THe INCRedIBLe LANdSCAPe Of ATACAMA Despite the desolate, arid wilderness, the Atacama desert is one of the most astonishing places on Earth. We spent three full days of our South American trip in Atacama to admire its vast, rocky, white salt pan and volcanotopped horizons. My trip was made even more memorable by the company of new friends. We wandered the town together and experienced so many wonderful things. The pictures we took will always tell of our beautiful time at Atacama. We stayed at a cozy homestay hidden away in a small alley with a pretty coffee shop nearby. I passed by the coffee shop everyday looking at its empty but light-filled garden thinking that I would love to enjoy a cup of coffee and read a book there. However, the crazy hot sun and dry winds did not permit us. We mostly stayed indoors to avoid the high temperatures. I later regretted not visiting the pretty coffee place! Besides the jagged, rust-colored ravines, and white salt pans, Atacama has many traditional villages close to one another. The houses have walls made of earth, grass roofs and blue wooden windows, creating a truly magical Atacama. Along the streets, at every corner of the town, were many restaurants that serve local delicacies. Because of its remote location, the prices for food and beverages are quite high. An average meal including drinks costs from USD10 to USD15. You can find a number of shops and markets in town that sell a wide range of local produce. First impressions are always the most memorable. When we got in the taxi that took us around town, my eyes were wide open as I tried to take in the incredible beauty of Atacama. From the reddish earth houses, to the tiny flower fields, to the windy desert, it was a truly spectacular scene. By the time we arrived in town I had built up so much excitement that I could not wait to run outside to take everything in.
The houses have walls made of earth, grass roofs and blue wooden windows, creating a truly magical Atacama.
I recommend all travelers to Atacama to capture at least one picture of themselves against the breathtaking landscape even if you had never taken a selfie. Atacama is one of those rare places with amazing beauty that you will likely not find anywhere else on Earth. Chile was recently ranked ďŹ rst among top countries to visit in 2018 by the Lonely Planet.
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