Pan de Azucar

Hey guys.
I have returned from my trip into the desert. I tell you it was amazing.

We rocked up in Chañaral and looked around for a way to get to the Nacional Park. We ended up getting a colectivo with a really friendly guy. He told us all about the park and drove us to three different campsites until we found the best one. We pitched our tent literally on the beach. We had sugarloaf island right in front of us and red/brown dry hills all around us.

Isla Pan de Azucar

We went for a walk into the desert one day and it was so hot. We were by the coast so there was still a bit of moisture in the air, but the ground was dry. There were a few brave plants struggling for survival, and we saw a desert fox wandering around. There were loads of lizards that you could only see once they were running away from you. They were so fast! We could see where there had once been a river and the ground was all dry and cracked. The hills were incredile. Giant and jagged but covered in little rocks that would crumble as soon as you touched them.

We went swimming in the ocean and the waves were so strong. It was insane. You'd get pushed forward with the tide and then pulled backwards and then forward again. Amina said at one point she was doing a forward roll while trying to pull on her clothes that the waves had pulled off. I did a lot of reading on the beach and Amina played her drum a lot. We chatted to the other campers. Chilenos from Santiago that were road tripping the beaches of the North before going to university in March. Me and Amina made a Western film in the desert but it's on Amina's camera so I can't upload it.

The desert was so empty and silent. It was eerie. And there was no shade anywhere. We had to alternate between boiling in our tent and frying in the sun. I used a lot of suncream!