El tatio geysers

We got up at 4am for a 4.30am pickup to visit these geysers.  We hung around at our hotel for a hour before the van finally arrived at 5.30am Grrr! :-(

The ride was long and very uncomfortable travelling along unpaved roads before we arrive just as the sky was lightening.  

The altitude of this place is 4320 metres and we actually went a bit higher than this on the way there.   It was absolutely freezing when we arrived (-12 c).  The reason for the early start is because the steam is much more spectacular when the air is cold.  However we were quite relieved when the sun finally came up and the temperature rapidly rose.

Unfortunately Jane and I forgot our swimming things so had to forgo the dip in the hot springs

My main picture shows the steaming fumaroles before sunrise and the first extra just after the sun hit them.  The second extra shows some Llamas on the pretty Altiplana as we came down.

Today is our last day in the Atacama and we fly south tomorrow