We will leave San Pedro today to join the Geyser of El Tatio which is located at 4450 m above sea level. Before the school lessons, the kids play with caterpillars...

We buy some food in the village before leaving, when someone says ... "Ca va les Belges ?"It's Damien, he is director of a museum in St Hubert, Belgium and is at the moment responsible for the renovation project of the museum of San Petro de Atacama...

Incredible, the world is really a small village ...

During the ascent, the Defender seems to lose power. The engine temperature is a bit high and we stop to cool down the engine. A car stops and we meet Stefan and his colleague, 2 belgian guys working for the Flanders Investment and Trade in the belgian embassy in Santiago.

Again incredible ...

We decide to drive back to Calama to take the time to check correctly if this behaviour of the vehicle is normal...

During the evening the kids are using their new astronomy knowledges  ... The moon smiles !

Daniel calls in the morning to Land Rover Eupen and to Trekk to explain the problem we have with the car. They are both very professional and confirm that the car is ok, knowing the fact that the altitude is high and that we are heavily loaded.

We will adapt our way of driving when we reach 3000 m above sea level and we'll use the low gear when needed...

Thanks to Trekk and to Land Rover Eupen for their help and their advices...Even so far away we can rely on their professionalism ...

Direction the Geyser of El Tatio at 4450m above sea level. We stop in a small typical village at 3200 m... and we make a bivouac on the main square of this small pueblo... The local population is a bit surprised.

The kids have new friends the next morning ...

We climb from  3200 m to 4500 m. The landscapes are fantastic...

We stop regularely during the ascent. This pemits us to check if everybody supports the altitude and to give some rest to the engine ...

Always in front of a fascinating scenery. ...

We sleep in front of the Geyser ... We are alone and use this opportunity for a walk. Boiling water and smoke are coming out of the entrails of the earth... Terrific spectacle.

During the night it will be -10°C but we do not notice it ...

The best time to visit the Geyser is a 6 am...that's what we will do the next morning...this time in the middle of a lot of tourists...

When we leave the Geyser, we see several vicunas, cousin of the guanacos...

When we are at 3800 m, we discover a wonderful valley ... to reach it we drive on a path full of big stones and deep ruts. When we arrive at the bottom we approach a herd of lamas. After that the kids have fun with the tadpoles and make some artistic realizations...

We decide to go back to Calama for 2 days ... Our goal is the preparation of the trip to Bolivia: water & food supply, trip planning, lightening of the equipment. Our equipement must go on a diet....the weight is our enemy, especially in the Altiplano where we'll be at 5500 m above sea level with roads in bad condition.

During the evening, Catherine & Lisa start a competition ... who will unfold the tent the first ...