Chile
Atacama Desert
May 2019 • One of the highest and driest landscapes on the planet, this desert is usually explored with a group tour booked through one of the dozens of agencies that glut the tiresome tourist ghetto of San Pedro de Atacama. Much better to rent a 2WD and drive south along the surprisingly well maintained and blissfully empty Route 23. Desert contours and colors were a constant distraction (one volcano had multiple personalities as the shifting roadway and sunlight played tricks with its appearance). Georgia and Dirk came along the next day for a drive on rougher road heading north, and though we didn't make it as far as intended, it was fun to stalk vicuñas and flamingoes and drive backward on what seemed like our own private moonscape.
