Page 18 - Explore Magazine Winter 2018

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THE SPIRIT OF

THE DESERT

Marie Coles of helloworld Cambridge travelled to Chile with LATAM and World Journeys.

I’m a big fan of deserts. The hot dry air agrees with me A hundred kilometres southeast from Calama, via a
and I love the burnt-orange vistas that stretch as far as well-maintained road that is very straight and very
the eye can see. I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few flat, is the hub of the desert, San Pedro de Atacama.
deserts around the world and the Atacama, the driest It’s a dusty town with dirt streets brimming with
desert in the world, is up there with the best. Getting accommodation, bars, restaurants, tour operators
there is a journey in itself: it’s an 11-hour flight from and craft shops. It’s also a tourism mecca with the
Auckland to Santiago on LATAM followed by a two-hour surrounding desert landscape including salt flats,
domestic flight north to Calama. Chile is a long country: volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. In the centre of
from north to south it extends 4,270km. Compare that town is a pretty shaded square and a gorgeous adobe-
to Australia at 4,030km east to west and you get an clad church full of eclectic statues, bright artwork and a
idea of the size. stunning wood-beamed ceiling.
If you’re lucky enough to get a clear day and a window Four kilometres out of town, on a no-exit road, is Alto
seat as I did, you will definitely witness some wondrous Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa. Designed by architects
scenery. But then Chile has so many amazing places to who were influenced by local village architecture, it
explore and on our World Journeys private tour we also seamlessly blends a luxury hotel into the environment
visited Santiago and its nearby wine country, colourful and creates a tranquil place for guests to enjoy. Our
Valparaiso, and the vastness of Patagonia with its hostess took us on a stroll around the property pointing
breathtaking scenery. out many environmentally-friendly concepts including
flourishing fruit and vegetable gardens that use ancient
Calama is the mining capital of Chile and has a small agricultural techniques for water retention and irrigation,
modern airport that sees many tourists and miners (the and a hotel farm with llamas and alpacas
world’s largest copper mine is close by) passing through
each day. Calama welcomed us with a spectacular sunset The Alto Atacama offers an all-inclusive package that
as we stepped off the plane and by the time we met includes delicious meals, drinks (be sure to try renowned
our driver and got on the road it was pitch-black with a Chilean drinks such as Pisco Sour and Carménère red
myriad of sparkling stars above. wine) and an extensive array of excursions. Staff are on

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