Altiplano – Maldo Travels https://www.maldotravels.com Travel - Learn - Share Fri, 29 Apr 2022 12:46:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.maldotravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Favicon-Black.png Altiplano – Maldo Travels https://www.maldotravels.com 32 32 San Pedro de Atacama – Geysers El Tatio https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/san-pedro-de-atacama-geysers-el-tatio/ https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/san-pedro-de-atacama-geysers-el-tatio/#respond Fri, 28 Sep 2018 14:06:13 +0000 http://54.211.235.180/?p=4952

We got an early morning tour that cost 17,000 CLP1 which included hotel pick up, transportation, a guide, and breakfast. The tour bus picked us up from our hotel at around 6 AM. From San Pedro de Atacama, it takes about an hour and a half to reach El Tatio. It’s a steep increase in altitude from 2400 meters to over 4300 meters above sea level. We arrive at around 7.30 AM and the sun has only just finished coming up behind the surrounding mountains. At the entrance, we pay the 10,000 CLP which includes access to the thermal bath. At this altitude and in these early hours, outside temperatures are around -8 degrees Celsius. So make sure to take very warm clothing and footwear. Some people came wrapped in blankets since it was so cold. It’s also quite tiring to walk around so don’t rush through the fields to avoid getting altitude sickness.

The guide gathers the group around and gives some information on the geysers. He mentions the temperatures of the geysers are around 89 degrees Celsius. As you get close to some of the geysers, you can feel the heat on the floor. You can warm your hands up by just touching the ground. The guide takes you around for a bit at the start, and then he gives you some time to explore on your own. There are geysers of all sizes throwing hot gasses into the air and some even spewing boiling water. Overall, we had about an hour to go throughout the site before meeting back at the tour bus in the parking lot. A lot of people came back earlier though since it was so cold.

Once everyone was back on the bus, it was a quick 5-minute drive to the site’s thermal bath. At the parking lot, the guide pulled out a foldaway table to have breakfast. He gave out sandwiches and laid out some thermos containers with hot coffee and hot water to make tea. Once we were done with breakfast, we were given about half an hour to bathe in the hot thermal bath so make sure you take swimwear and a towel if you plan to get in. There are changing rooms and shower facilities at the site. We had our swimming gear, but it was still extremely cold so we decided not to get in. Instead, we found a trail that goes around the area which takes you to see some more geysers. We were done and back on the bus to head back at 9.30 AM. On the way back, the landscape in the daylight is beautiful. We make a quick stop for pictures and the guide talks about the flora and fauna in the area. As we continue, we make a final stop at the small village of Machuca. There’s a stall selling drinks and snacks but the interesting thing here is a street vendor selling grilled llama skewers. Most people feel weird about trying it, but I tried some and it was an interesting taste. We then head back to San Pedro de Atacama arriving at around 11.30 AM.

]]> https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/san-pedro-de-atacama-geysers-el-tatio/feed/ 0 Volcan Antisana & Laguna La Mica https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/volcan-antisana-laguna-la-mica/ https://www.maldotravels.com/south-america/volcan-antisana-laguna-la-mica/#respond Mon, 11 Jun 2018 12:32:25 +0000 http://3.8.116.40/?p=2233

Towering over the clouds at just over 5700 meters above sea level, Volcan Antisana is Ecuador’s 4th highest Volcano. It can be found in a beautiful and diverse national ecological reserve which is also home to Laguna La Mica. Geographically, it is close to the capital city of Quito and easily accessible by car. Google maps do not have the updated roads but the national ecological reserve can be accessed via the small town of Pintag. It is a scenic route which goes past a stretch of volcanic lava rock from a prehistoric eruption that is currently being quarried. Getting there by public transport is more challenging. You can take buses up until Pintag but then you would need to get private transportation that goes to the ecological reserve or book a tour. It is possible to climb Volcan Antisana but it is for highly experienced climbers and requires adequate climbing equipment for ice and snow. I believe that it is also necessary to get a permit from the officials in Pintag, so it is definitely a serious challenge to attempt.

Entry to the ecological reserve itself is free and the guard simply takes your ID details to sign you in. The ecological reserve opens at 9 AM and closes at 4 PM. I’d recommend getting there as soon as it opens since that’s when the skies are clearest for the best pictures of the volcano. Also, bring warm clothing as it gets very windy and cold due to being higher up than the capital. The lowest point is approximately 3100 meters and gets close to 4000 meters if you go on the trails around the lake. To get to Laguna La Mica, there is another checkpoint where the guard takes your ID details to sign you in. You have to leave the car at the parking lot at this entrance unless you have a senior with you. Laguna La Mica is a big C-shaped lake and the trails have great viewpoints of both the lake and Volcan Antisana. The short trails are 45 minutes long and take you halfway to get a view of the whole lake. The long trail is a 3 hours circuit which takes you to the other end of the lake. This terrain is great for acclimatizing if you plan to climb a mountain. However, do bring water and snacks as walking in high altitude is very exhausting

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