Enjoying the Culture 185keeps coastal water temperatures a chilly 15°C (59°F)
throughout most of the country. It finally veers out to sea near
Antofagasta, making this a perfect place for swimming.
The first place to see is the popular village of San Pedro
de Atacama, known for its picturesque colonial church. This
town sits on the edge of the driest desert in the world and its
archaeological museum has some of the oldest mummies in
the world on display. From here you can visit La Valle de la
Luna (Valley of the Moon). Due to the type of minerals found
here and wind erosion, this strange place gives the illusion
of being on the moon. Or, you could go see the flamingos
that live in the Flamencos National Reserve. A trip can also
be made to the nearby salt flats.
In spite of its severe aridity, every few years the Atacama
Desert erupts into a meadow of brightly coloured flowers. If
you happen to be in Chile at the time of the Flowering Desert,
you could be one of the few people to witness this miracle.
Near Lasana you can admire the Pukara, fortress-like cities
that were built into the hills in the 12th century. Further
inland are the Tatio geysers, which come to life at sunrise,
spraying steam high up into the air. Further south is the Ojos
del Salado Volcano. It is the second highest mountain in the
Americas and the highest active volcano in the world.
About five hours north of Santiago lies La Serena. This
city offers long beaches and urban entertainment. It is a
pleasant place to vacation. From La Serena you can plan a
day trip into the stunning Elqui Valley and sample pisco at
the various distilleries. A short drive to the town of Vicuña
will take you to the home and museum of Chile’s Nobel
laureate, Gabriela Mistral.
Wildlife
Chile’s indigenous wildlife include the alpaca, vicuña, llama,
guanacos and flamingos found in the altiplano in the north. The
Chilean condor lives high up in the Andes mountains. In the
south, there are huemuls (a large deer) and pudús (a small deer),
guanacos, ñandús (ostrich-like birds) and penguins. A reduced
number of pumas roam free in several national parks.