In Chile we found the best freeway system since USA. The road is properly insulated and has very good asphalt. The signaling looks pretty much like the one found on the German Autobahn. But the maximum speed is lower 🙂 The car pictured is a Romanian built Dacia 1310, still popular in Chile.
The Chilean “autobahn”
Antofagasta
This is the city that made us realize Chile really is different than other Southern American countries. Even though it isn’t a tourist destination, the city is perfectly well kept: flowers and grass everywhere, all buildings with fresh paint and streets so clean you might think you’re in the French riviera. Plus some art and other eye catching exhibits. And this is not something singular in Antofagasta!
The ore trucks
As a result of the War of the Pacific, Chile annexed it’s current Northern regions from neighbors Bolivia and Peru. Lucky them, since that part of land holds important mineral wealth that is nowadays extracted heavily.
I remember seeing long time ago one of these trucks at the Bucharest International Fair. Then, I was curious about how this machine can be moved from one location to another. Now I’ve got my answer: piece by piece!
Valle de la Luna
This park is a true lunar experience on Earth! It is located just 10kms West of San Pedro de Atacama. Once off the highway, there is a long way around and also a shortcut. But since next to the shortcut there was a sign saying “Warning! Minefield!” (see first pic; maybe a remnant of the war with Bolivia?) we decided to use the long route instead.
Beside the scenic views one can enjoy from the high peaks, there are also some tours that involve crawling through caves and some climbing.
The Atacama desert (2/2)
The next morning we found out from the tourists we were just 20kms away from the Laguna Colorada. Also, I suddenly remembered I have to lower the tire pressure, so control and comfort was greatly improved. This last day was like a dream. Not only because of the riding improvement, but also for the views inside the national park that surrounded the Laguna Colorada: geysers, the lake, some birds etc. And at all times we were above 4800m altitude!!! The last incident was at night, when suddenly a sandstorm approached us. I remember I could see nothing and there was so much pain because I had the visor open. I had no other option than to drop the bike and wait at ground level for the storm to pass. In the end we got to some hostel to spend the night and the next day we crossed the border to Chile.
Palomina emerged out of this experience with 30% less thread on the rear tire, a broken mirror, turn signal and some minor issues at the rear rack.
One should imagine how happy we were to see asphalt again!
Tags: offroad