a fish dish and I treated myself to a Chilean pizza. It was relatively small by our standards, but well-topped, and with a Chilean salad (unpeeled tomatoes with lots of onions), it was quite filling. The draft beer was cold and we were feeling wonderful!