Steaming geysers at 4300 meters above sea level: El Tatio

Yes, getting up at 4 a.m. is not much fun! But to experience another unique natural phenomenon of the region up close, it is essential. The fact that we also have to check out at the same time makes things even worse. We should be picked up between 4.30 and 5 a.m., it is clear that it will be 5.15 a.m. In total darkness you go up to the El Tatio geysers. A little more sleep is out of the question on the jerky pass road. The road rises and rises until we are one Altitude of 4600 m above sea level achieved.

After almost two hours we arrive at dusk and at bitter cold (-2 degrees) at the world's highest geyser field at. Since Chileans are currently on summer vacation, it is teeming with tourists. The white columns of steam can be seen from a great distance. There is bubbling and steaming everywhere, but anyone who has been to Yellowstone is no longer enthusiastic about geysers. Still a wonderful place nestled in the high valley of the Andes.

After half an hour a rather unimaginative breakfast is offered and the rising sun spreads wonderful light and some warmth. I walk through the geyser field again and take some pictures before going to the bathing area and other geysers. Here we have another half hour to either bathe in the pent-up thermal water or to walk through the wider area. Due to a lack of time and too many people, we decide to see the other thermal activities. A geyser foams wildly, others splash some boiling water into the air every now and then.

Then we go back to where we often do the small-grown vicuñas see. The undemanding animals with the precious fur are slowly recovering from human hunting. The journey continues through desolate land without any green. At a swamp fed by glacier water we get to see other vicuñas and different species of birds.

Next stop is in a village where the worth seeing church, some souvenir stands and a delicious skewer Llama meat wave. Then we'll be back in San Pedro de Atacama.