HOME About the Ride About the Atacama About Peru's Desert Participant Information Application Form Sponsor Form About GAI FAQs Links (Care2.com) |
 |
 |
|
 |
| ABOUT THE ATACAMA Ride for the Rainforest The following are excerpts from various websites that describe some of the sites we will visit on The Ride. Remember that, though the name “Atacama Desert” generally refers to a specific region of northern Chile, the Ride for the Rainforest will take you the length of the great South American coastal desert, from Santiago, Chile to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Dr. Barbara Brodman |
| Atacama Desert at a Glance/ Northern Chile San Pedro de Atacama & Salar de Atacama On route to this picturesque town in the high desert of Chile you will see spectacular views of the Cordillera de la Sal. At dusk we shall set out to the Valley of the Moon to see the sunset in this bizarre, almost lunar landscape formed by the erosion of salt mountains. Strange sculpted rock formations in the middle of the desert, with the Lincancabur Volcano in the background, make for a particularly rare experience. We can also visit the archaeological museum of Padre le Paige, with its famous collection of artifacts which show the development of the Atacameño society. The church of San Pedro dates from the 17th century. Its roof is made out of cactus. Later we canl venture to see the Salar de Atacama, on route visiting the town of Toconao. The houses in this small picturesque village are built of bricks of white volcanic stone, which lend the town a very unique appearance. The church and its bell tower are also built from this bleached white volcanic stone. After Toconao we can continue on to visit the world s largest salt lake: the Salar de Atacama. Rich in minerals, including borax and lithium, it is home to various species of flamingoes as well as many other birds. The Laguna Chaxa, part of the Reserva Nacional de los Flamingoes, offers a terrific opportunity to get closer to these birds in their natural habitat. ATACAMA DESERT The north of Chile The region known as the "North of Chile" occupies an area equivalent in size to two thirds of Italy. It stretches from the highlands of the Andean Altiplano over the golden sands of the Atacama Desert as far as the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Diverse, surprising, majestic and untouched... this is the place for those in search of adventure with its breathtaking salt flats, geysers and Andean volcanos, vast expanses of land and here and there, occasional signs of life... llamas, vicunas, flamingos and alpacas, all unperturbed by the presence of man. Here you can find museums which record man’s presence over the last 10,000 years, sea and long sandy beaches, relaxation and entertainment in casinos, restaurants and hotels, and above all the friendly hospitality of the Chilean people. The North of Chile... in fact... has everything! The desert in the highlands The Chilean Altiplano, situated in the foothills of the Andean Mountain Range, 4.000 meters above sea level, is a treasure chest of natural phenomena set in surroundings of unspoilt beauty. Here, you simply must visit the Lauca National Park, a natural monument now declared a World Biosphere Reserve. Incredible landscapes, with volcanos, lagoons, salt flats, tiny pre-Hispanic settlements, as well as a wide variety of animal life such as llamas, vicunas, guanacos, alpacas, flamingos and wild duck, create a lasting impression of sheer beauty. Archeology History and mystery For over 10,000 years these lands have been inhabited by man and evidence of his presence can be found throughout this area from the Pacific coast to the high Andean Mountain Range 6,000 meters above sea level. In the Azapa Valley 12 kilometers from Arica, the museum of San Miguel de Azapa exhibits especially 'prepared' mummies dating from18000 BC, the oldest in the world yet to be discovered. The museum also houses a fine archeological collection of some 20,000 objects discovered in this area. From the road the huge geoglyphic paintings which adorn the hillsides are still visible through the olive groves and from the air they stand out even more clearly. These gigantic drawings of which the most important are those of Lluta, Azapa, Pintados, Cerro Unitas and Tiliviche remain wrapped in mystery to this day. Another world-famous museum, San Pedro de Atacama, is located 100 kilometers from the city of Calama. The small village from which it takes its name was once the center of the Atacamanian civilization. This museum contains a collection of over 300,000 pieces which include pottery, woven fragments and mummies discovered in this area The ruins of Indian fortresses or 'pukaras' such as Quitor, Lasana and Turi remain to this day in the North of Chile, where every step leads to discovery and a new understanding of the history of man. The desert is life and adventure ...Discover for yourself the many wonders of the Atacama Desert, the most arid desert in the world. Spectacular landscapes and natural phenomena abound wherver you look. And in all this immensity, tiny villages such as Parinacota, Caspana, Socoroma, Surire or Isluga still maintain the traditions of their Aymara ancestors, and the influence of Spanish colonization is still evident in the architecture of their churches. The city of Calama, 214 kilometers from Antofagasta, is an oasis in the middle of the desert. With its fine selection of hotels, this in an ideal basecamp for sightseeing trips to nearby places of interest such as the El Tatio Geysers 3,550 meters above sea level, where great pillars of water and steam which rise up some 10 meters high and reach temperatures of 85oC. 100 kilometers to the southeastlies the arid wasteland of the Valley of the Moon. Towards the north, the village of Chiu-Chiu has several attractions including the nearby 150 meter deep Chiu-Chiu Lagoon, an astonishing natural phenomenon in the middle of the desert. From Calama, you can also visit the huge amphitheatre of the biggest open-cast mine in the world-Chuquicamata. As the largest of the twelve salt flats in the Northern Region, the Salt Lake of Atacama is especially interesting. It stretches out like a vast white lake as far as the eye can see and its banks are the habitat of unique species of fauna. The North is entertainment and relaxation The main cities of the North, Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta are situated on the coast. They all have airports linking them to the rest of the country, and are connected by road to each other and to the most important sightseeing areas. Comfortable hotels, motels and hostels, usually located on or near the sea in these towns, are available for your enjoyment and relaxation. There’s no time for boredom in the North... every day you can choose from the delicious variety of local dishes usually based on fish and seafood. For those who like shopping there are lots of local markets in Arica where you’re bound to come across that unexpected treasure, or you can visit the Duty Free Zone in Iquique. The choice is endless! Spend the afternoons sunbathing on one of the numerous beaches lulled by the sea breeze and the feeling of endless space! At night enjoy a game of backgammon, roulette or even the slot machines in the Casinos of Arica or Iquique where you can also dine and dance. A T A C A M A D E S E R T The Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is a very special place. To start with it contains some of the driest places on earth. There are coastal areas where the residents can't remember the last time it rained! Most of the cities are situated on the coast including the clean, modern and vibrant Iquique. Deserted beaches stretch for miles and offer great photo opportunities. Slightly inland as the Andes begin to rise up from the coast small amounts of precipitation do fall and life can be found. There are 120 species of cactus found in the Atacama along with scores of beautiful desert flowers. The "altiplano" or high plain is a feature unique to the Atacama. These high plains vary in elevation from 10,000 to 16,000 ft. The air at these altitudes is cool and thin. Here we find the majority of fascinating natural and archaeological sites the region is known for. Desert towns such as San Pedro de Atacama and Putre serve as bases to explore the altiplano. This was as far south as the Inca empire reached and signs of their inhabitance are all around. "Pukarás" or fortresses are exciting to explore and give an insight into the military workings of the Incas. Wildlife abounds in the altiplano. The salt flats are home to flocks of birdlife including three species of flamingoes. Vicuñas (llama family), rheas, Andean fox and puma are all found here. Small villages tucked away in desert oases are a wonderful cultural experience. Atacamanian people still live in these seldom visited towns and a peek into their way of life is a special experience. Brilliant blue skies are of course normal throughout the desert but temperatures can vary dramatically. Sunrise at the geysers is usually below freezing while the beaches are almost always warm and dry. Places To Go and Things To Do: San Pedro de Atacama- This unique desert town is an important jumping off point for several of our destinations. We'll spend up to four nights here depending on individual itineraries. The town itself is quite touristy but remains largely undiscovered by American tourists. Because of the tourists San Pedro boasts excellent hotels and restaurants. The town is also referred to as "artsie" due to a large number of galleries and street music. There are several sights worth a visit in and around San Pedro. A wonderful museum houses artifacts from various ancient cultures including the Atacamanians and Incas. The Pukará de Quitor is five minutes from town and is a great example of a hillside fortress. Hiking in Devil's Gulch is a good way to explore the areas geology. Valley of the Moon- Bizarre geologic formations and brilliant colors give this valley its name. During the day it's mostly hot and dry but at sunset the hills spring to life with spectacular colors and shadows. Moonrise in the valley is nothing short of emotional. The Coast- The largest cities in the desert are on the coast but in between lie hundreds of miles of deserted beaches. Blue waves contrast the parched landscape as we explore a remote white sand beach. Tidepools literally crawl with critters. Starfish, crabs and minnows hide in the rocks as we approach. The Salt Flats- This trip has a great variety of sights. Several picturesque mountain churches await your photos. Laguna Chaxa is loaded with flamingoes almost everyday. Lovely high mountain lakes and salt flats teem with vicuña and fox and offer an incredible contrast in colors between the blue waters and red mountains. Snow capped volcanoes up to 20,000 ft. surround us all day. Chuquicamata Copper Mine- The largest open pit mine in the world, "Chuqui" provides about 40% of Chile's GNP. Mammoth trucks haul copper ore up out of the open pit mine 365 days a year. An hour long tour gives us a close-up look at the mines inner workings. Desert Villages- In one day we'll have the opportunity to see four remote desert villages. Hidden away in the bottoms of valleys or tucked into the trees in an oases time seems to have left these villages behind. Indigenous Atacamanian residents carry heavy loads on their backs and wear brightly colored clothes typical of the region. Photogenic churches sit patiently as time passes them by. Geysers of Tatio- Prepare for an early morning. The geysers are best viewed at sunrise as the steam condenses against the cold morning air. Terrific photo opportunities abound as the first rays of the sun touch the steam plumes. Don't run for your photo though, at 16,000 ft. the air is a bit thin! Flora and Fauna- The far north holds many natural wonders. Exotic cactus species cover steep hillsides and desert wildflowers are too numerous to count. Lauca National Park is home to healthy populations of vicuña, fox, flamingoes and vizcachas. What's a vizcacha? Come to the Atacama to find out! Cities- Iquique is a beautiful coastal city supported by it's fishing and mining industries. A year round pleasant climate and clean beaches make this one of Chile's nicest cities. Tasty seafood is popular fare at numerous restaurants and an excellent choice after several days in the mountains. Your five-star hotel Terrado Suites is on the beach and next door to the casino. Welcome to the driest place on Earth, a land of fire and unspoiled natural beauty that has attracted adventurers and explorers from everywhere. The Atacama Desert, situated in the foothills of the Chilean Andean mountain range, 13,000 feet above sea level, offers some of the most spectacular and dramatic vistas on Earth. Its multi-colored landscape, that appears to come straight out of a Dali masterpiece, is a treasure chest of natural wonders. Majestic volcanoes, intense multi-colored lagoons, immense salt flats, dazzling geysers, welcoming hot springs, tiny pre-Hispanic settlements, as well as a wide variety of rare animal wildlife such as llamas, vicunas, guanacos, alpacas, flamingos and wild ducks, make the Desert of Atacama a "must-see place in a lifetime". |