South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields

Tripoto
26th May 2020
Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal
Day 1

After our time in Bolivia, we headed to San Pedro De Atacama, a town famous for its Geo thermal fields and dramatic landscapes around.

Tourists roaming around the streets of San Pedro De Atacama

Photo of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile by Pooja Khandelwal

Our plan was to visit a lunar like depression called Valle de la luna and the largest Geo thermal fields in the southern hemisphere "El Tatio"!

When we arrived in San Pedro a day before, it was pretty warm with sun shining all day! However, when we started early in the morning, the next day to visit El Tatio, which is approx. 80 km from the town, it turned as cold as ever!

El Tatio geyser fields are located at an altitude of 4340 metres which is the third largest in the world extending to approx. 30 square kilometres

Day 2

As soon as we reached the location, we saw again something which we had never seen before. Basically, fumes and bubbling water spurting all around and a warmth beneath our feet, due to the geothermal activities all over!

I have seen Geo thermal fields earlier in Iceland, New Zealand and North America, but this was definitely different and voluminous than all those!

Early morning!!! It was freaking cold!

Photo of El Tatio Gayzeri - B-245, Antofagasta, Calama, Antofagasta, Chile by Pooja Khandelwal

Those bubbling gysers

Photo of El Tatio Gayzeri - B-245, Antofagasta, Calama, Antofagasta, Chile by Pooja Khandelwal

They uses to dig oils from these fields in the ancient times - look at that abandoned machine still lying there

Photo of El Tatio Gayzeri - B-245, Antofagasta, Calama, Antofagasta, Chile by Pooja Khandelwal

There is a large hot water spring too which is you can take a dip in, but I avoided it as it was too crowded the day we visited and anyways I had a share of my dip in a much wilder hot spring during my salt flat trip in Bolivia 😊

That's hot spring, right in the middle of the fields

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

We really had fun exploring the fields though, roaming around numerous geysers, erupting every now and then, along with bubbling mud pools and water boiling everywhere around

Us, in background the vast Geo thermal fields

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

Excited me

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

Look at that bubbling water

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

Another tiny geyser

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

As the sun comes up

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

Yet another one - a closer look

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

Really loved the landscapes around!!! Feeling of being so away from everything!

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

This is a must visit while you are in Chile for sure!

We made a quick stop at an ancient Chilean village "Machuca", with only 20 houses or so and s small church too. It is a typical old Chilean village depicting how Andean people use to live in the old times

That's ancient Machuca Village

Photo of Machuca, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile by Pooja Khandelwal

A tiny church for the residents of the village :)

Photo of Machuca, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile by Pooja Khandelwal

An ancient village with just about 20 houses

Photo of Machuca, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile by Pooja Khandelwal

The next plan was to visit Valle de la luna early evening on the same day, however, I was dead tired from all the non stop travelling from last week or so. We decided to chuck our plan for the evening and just relaxed in our hotel, enjoying a glass of wine and the full moon night

I would definitely recommend to explore this valley if you are there though, as you get a chance to see the biggest moon in southern hemisphere from this valley, especially on a full moon day!

That's all I did int he evening - I think look tired?

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal

Capturing the full moon from San Pedro

Photo of South American Sojourns: Chile: A day exploring southern hemisphere's largest Geo- thermal fields by Pooja Khandelwal