Notes on San Pedro (de Atacama)

This last weekend, LL and I afforded ourselves the lovely pleasure of taking a mini-vacay to the desert oasis, San Pedro de Atacama.  Noted for being one of the most tourist-y places in Chile, it is an outdoorsman's heaven with a variance in landscapes that will literally make you dizzy (at an altitude of 8000ft/2500mt) and is sure to please while quietly emptying your pockets.  Now, I'm no travel writer because I think that in the grand scheme of things, people will want to form their own opinions about a place they visit for the first time.  I prefer that people reading this are left with more of a general impression rather than a detailed log of every sandy step that was taken, every beauty that was seen.  So I will spare you the specific details of our trip (anyway, those are my memories y'all!!) and share some insights for future travelers.

I present, my amigos, Brenz Top 10z-- Versión: San Pedro de Atacama:

1.  Bring every kind of clothing possible.  Pack for all seasons.   We experienced a booger freezing-cold and tank-top warmth in a period of less than 24 hours.  And don't forget your bathing suit just in case you decide to take a dip in the sweet water/salt lagoons or hot-springs (first time I've seen a naked Chinese grandpa, score!!).

2.  Don't go on a self-guided bicycle tour if it's an excessively windy day.  It just might turn out that you get stranded in the desert, in a sand/wind storm for hours upon end with no one to save you (except for a French couple, thank God).

3.  Speaking of being stranded in the desert-- bring a charged cell phone if you go off alone.  If LL hadn't been prepared with his, we probs would have shriveled up and died in the desert, alone and freezing.  Maybe not so extreme, but we most likely would have missed our flight and that would have really killed the good, happy vacay vibes...

4.  Stay in a hostel that isn't in the middle of nowhere, that doesn't have rocks holding the roof onto the walls, and that is known by at least 50% of the people you pass en route to checking-in.  If not, you could end up staying here.  And this website makes it look nice-- this place was a shithole-with-beds to be frank, and clearly situated in the chicken district of town because we were so lovely awakened by cockle-doodle-dooing at 5AM.  Obv we only stayed one night and peaced to this charming little hostal, which is totally recommendable and is owned by a darling little mamá named Iris.  And was the same price as the other.  No brainer.

5.  Hang with Ron, one of the best tour-guides I've ever toured with (he did all three of our excursions), and book your outings with Cactus Tours.  They are legit and Ron is rad. 

6.  Don't fall for crappy souvenirs that you can buy in Santiago/all of Chile whose prices are wildly inflated.  If it looks unique, it probably is and if a cranky store person says you have "mal costumbres" for looking at post cards, don't buy anything from his store (ugh, ass).  

7.  Water.  Tissues.  Chapstick.  Long-johns.  Scarf.  Sunglasses.  Snacks.  Mini-backpack/fanny-pack (don't laugh, that was clutch).

8.  Check out: Casa de Piedra (tasty onion soup, delish veggie empanada, totally nice waitress) or Cafe Adobe and avoid any place that is empty.  Make that rule #1 or else you will end up eating a vomit flavoured pastel de choclo.  Barf. 

9.  Even if it's really cold, really, really really, cold, take a dip in the laguna cejas where you float.  Cuz when else will you get the chance?  Are you going to the dead sea anytime soon?  Didn't think so......

10.  The last and most important--- go with someone who will take care of you if you get sick, take lots of silly pics with you, and let you sleep on their shoulder on the ride back into town from the 4am tour.  

Happy Trails!!!