Blogs from Coquimbo Region, Chile, South America - page 3

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South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena January 9th 2014

Geo: -29.9008, -71.2448I was arriving in La Serena very late in the evening and it was freezing cold in the summer...Chile...it's the chill that gets you...haha...I was searching for the guesthouse I have goggled on the Internet...Unfortunately fully booked but the lady at the entrance brought me to another guesthouse, which is not advertised on the Internet and therefore not fully booked so I got a nice room with a beautiful yard to relax in the morning (sorry, forgot to make pics)... In northern Chile you always have to make sure to stay in the cities a bit and relax...Little Oases in the vast bone dry desert that surrounds just about every city and town in northern regions of Chile. Anyhow, the next day I was fit again and brought my motorbike to the first scheduled ... read more
On the road into the unknown Atacama Desert
On the road into the unknown Atacama Desert
On the road into the unknown Atacama Desert

South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena December 31st 2013

Finally we left the drier than dry dusty desert landscapes behind, and took direction towards the coast. Even though, the coast is also desert in Northern Chile, but at least there is the fresh ocean air instead of just dust. We boarded a bus to the town of Copiapó (which btw is where those 33 miners were trapped and then rescued three years ago), but never made it there, because in the course of our bus journey, it became apparent that regarding our plans to visit Pan de Azucar national park, it would make much more sense to get off in the town of Chañaral instead. Only we worried a bit whether we would find a place to sleep in that small town arriving quite late in the evening, so we decided that once the bus ... read more
emerging from the sea (actually I'm escaping a wave)
algae on the beach
picture of taking picture

South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » Pisco Elqui October 5th 2013

My next destination was La Serena, situated about 500km to the north of Santiago. It's the capital of the Coquimbo region and is the second oldest city in Chile. I planned to use it as a stepping off point before heading to the Valle de Elqui- an important area for the production of pisco (grape brandy), the base for the very popular pisco sour, national drink of Chile- and Peru. In addition, I'd hoped to do a trip to see the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve about 130km further to the north, but unfortunately the trip is weather dependent and the weather gods were not being cooperative during my short stay. I have other opportunities later in my trip to see penguins, so no real drama or disappointment. So, I grabbed a bus and headed east to ... read more
Wind Farm
La Serena
Public buildings near the plaza

South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena July 15th 2013

15/7-2013: We went to La Serena with our friend Cristian by car. It was though to say goodbye and now know if you will return again. Slept a lot of the way and arrived at midday - we had some lunch with the other three girls who were already there and Haroldo who we were staying with - had some really nice seafood at a restaurant at the beach. We booked a tour to Isla Damas the next day and went home to relax before dinner and a night out. We went to a reggae bar called Tsunami with live music and it was really fun. 16/7-2013: We got up early to go to Isla Damas, and got on the wrong bus cause the busdriver chose not to check the ticket.. We found out real ... read more
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South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena June 9th 2013

- Flight from Montevideo to Santiago I started my vacation with 2 days in the Chile office and 1 day shopping spree in Santiago. I was so deprived from global chains - I just eschewed my initial idea of a bike tour and dived in a Banana Repulic and H&M tour instead. A bit like a junkie off his dope for 3 days - for me it was 3 months!!!! - Flight from Santiago to La Serena – 450 km Finally - the real holiday started on Sunday morning - when I met Adi at the Santiago airport- We flew with Sky Airline up to La Serena for a quick visit of the Elqui Valley. In Pisco Elqui we found a really cool hotel with geodesic (tent) domes with our own private terrace. Unfortunately we had ... read more
Deserted valley
Pisco Elqui
Eating & drinking

South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region June 7th 2013

Saturday 25 May to Thursday 30 May The overnight bus to La Serena was due to arrive in at 5am. Because of the early arrival time I was having "the fear" about sleeping past my stop. This meant a pretty horrendous night's sleep, interrupted by dreams of having woken at 8:30am god knows where. After the initial moments of panic that accompanied each of my waking moments, I managed to get a glimpse of the clock and see all was still ok. Despite this, at 5am I disembarked the bus believing we'd arrived at La Serena. Apparently not! After a very confused conversation, it turned out it was one stop too early, so I climbed back on board and half an hour late we pulled into La Serena. Being a small town and not one of ... read more
Big Bird
Coquimbo from Afar
Parting of the Clouds

South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena May 17th 2013

Oh dear, not too much to say about La Serena. I think it might have been a better experience if we had of stayed at a better hostel, or if we were into surfing, but as it was just another beach town that turned out to be a little disappointing, much like Mar del Plata in Argentina. We did a day trip to the nearby town of Coquimbo which is a fairly small industrial town with an active fishing port and mining conveyor belt for shipping and an international world cup football stadium which kind of stands out! A real shame as the coast line that we passed on the bus getting there was absolutely stunning. We had high hopes for Iquique after La Serena and after spending 16 hours on a bus to get there ... read more
Humberston swimming pool
God loves a tryer!
Main square Iquique

South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena April 4th 2013

Aujourd’hui repos, bien mérité ! J’ai laissé Delphine aller voir les pingouins moi je préfère garder le souvenir d’Ushuaia même si je sais que ce sont des pingouins différents, enfin, pardon, des manchotsdifférents. Donc ce sera juste une petite virée à la plage, à 30 minutes de marche du centre, les pieds dans le sable auprès du phare. La plage n’est pas très sauvage car La Serena est une station balnéaire très prisée des chiliens mais il fait bon se poser à cette saison, avec quelques courageux dans l’eau, mais pas beaucoup. Ce soir, bus de nuit pour Valparaiso où nous allons rejoindre Beata, fraichement débarquée de France pour la suite des aventures chiliennes. >PDJ : le détour par la région de La Serena aura été intéressant **** http://youtu.be/Z7sG1GM2TIg... read more
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South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » Pisco Elqui April 3rd 2013

Journée chargée à nouveau aujourd’hui, direction la vallée de l’Elqui, une vallée réputée pour la production de Pisco, mais avant tout très fertile, impressionnant le nombre d’arbres fruitiers (citronniers, pommiers, poiriers, avocatiers…). Premier arrêt dans une plantation de papaye, le seul fruit qui montre tous les stades sur le même arbre, car il se développe en continu, toute l’année. Puis arrêt à Monte Grande où l’illustre Gabriela Mistral originaire de la région, a vécu et été aide-institutrice à l’adolescence. Le musée (l’ancienne école/poste) est minuscule mais il est plutôt émouvant de voir le télégramme (télégramme !) de félicitations du directeur pour annoncer l’attribution du Prix Nobel de littérature en 1945. Puis direction Pisco Elqui et Los Nichos pour la plus vieille distillerie du Chili. Alors le sujet de l’origine du Pisco est sensible et pour le ... read more
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South America » Chile » Coquimbo Region » La Serena April 2nd 2013

d’embarquement squatter les sièges jusqu’à l’heure du vol. Je vais arriver à récupérer, si si. Finalement, arrivée à La Serena, à 1h30 de vol au nord de Santiago au bord de l’océan, à midi. C’est là que j’ai un choc : une vraie ville, avec des voitures (qui ne s’arrêtent pas pour te laisser passer), des feux, des magasins, que ça fait bizarre. La chance est avec nous pour trouver une auberge tranquille avec patio, en plus il fait beau, un ciel bleu sans nuage, hallucinant après la Patagonie. C’est quand même bien appréciable de remettre les tongs la journée, mes pieds m’en sont reconnaissants. Au fait, pourquoi la Serena ? Parce que c’est le point d’entrée pour visiter notamment la Vallée de l’Elqui, région du Pisco et zone réputée pour ses observatoires astronomiques, entre autres ... read more
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