Changing rooms from the bunk bed to the double room as it could possibly be our last night for a fortnight and we can spend the extra $4 on it. The flights to Easter Island have dropped in price and they are now cheaper than before to test Sarah and her drive for Easter Island. This happened just after telling our friends her plans and where she would be to catch up with them. We were picked up from the hostel just after 8am and headed to the Parque de natio...

The drive out from Pisco Elqui was slower, much slower. After our near death drive out to Pisco Elqui, the slow trip back into the big smoke was great. We were actually able to see what's outside. The vines in the valley extended all the way until the near vertical mountains of rock and rubble either side. Any small break in slope and there were vines on it. We arrived in La Serena and checked into Hostel Balmaceda, a new and expanding hostel that is much cheaper...

22/4 Pisco Elqui We arrived at La Serena just after 5:00 and headed over to find the bus company for the next leg, Via Elqui. The first above shop sign we saw turned out to be a confectionary shop, the second shop was empty or abandoned, and not even the light fittings were left. This is looking good. After asking at a place that was actually open, we found out that the first bus is 6:50 and they open at 6:30 in a shop that is located in the barricaded off are...

19/4 walking tour We are 6 months and 1 day into our travels!! So far we have almost completed the most expensive part of the trip. We got up in our great little hostel/hotel (it's very cheap and we got a private room with cable) and we prepared our own breakfast, eggs with avocado and tomato, which goes down a treat. Off to try the second free walking tour ran by this company. It starts at 10 so we made it down there early and met up with another couple. The ...

15/4- Through the Andes We jump on the bus early in the morning headed for Chile again and we were so happy to see that we did actually have the panorama seats. We have heard a lot of people talk about how beautiful the drive was. They were correct. We both slept the first hour but after that the landscape changed constantly with some rocks even my father would find interesting. Snow capped mountains, winding roads climbing up to the hilltop Immigration point....