Moquegua to Pozo Almonte
Very rough day with heavy cross wind. Wore me out. About 300 miles of mountains and Alto Plano. The alto plano is like working your way up a tall mountain only to discover that is flatten out like a table top for another 50 miles. Then you get to wind your way down the mountain and repeat the scenario.
Pozo Almonte is a very small town (my kind). The hotel is very good and the food is great. I told the hotel manager, who speaks English, that I was considering going to Iquiqui which is about an hour from Pozo Almonte. Besides being a large ocean side city he said its best attractions were the beaches and para-sailing. I decided not to check out Iquiqui. I think I'll go from small town to small town for now (if possible).
Day 17 & 18 (Oct. 20)Pozo Almonte to San Pedro de Atacama
This time I got into San Pedro in time to get a better hotel. Well there's no TV and so far the internet feature, that's provided it the main building, doesn't work. It's a cool place with lots of restaurants and shops, dusty unpaved streets and many tour companies. I hadn't noticed the first time here that everything from tours to the Salar de Luna, to horseback treks and bicycles outings are offered. Even "sand boarding" is popular in areas nearby.
One thing I did notice the first time was the dogs. For a small town there are many dogs. They lay flat out on streets and in shop doorways. And after dark they bark. The cool air must provoke them to run around and boss each other.
Day 19 (Oct. 22)
San Pedro de Atacama to Pumamarca
Crossing the Paso de Jama this time was a piece of cake. The highest part was warm and sunny. The Aduana (customs) was simple and quick. I made good time even though I stopped to take pictures. More llamas and not much traffic. The Andes seem to me to mostly be big and long. The few big trucks are slow going but easy to pass with a bike.
This photoobtained on-line.
I didn't arrive
with enough
light to get the
beautiful colors.
(click to enlarge)
Pumamarca is known for its "mountain of seven colors". The switchbacks down from the high pass led to this beautiful part of the otherwise baren mountains. It’s located a few miles north of Jujuy and from the looks of the modern hotel architecture where I'm staying its probably tourist oriented. Arriving late in the day I chose the first hotel I came to. It was very nice with the largest cost I've paid, about $80 u.s. I’m leaving early to try to get to Salta as early as possible to meet up with Julio Rueda.
Two views of San Pedro de Atacama and breakfast with fellow Americans. It was rare to speak English on this trip.
