The Driest Place on Earth

From La Paz, we came down from the mountains to the coast.  We flew from Santiago to Arica, Chile's most northern city, since domestic flights are much cheaper than international flights.  This city was our starting and finishing point for our loop through Peru and Bolivia.  We spent a little time in the city itself including going out to see the world's oldest mummies which have been discovered in the coastal valleys in the northern Atacama. 

The world's oldest mummies on display.  They date back to the Chincorro culture; a culture that existed in the fertile desert valleys and lived off of the resources that came from the sea.

Overlooking Arica to the bay.  The church steeple in the middle is part of church designed for the city by Gustave Eiffel.

The sun peaking out over the Andes on the flight back to Santiago.