Crossing the Desert

Leaving Salta we embarked on a 10 hour bus ride across the Andes to Northern Chile and the most amazing scenery yet. We thought that this part of the Andes would be quite similar to that near Mendoza (snowcapped peaks rising from the desert), but how wrong we were. After two and half hours we embarked on the slow upward struggle in our five star coach and the scenery dramatically changed. From one window, we followed what looked to be a canyon with strange rock formations either side and from the other window of the coach the high mountains of the Andes displayed layers of rock of different colours - up to seven colours in total. It was really quite incredible. Unfortunately no pictures as the camera battery was dead (we´re not doing too well on the pictures, but I promise, some will follow). This scenery continued for an hour where it plateaued out on to high plains above the mountains and where only the highest peaks pushed through in the distance. To my amazement we were at 4,000m and the highest we´ve ever been. That explains why we were finding it hard to breathe. We reached the Argentineanan border crossing at the highest point of 4250m and struggled to take deep breaths. It was such a problem that several people collapsed and were rushed to the sick bay in the border offices (actually, not more than a shack).

This is the driest place on earth and rarely, if ever sees rainfall. The flat lands give way to salt lakes, which are dried up leaving vast spaces of white salt. The only living things are a few shrubs at the edge of the road and a couple of llamas, being shepherded by the hardiest people on earth. As we slowly make our way down the other side, flatter land appears, still at a considerable altitude, except now in the distance there are volcanoes instead of mountains and canyons, and the arrid landscapes rolls on.

We arrive at our destination, in awe of our surroundings as the volcano in the distance sits ominously close and shadows the village of San Pedro. We find our hostel and settle in for the night.