San Pedro de Atacama Tours (Second Day)

The second day of touring consisted of an all-day tour (Piedras Rojas and Antiplanic (high plains) lagoons)).  I had to get up a little earlier for this one (7am).  Unfortunately, we were told that we could not see Piedras Rojas, because the local indigenous group who manage it had closed it for the day.  Many of the tourist sites in the Atacama Desert are managed and operated by local indigenous groups who apparently exercise absolute control over these tourist sites.  We were not told the exact reasons why Piedras Rojas was closed, but I am going to take a wild guess and say it came down to money as in all things.  

Piedras Rojas would have looked something like this had I actually seen it with my own eyes:

But instead, we were taken to what turned out to be a rock quarry.  Somewhat interesting, but not as interesting as Piedras Rojas would have been.  I would say I got jipped.

Rock Quarry

Next, I was taken to the antiplanicas lagoons (Miscanti an Miniques), which were about 13,000 feet in altitude.

I was next taken to Chaxa Lagoon in the middle of an Atacama salt flat to see flamingos.  I made sure I applied sunscreen on (which I usually neglect to do) as it was incredibly hot in the middle of the salt flat.

I came across some different colored pools of water.  I was told that different bacteria make the water in these pools appear with different colors.  The bacteria is actually on the ground and rocks underneath the water.  I will later see such things in Iquique on the coast of Norte Grande, but on a much grander scale.  I was told that it is a must see.

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