IT'S NOT ALWAYS CHILLY IN CHILE
We arrived into San Pedro de Atacama somewhat tired and bedraggled after a night on the overnight bus from Arica and, rather than go to a scabby hostel, this time we had work to do. But work of an enjoyable nature as we started the first of a series of reviews we're doing of swanky hotels in Chile over the course of the next few weeks. Rather than slumming it we could see how the other half live in a place that had hot running water all day, beds that weren't lumpy and soundproofed walls - oh, and a swimming pool, spa, great restaurant, attentive staff and excursions to some spectacular locations.
San Pedro de Atacama is an oasis in the middle of the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world, and we went on four excursions which demonstrated the diverse range of nature, wildlife and scenery surrounding the town. We went from the salt lakes populated by flocks of flamingos with volcanoes looming in the distance, to stunning rock formations in the traditional dry, hot, sandy desert - the aptly named Moon Valley and Death Valley. We went on what was rather uninspiringly described as a 'cactus walk' but was much more exciting than that as we hiked along a beautiful valley with a gushing river and hills covered in the biggest cacti we've ever seen. On our last day we got up before dawn to drive out to see the geysers near to El Tatio volcano. It was freezing cold that morning but it was an amazing sight to see large plumes of steam billowing out of the ground combined with piping hot water bubbling away against a backdrop of beautiful mountains.
Sadly our luxury stay had to come to an end and, after two blissful nights, we were back on another backpacker-class night bus heading further south to the city of La Serena.