The undulating dunes of the Valle de la Luna in the huge Atacama Desert in the long shadows of late afternoon, just before sunset.

CHILE: One end to the other -- Atacama Desert

The delicate vicuna (above), the smallest of the South American camellids is shy and hard to spot in its desert home. Llamas and alpacas (below) less wary.

The Valle de la Luna in the dessert is so other worldly that astronauts are said to have trained here for moon visits.

One thing that grows on this huge barren desert is cactus.

The hotel at the small village of San Pedro de Atacama was comfortable and interesting,  made in the local style with sand and straw adobe. (Click to see the entrance to our room).

The bell tower stands tall on the village square at Tocanao and demonstrates the area's typical stone work. The door, and the ceiling of the church (below) are made of cactus. (Click to see church ceiling detail.)

Atacama Panorama of salt flats and San Pedro