World Travel, Marc and Peggy Faucher

Atacama Desert, Chile, 2003

The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is one of the dryest places on earth. Situated on the border of Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina, it is anchored by the town of San Pedro de Atacama on the shores of an ancient sea that has withered to a series of salt lakes and flats frequented by flamingos. Ribbons of green created by freshwater streams coming down from Andean volcanoes cut into the earth to create some interesting slot canyons. There are also several hot springs and a geyser field. We explored these areas in Chile before climbing Licancabur Volcano at 19,400 ft (5940 m) from the Bolivia side.

Home

1
Spectators
Spectators
2
Machuca troop
Machuca troop
3
Laguna Chaxa
Laguna Chaxa
4
Chilean Flamingos
Chilean Flamingos
5
Valle de la Luna
Valle de la Luna
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Valle de la Luna
Valle de la Luna
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Sunset
Sunset
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Trek start
Trek start
9
Rio San Pedro
Rio San Pedro
10
Narrows
Narrows
11
1st camp at Bartolo
1st camp at Bartolo
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Tall cactus
Tall cactus
13
Morning burros
Morning burros
14
Rio Penalin Machuca
Rio Penalin Machuca
15
Llamas
Llamas
16
Machuca camp
Machuca camp
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Mirador group
Mirador group
18
Hymie & Marcela
Hymie & Marcela
19
Laguna Verde
Laguna Verde
20
Start of climb
Start of climb
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Licancabur summit lake
Licancabur summit lake
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Licancabur summit
Licancabur summit
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Trek route
Trek route
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Farewell toast!
Farewell toast!
25
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama
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Town parade
Town parade
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Cactus flowers
Cactus flowers
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Andean Flamingo
Andean Flamingo
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Iglesia de San Lucas
Iglesia de San Lucas
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Valle hike
Valle hike
31
Luna dune
Luna dune
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View from Pukara
View from Pukara
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2nd day
2nd day
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Cactus flower
Cactus flower
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Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs
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Miner's grave
Miner's grave
37
Rio Grande
Rio Grande
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Llamas
Llamas
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Llareta clump
Llareta clump
41
Welcome to Bolivia!
Welcome to Bolivia!
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Laguna Blanca
Laguna Blanca
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Flamencos on Laguna Blanca
Flamencos on Laguna Blanca
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Licancabur route
Licancabur route
45
Inca beads
Inca beads
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Acclimatizing hike
Acclimatizing hike
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Licancabur dawn
Licancabur dawn
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Summit descent
Summit descent
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Tatao geyser
Tatao geyser
51
Us at Tatao
Us at Tatao
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Isabel at Tatao
Isabel at Tatao
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Vicunas
Vicunas

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