Day 17 - San Pedro de Atacama

To get used to the altitude, it was necessary to sleep in and have a good breakfast first. The first stop for today was the "Valle de la Luna", a moon-like valley with different rock formations that can be accessed by car and various viewpoints can be reached on foot. It actually felt a bit like being on the moon, with the sun shining brightly from the cloudless sky. The rocks are mostly made up of huge salt crystals that glistened impressively in the sunlight. The whole landscape was kind of crazy.

Since we were too early for the next spot, we made a pit stop and wanted to go to the "Magic Bus". On the way there, the condition of the roads deteriorated significantly and we felt sorry for our Suzuki Swift. Since the road was already closed about 3km before the destination, we continued the last kilometers on foot. At the destination, there was an ancient, rusty bus that probably gave up at some point, was never picked up, and has since been left as a small attraction for tourists. Well, at least a few meters walked, never hurts. Back at the car, we drove back on the gravel road to the main street. Our next stop would have been the "Hidden Lagoons of Baltinache", but we had to cut the trip short due to the road conditions. Driving 70km on gravel and lots of potholes would not have been appreciated when returning the rental car. Alternatively, we stopped at two viewpoints and visited the hotel pool. It was freezing cold, but a good way to cool off due to the high temperatures.

After dinner in the city, we had booked a "Stargazing Tour". Since there is almost no light pollution in San Pedro de Atacama, you have a great view of the stars in the clear night sky here. At around 9 pm, we were picked up from the hotel and taken about 10km outside the city to a property, so as not to be disturbed by the lights of the town.

Tea and blankets helped against the cold, while the guide shared a lot of information about the universe and the constellations, alternating between Spanish and English. Through two telescopes, we saw the moon and the stars before enjoying Pisco Sour, red wine, and snacks by the campfire.