The Cactus Trip Diaries

With the car fixed, we could contemplate returning back to Antofagasta and continue our search for Copiapoa, but not before taking an early morning look for cacti on the way to El Tatio, where we found

• (S042) Echinopsis formosa (syn. Soehrensia uebelmanniana)

• (S043) Echinopsis (Trichocereus) atacamensis and

• (S044) Oreocereus leucotrichus.

It was all a bit rushed, we had allowed ourselves until 11:00 am to take a look at these high altitude habitats before returning to Antofagasta at sea level, where we arrived in good time and found accommodation opposite, but not at one of the best hotels in town. In fact our accommodation could best be described as rather basic.

S044: Oreocereus leucotrichus along the track to El Tatio