Cristobal, my guide from Awasi Atacama is on holidays from today, so I am lucky enough to be assigned Pierre, my guide on my last visit. Some of the happiest memories of hikes and site I have of the Atacama Desert in Chile are due to Pierre, so I’m happy to leave the decision on where to go today to him. We end up walking through the fruit orchards in Toconao before heading to Quezala Ravine, which you would never know were there…lemons, pomegranates and figs, all growing in this green oasis in the desert.
Then it’s on to Talabre and the Quezala Ravine , another location for petroglyphs and some stunning scenery an hour south of San Pedro. This little known location attracts few visitors despite having well-maintained signage and some easy entry paths down to the dry river bed in the ravine. Quezala Ravine also bears witness to the damaging force of the recent floods. Petroglyphs that have survived more than 2000 years are showing signs of water-based erosion and damage from mud washing up the sides of the canyon wall.
There are spectacular collapses of the sides of the canyon walls and mud–covered boulders strewn along the river bed.
