Ride Day 60: San Pedro de Atacama to Antofagasta

I knew once I got to Santiago I would need to get my KTM Super Adventure serviced, new tires and also replace parts in my helmet if possible.

After one night in San Pedro de Atacama, I awoke to quite a gorgeous day, perhaps a little chilly, but I would take the sunshine any day. I spent a few hours looking around, and it was a pretty impressive spot.

To Antofagasta
But it was time to move on. I would travel via Ruta 23, Ruta 25 and Panamericana Norte/Ruta 5 on my way to Antofagasta.

I would travel mostly through Calama, the desert city of Sierra Gorda and also the small mining town of Mantos Blancos. But, there was not much to see along the route.

Antofagasta
Antofagasta is a port city in northern Chile, about 1,100 kilometres (700 mi) north of Santiago. It is the capital of Antofagasta Province and Antofagasta Region. According to the 2012 census, the city has a population of 345,420.

According to the 2012 census, the city has a population of 345,420.

Formerly part of Bolivia, Antofagasta was captured by Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879–83), and the transfer of sovereignty was finalized in the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two countries.

The city of Antofagasta is closely linked to mining activity, being a major mining area of the country.

The last decade has seen a steady growth in the areas of construction, retail, hotel accommodations, population growth, and remarkable skyline development.

Antofagasta has the highest GDP per capita of Chile, 37,000 USD and the 3rd place for Human Development Index just after Metropolitana de Santiago Region and Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region. From Wikipedia

Panamericana Hotel Antofagasta
I arrived around 3pm. My room was not ready on arrival. No one came to help me with my bags, yet the porter was keen as mustard to walk my bags to my room and get money for nothing.

It took about 45 minutes to check in after arrival. This was because there was one customer being served and only two staff. One of the reception staff was occupied with paperwork right in front of me. Obviously much more important

One of the reception staff was occupied with paperwork right in front of me. Obviously much more important than serving a customer.

Once I got to my room, I  got all my gear ready, all my devices on charge and still had some gear left in the bike. So I would have to go down again shortly.

So I showered and changed and soaked my gear in the bath as I had a balcony and the weather was nice and warm - I figured it would dry by morning.

Then I went back down to reception. I asked them to look after a bag whilst I went shopping and touring (not wanting to go back up to my room and back down again)

I went for a walk to local shops, got some delicious street food, then went for a swim in beach and returned again after about 3 hours. They could not find my bag, actually, they could not find the porter who took my bag.

After about another 30 minutes he arrived and said he gave it to the girl at reception. She finally looked up at me and said "Oh, yes here it is", was sitting right next to her the whole time. Pathetic.

The room was nice, rest of staff was nice, views were nice, but will never return. WiFi was just average and hotel pretty much empty.