Our Great Adventure: Altiplano Lagoons Day 246 22/05/2015

The alarm went off at 0530 as we needed to be ready to be picked up at 0600 for our half day tour to the Altiplano lagoons. Whilst it was still dark and sub zero it didn't feel that cold, although we were pleased we were picked up at 0600 prompt. We were first on the bus and over the next 30 minutes it filled up with the other passengers collected from their hostels around the town. We then drove for 90 minutes into the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos climbing nearly 2000 metres, passing the park office to pay our fees, then onto the first of 2 lagoons at 4100m high. We alighted the bus at the Laguna Miniques to watch the sun rise (helping to warm us as we were at minus 5 degrees) over the water and onto the backdrop of 6000m+ volcanos behind. We then had breakfast with hot tea and coffee al fresco before going to the second stretch of water called Laguna Miscanti. This was just as lovely as the first one, with a similar vista of flat, calm waters and the surrounding volcanos now mirrored in it. From here we drove along the road, passing Vicunas and a very inquisitive Cooperro (a local fox) to the small town of Socaire, a 1000 year old settlement, with twin claims to fame being it is the highest town in Chile (c3100m) and it sits on the Tropic of Capricorn. It also overlooks the largest salt flats in Chile at Salar de Atacama. Our guide Landro explained this was the driest place on earth. Next stop was to descend to the salt flats to visit the Chaxas lagoon. Here on the water were flamingos feeding (they spend 16 hours a day doing so) and their colouring is due to eating the micro organisms. The pinker the flamingo the older it is. On the lakes we saw different birds, including some cute fluffy chicks and also small lizards. The view across the water and salt flats was mesmerising, with the calm water reflecting the volcanos that surrounded us, the chalk white salt flats shimmering with the now strong sun heat and the red and white topped volcanos. A stunning location and we can see why it draws so many visitors. The salt flats are created by the heat evaporating the little water to create the mineral rich deposits which are mined and exported to most of the world for use in fertilisers, making glass, aluminium and salt free products. We then headed back to San Pedro, stopping off at the town of Toconao, with its church built in 1750 (very old for the New World). We got back about 1330, had pizza for lunch then headed back to the hostel to read, sleep and chill before heading out for a meal that evening. We had another early night as we need to be up at 0430 in the morning for our trip to the Geyser del Tatio.