Paula and I are photographers specializing in wildlife and we love seeing the textures of the high desert.

Our overland expedition called ‘Living Wild in South America’ has visited many remote deserts.

 

Our vehicle is a 4×4 Toyota Hilux, one of the most popular cars for accessing the desert terrain in Argentina and Chile .

Desert regions, despite the harshness of their environment, can produce some of the most captivating scenery in the World.  South America has one of the driest anywhere, the 600 mile long Atacama desert in Chile. There are places here where it hasn’t rained for 100 years.

 

Not all deserts are barren, the Tamarisk, is a drought tolerant plant that often grows alongside tracks.  The hard sand tracks collect what little moisture may be around and this is where the Tamarisk is to be seen.

 

The image above is a desert scree slope, it is a delicate series of shades and textures –  orange, blue, grey, tan, green and purple.  Winding through it are tiny tracks where Vicuna have passed. The whole scene is flecked with newly fallen snow.

 

One of the most visited parts of Northern Chile is the town of San Pedro de Atacama. The landscapes around this town are spectacular and tourist excursions often take people to the Valley of the Moon.  Close by is the village of Toconao, which is en route to the Salar de Atacama.  Toconao is well worth the visit and has an impressive gorge that cuts through the desert.  You’ll also find the accommodation here a lot cheaper than in San Pedro de Atacama. We stayed in the Complejo Turistico El Toconar which was luxury to us after 6 months living in our tiny camper!