Today was mostly a travel day. We flew 2 hours from Santiago north to the Atacama Desert. Butch attempted to order a coffee on his own at the airport and he came back with a fine vanilla hot chocolate. I'm not sure why we should expect anything more from the guy whose entire international vocabulary consists of ways to order a beer.
Not only is the the Atacama Desert the driest place on earth but, at about 7,500 ft above sea level, is also the highest desert. Being at high altitude is another first for Butch. As I expected, it is not bothering him at all.
From the car on the way to the hotel. Those are the snow-capped Andes Mountains in the distance.
We are staying at the Alto Atacama Hotel and is the one at which I was most excited to stay. It has not disappointed. We turned off the main road and onto this sketchy dirt road which meandered along a river past your typical South American countryside houses. Butch was starting to get nervous until we pulled up to this gorgeous hotel at the base of the mountains.
Here are some videos
This one is of the pool area with the 5 plunge pools and bar
After lunch, we took the van into the nearby town of San Pedro. This is the main town in the Atacama Desert and is exactly the town that Butch was picturing when I suggested we travel to South America.
It's basically nothing but those horrible tourist shops selling all the same junk most of which is probably made in China.
We are relaxing in the hotel before dinner. Tomorrow, we have a full day of excursions including some hiking in the desert.
Not only is the the Atacama Desert the driest place on earth but, at about 7,500 ft above sea level, is also the highest desert. Being at high altitude is another first for Butch. As I expected, it is not bothering him at all.
From the car on the way to the hotel. Those are the snow-capped Andes Mountains in the distance.
We are staying at the Alto Atacama Hotel and is the one at which I was most excited to stay. It has not disappointed. We turned off the main road and onto this sketchy dirt road which meandered along a river past your typical South American countryside houses. Butch was starting to get nervous until we pulled up to this gorgeous hotel at the base of the mountains.
Here are some videos
This one is of the pool area with the 5 plunge pools and bar
After lunch, we took the van into the nearby town of San Pedro. This is the main town in the Atacama Desert and is exactly the town that Butch was picturing when I suggested we travel to South America.
It's basically nothing but those horrible tourist shops selling all the same junk most of which is probably made in China.
We are relaxing in the hotel before dinner. Tomorrow, we have a full day of excursions including some hiking in the desert.
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