High Andes of the Atacama

In March 2026, I returned to San Pedro de Atacama for more astro imaging. While there, I was working remotely most of the time, but on the weekend I drove up into the high mountains toward the east and north. I ended up driving up to 15,700ft over one pass. It's incredibly desolate, but beautiful and a surprising amount of wildlife. I loved photographing the vicuña, even finding some young ones! I found rufous-bellied seedsnipes, tons of flamingos, and even a Rhea! I also drove west a bit and visited a site with ancient petroglyphs. While this region seems incredibly barren at a glance, it's amazing how much there is to see here! I look forward to my next trip!