Desierto Florido

Every 4-5 years, when there is more than 7mm precipitation, the arid Atacama Desert bursts into bloom. Dormant seeds beneath the sands explode into life and colour in a phenomenon called the Desierto Florido (Flowering Desert). It is impossible to predict the year of the Desierto Florido (it last happened in 2008) and it only occurs between September and November, so it was a special treat for us to see it this year. The first photo shows the contrast between a typical year and a flowering year. Both photos were taken in the same spot in the same week of September.

Below are a selection of our photos taken from the Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe and the mountain road between Huasco and Punta de Choros. Enjoy!

Camping Road Trip

Over the National Day long weekend, we drove north on a 1600km road trip to the start of the Atacama Desert. At the small town of Huasco we turned towards Tres Playitas ('three little beaches') and set up camp on the dunes for two nights. 

The reason for this trip was to see the desert flowers, a spectacular natural phenomenon in the dry desert (see next post!). We also spent one night in Apolillado ('moth-eaten beach'). The trip was a huge success and we spent some quality time with friends, sharing wine around the camp fire and falling asleep to the sound of the waves. 

We drove on dirt tracks through some beautiful mountain passes and enjoyed the vast flower-covered landscapes. This was definitely a great way to explore a new part of Chile!