Apr 30, 2005 - Iquique

Iquique is a beach city in the north west of Chile and our final stop off before we move up to Bolivia. We spent a couple of nights here just chilling and having some time to ourselves before we join the tour we have booked in Bolivia. Tim and Phil went surfing (bodyboarding really) and Paragliding (jumping off a cliff with a parachute) yesterday. I didnt fancy it but i reckon i will try surfing in Oz anyway. The Paragliding only cost them 25 quid and they reckon it one of the best things they've done ever...unless they are lying i may have...

Apr 8, 2005 - Chile, Arica

09-04-05 / 11-04-05 The busride from La Paz to Arica took me into a rough, barren landscape and after crossing the border in the altiplano Parque Lauca, with snow topped vulcanoes, lakes and herds of llama's. The border crossing involved a change of busses, lining up for customs and the same procedure on the Chilean side again, this time with a scanner included, one of the first differences I noticed. In Arica I stayed in the hostal Sunny Days, an address from the backpackers hostal leaflet I had picked up in the La Paz hostal. The hostal...

Apr 6, 2005 - Crossing from Chile into Bolivia

We set out from the Chilean desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama in jeeps towards Bolivia. The 3-day jeep tour has to be the most fascinating way to cross the border between Chile and Bolivia and is a staple on the South American traveller's itinerary. The scenery is remarkably different all the way across. Our first day involved lots of stops at beautiful mineral lakes and desert areas with random collections of weird shaped rocks. Then you pass an area of natural hot springs, where the brave can strip off and soak. I say brave because...

Mar 25, 2005 - Arica

I am in Arica at the moment, which is a fairly dire border town, the first you come to upon entering Chile. I`m afraid that this entry will have precious little of actual interest for you, but I`m afraid that it is Easter weekend, everything is shut (not that there is much to do in Arica) and my bus to San Pedro de Atacama does not leave until 10pm so I have a few hours to burn and am spending at least one of them in the only open internet cafè in the city. I got a bus from Arequipa to Tacna, seven hours spent driving through the Atacama...

Mar 12, 2005 - Iquique

We spent a couple of days in Iquique, but didnt get up to a whole lot-weird huh! We did however, celebrate my birthday (on the 11, for those of you who forgot...grrr...kidding!) at really cool resaurant called Van Goghs. The walls were covered in Van Gogh replicas, all very well done, and Mike got pictures of all of them! The food there looked great, but because we had spent a fair bit of time at a pub just before and consumed loads of beer, we werent that hungry. We ended up splitting a plate of wraps and having a couple more drinks, one...

Mar 9, 2005 - Iquique - Chile

What a kin journey that was, I think I have a telepathic ability to make any transport I take breakdown. 20 hour bus-ride (with frequent engine tampering) from Lima to Tacna, and hour taxi ride across the border where I thought I was going to be arrested. Something came up on the computer when they put my details in, first I was questioned in Spanish by the guy at the window, I didn't have a clue what he was saying but new something was wrong, then I ws invited into the office and spoke to his supervisor (in Spanish still no idea) then...

Mar 8, 2005 - Arica and Piure...mmmm mmmm Good

When we arrived in Arica we only had to walk a couple of blocks and we found a hostal for 3000 pesos, definately a good deal considering Chiles supposed to be a very expensive country to travel in, compared to Peru and Ecfuador that is. It was a beautiful day out, so we thought wed take a walk down by the ocean to check if there were surfers in the area. We walked along the rocks for a little while chasing crabs-our favorite past time??-and then a local man offered us some fresh seafood that he cought a few feet away. I refused the offer,...

Feb 19, 2005 - CHILE - Arica

Nothing much happening here -really just a stop off point before we went to Peru. Did u know?? Aric used to belong to Peru before Chile won the war of the Pacific and claimed all of the copper mines -Apparently this is why (A) Peruvians call people from Chile CHICKENS then spit directly afterwards, and (B) It is now a major drug (cocaine) smuggling port. .......and please check out the 2nd photo, closely......good to see the Scottishness is being exported so well.

Jan 28, 2005 - Arica

Overnight bus journeys supposed to mean sleep. This doesnt happen, when at the second stop of Calama, a big guy gets on, sits next to ya, and then proceeds to take up all available space in the 2 seats. My arm space, my leg space, no a happy girl, gave him a few sharp elbows in the middle of the night, kidding on I was sleeping. Lights went on and it was still dark outside, I had a few minutes sleep(well at least that what it felt like), and we arrived in Arica, the furthest north city in Chile, jus a few kms from the Peruvian...

Nov 26, 2004 - ...with the Condor in Flight

Hello again! Been travelling again, this time down into Chile from Peru. Had a fabulous time on my little excursion to Colca Canyon outside Arequipa. It`s the deepest canyon in the world, and it goes on for miles. The scenery, up in some of the highest peaks in Peru, was incredible. As we left Arequipa we passed through the foothills of the Andes, which are very dry and desolate (had no idea how desert-like the desert really is) and climbed up and up until we were in the altiplano, a wierd and wonderful place at enormous altitude (4000m)...

Nov 3, 2004 - Its all lies I tell ya!

Ok, My first big mistake, after hearing that I could buy a replacement camera at half the UK cost I made my way to Iquique (don´t believe everything you read on the net). Having got here I have found that the cost are at least 20% more than the UK and double that of an e-bay purchase. So now I am not sure what I will do, having spent nearly $300 dollars to get here and already two weeks behind my schedule, and even worse still in the need of a camera. I guess my options are buy a basic camera here for the same price I could buy one with...

Jul 23, 2004 - Iquique. Northern Chile.

Nice place actually. Northern Chile, on the coast, but it IS the middle of winter here so the weather ain´t all that! That said, we checked into a lovely cheap hotel, and chilled out with a couple of bottles of Chile´s finest wine (quid for 2 lires!!). The next day we wandered round the streets and markets, visited the famous plaza known as Plaz Prat! and then hopped into a nice little bar to watch Brazil kick Argentina´s arse in the final of Copa da America. A good day all in all, if not very interesting for you folks to read. The...