Travel day - heading for Iquique

Planning ahead we realised that the easiest and cheapest way from San Pedro de Atacama to La Paz would be via Iquique. There are daily flights from Iquique to La Paz and they are rather cheap, takes about 1½ hours.

Getting to Iquique by bus was a whole day drive via Calama but it was doable, and including a night in Iquique about half price of taking the plane from Calama via Santiago to La Paz. And an adventure included. Never heard of Iquique or anybody who'd been there.

Bus from San Pedro to Calama at 9:30 in the morning, then waiting for about an hour and then the bus to Iquique. A almost 400 kilometre drive first through the mining community of Maria Elena and then a short stop at the coast in the town on Tocopilla.

Coming down from the altiplano to the coast is where the first impressive scenery starts going through a huge canyon. At Tocopilla the Pacific ocean is visible being on our left for the next 250 kilometres and to the right the steep mountains. It's a desert all the way towards Iquique but so impressive. The ocean pounding the rocks, the mountains preventing the clouds from going inland.

Iquique suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Like an oasis of some sort. Not knowing why the town is here apart from the fact that is has a major port.

We reached the bus station, walked to our hostel, had a shower and headed out only to find that the town was very quiet on a Sunday evening. We managed to find a place that was open and had super good sea food. Maybe a good decision since we a going to Bolivia for the next couple of weeks.

Fingers crossed that we are able to find the Amaszonas office tomorrow. In order to get to our next destination we need tickets for tomorrow and they do not believe in "online" yet.

Coffee before departure

You can always re-read Weekendavisen

Yes, we are on the right way

Lunch eating Jes - or vice versa

Ocean, mountains, stunning

Even more stunning

Birds on a rock

Almost at Iquique