San Pedro de Atacama is a town set on an arid high plateau in the Andes mountains of northeastern Chile.  Its dramatic surrounding landscape incorporates desert, salt flats, 10 volcanoes (2 active), geysers and hot springs.

The Atacama is nirvana for archaeologists because of its nearly rainless environment, which preserves artifacts for millennia. 

Also nirvana for scientists/astronomists/astro physicists…the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is at an altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level, composed of 66 high-precision antennas, allowing scientists from around the world to probe the very first stars and galaxies, with a view to discovering our cosmic origins!

The Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) is a lunar-like scape, with unusual dunes, caverns, sharp peaks and natural depressions, creating an unbelievable moon-like scene in the Salt Mountain Range. After a hot afternoon walking through the valley, and visiting the pillar like stone formation of Tres Marias, we climbed a tall sand dune to watch the setting sun bathe the valley in shades of red, gold and purple. Beautiful !!

The Atacama salt flats in the Los Flamencos National Reserve cover 280 sq miles, the crusts hard and as rough as coral and looks like a landfill of fossilised sponge. Its where we went to see the gorgeous Andean flamingos. 

Testing our altitude resilience, we visited the Miscanti and Meniques lagoons at the base of the Andes @ 4,200 metres – beautiful views! 

To end an amazing experience in this neck of the world, we travelled at 5am to see the sunrise at a geothermal field, the Tatio Geysers. Wowie, quite a sight.

Then onto the little highland village of Machuca, where the buildings are made of adobe, straw and cactus wood – and to visit San Santiago church – saint patron of the town. I spotted a senora with her vicuna in tow, coming in to make some money from tourists that clamour to pose with said pretty beast…