Chile: Moai on Easter Island

RAPA NUI, DAY 10 Our first full day on the island was a day of exploration with our own guide. Chris is an American from Virginia (ex-hippie he called himself) who came here eighteen years ago and really never left. He met his Rapa Nui fiancée on his first trip here, and together they have …

Chile: Easter Island, First Impressions

EASTER ISLAND We flew back to Santiago from Calama last evening and then this morning flew to Easter Island. The Santiago airport has outgrown its present space and is always crowded with long snaking lines leading to the check-in counters each of which is dedicated to a specific destination. Finding which long line to be …

Chile: Atacama Salt Flat

ATACAMA DESERT—SALT FLAT & CHAXA LAGOON On our last full day in the desert, we took a late afternoon into sunset excursion to Salar de Atacama and Laguna Chaxa, the Atacama Salt Flat and the Chaxa Lagoon. Our group was to be four guests plus a driver and two guides. The second couple bowed out …

Chile: San Pedro & Food

DAY 7 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA Since we had the morning free, we decided to go into San Pedro and visit the Museum del Meteorito. (The hotel van drove us over, but we walked back which took about 45 minutes.). The museum is small, two tent-like domes and was surprisingly high tech.   With an …