Rygsækrejsen 2015-2016: Geysers del Tatio day trip

fredag den 25. september 2015

Geysers del Tatio day trip

This morning started cold and very, very early. We were picked up at the hostel at 5 am to go to the Geysers del Tatio. Needless to say - it was dark so we slept the best we could in the van. At around 7 am we arrived at the geyser field just as dawn was approaching.

First it was difficult to spot the steam coming from the ground but as daylight approached it suddenly became clear just how big the area is and how many places steam is evaporating from the ground. The area is located above 4000 meters so being there in the morning was cold. Like super cold.

As we waited for the sun to rise above the mountains and for breakfast (tea, coffee and cookies) we got a chance to see some of the geysers close up. Don't image the cartoon geysers where there is a ten meter vertical column of hot water shooting straight up from the ground. The geysers at del Tatio are much more diverse.

Some a small pools of hot bubbling water, others at steaming flows of water and yet others are real geysers boiling dry every 2-3 minutes sending a huge plume of steam towards the sky.

We continued to struggle with the cold weather until the sun appeared over the mountain ridge and then it was time for some geyser photos and some more walking around.

The next stop was just at the end of the geyser field where there was hot pools for swimming. Jes and Mikkel went into the water with around 200 other tourists only to discover that it was lukewarm. Only at one end of the big pool was the water heated by the rocks which meant hot feet if you didn't move around a bit.

All done with the swimming we started our trip back to San Perdo de Atacama this time being able to see the impressive landscape, doing a few stops on the way back. One being in a small village where we had llama meat on skewers.

Back at the hostel in the early afternoon we did something we haven't done in a long time - siesta. And then shopping and BBQ for dinner. Ready for one more early morning tomorrow.