While a bit disappointing as a natural spectacle because of unmanaged visitation, the geysers were a vivid indication of the active volcanism of this area. We drove back to Calama via Caspana and Chiu-Chiu, two oases villages in the Atacama. En route we observed vicuna, the most graceful and rare of the cameloids which include guanaco and domesticated llamas and alpaccas. Extraordinary mountain scenery filled the cloudless sky. The visits to Chiu Chiu and Caspana were very interesting because no one in the villages really seemed to be affected by our presence or care about our cameras, clothing or foods.
People here live dramatically isolated lives with contented acceptance.
We were cautioned that as village guests we should not take pictures of local people, a request we gladly followed. This is a trip of long distance driving. Usually roads are paved, but some are not. We traveled in 8 to 10 passenger Ford or other vans. At the end of this long day we finished our land trip with a final crossing of the Atacama Desert back to the Calama Airport.