 | San Pedro de Atacama Atacama salt flat Reviews | 1 - 7 of 7 |  |
 Laguna Chaxa (Atacama salt
flat) by Glospi
The lanscape is, again, out-of-this-world: an endless white salt extension, which on approaching turns into a strange sea of solid salt waves, stopped in its breaking motion.
Those of us, who were fortunate to see the Salar before venturing into it was banned and restricted, had the chance of seeing the very heart of it, where the salt have hexagonal, “beehive” shapes at ground level: is there where the salt is “born”, but now that’s off-limits and you can usually get only to Laguna Chaxa, where the ranger’s office (this is the Los Flamencos Natural Reserve) and the guides are.
But there’s still a lot allowed to be seen: pink flamingos nest and look for the microorganisms they eat (namely Artemia salina) in the salt ponds, filtering the salt water with a membrane they have inside their beaks, while giant Andean ducks loiter around.
At sunset, flamingos flock to the center of the salar, sometimes flying overhead the people, making it a wonderful sight; the active Lascar volcano lies close to the east, adding to the striking panorama.
It usually gets windy and pretty cold in the afternoon, and one gets thirsty quite easily. Hygrometers at the center of the salar usually read “0”, but spring to life when a human approaches, marking 4 or 5 percent.
An interpretative trail is built along a short span of the early salt ponds, dotted with explanatory totems, and a guide usually accompanies tour groups, giving a lecture on the salar and their inhabitants...it may be educative, but sincerely, I preferred it the wild way.
There’s a shelter at the end of the road, where tickets are sold (US$ 2,50). There are toilets and parking, as well as information on the local wildlife. Leave a Comment Directions: The shelter at Laguna Chaxa is on S 23º17’13,0”/ W 68º10’27,9” alt. 2341 mts./7678 ft. The road is signposted. Nikon F4s, Nikkor 20 mm., f.16, 1/60 sec., POL filter
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 by patricia28
Then the trip continue to the Big Chaxa lake which is the biggest saline deposit of Chile which surface, white and rugose, secret to simple sight a great salt lake. The size is of 300.000 has and can be estimated in its entirety due to the fact that the air is completely dry. The view of the Salar is very amazing specially when the sunset come, the variety of colours is fantastic and there is a beautiful view of the Volcanos Licancabur and Lascar.
The tour takes 3-4 hours and is better during the afternoon ( to watch the sunset).
The cost is 17 dollars. Leave a Comment Directions: Contact some travel agency in the principal street of San Pedro de AtacamaWebsite: www.sanpedroatacama.com
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 Salt Flat of Atacama by elsadran
But the sweetest thing on this enormous brownish white, rough surface, is the elegant flamingos ..dancing in the shallow waters of the pools. They are moving their legs and beaks rhythmically trying to remove the sand and uncover their food, all at the same pace, participating in the same beautiful dance...!
More photos in the TRAVELOGUE.
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A desert of salt !! View of flamingos... Don't forget your binocular !!! Wonderful sunset... 7500 pesos per person by an agency or rent a bike and take the bus from San Pedro to Toconao, and then ride until the desert. This option allows you to stay much longer and watch an unbelievable night sky (agencies take you back at 7.30 PM !). If you choose this option, don't forget to take warm clothes and water !
Un desert de sel ! Des vues sur des flamants... (n'oubliez pas vos jumelles). Superbe coucher de soleil. 7500 pesos par personne, quand on passe par une agence.
On peut egalement y aller seul en louant un velo et en prenant le bus jusqu'a Toconao, puis en pedalant vers le desert. Cette option permet de rester plus tard que 7.30 PM (heure a laquelle les agences vous ramenent a San Pedro) pour apprecier un ciel d'etoiles unique.
Si vous choisissez cette option, n'oubliez pas de prendre de l'eau et des vetements chauds ! Leave a Comment
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 by euzkadiLeave a Comment
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 Salar at San Pedro de Atacama by swesn
In Salinas Grande, the grounds were flat and white with rough crystals forming hexagon shapes all around.
In Salar de Atacama, the salt-pan ground was uneven, dried up and brown, all the crystals and mixture of minerals were huge, jagged, lumpy rocks. It was impossible to walk on them and a path had been flattened out for us to walk across the salar.
This area is also home to flamingoes. I had come to see them but a pity they were slurping up the acidic lake miles away, tiny little dots in the distance. Leave a Comment
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