Salto del Laja, Chile

Just off the Pan-American Highway, Salto del Laja, is a horshoe shaped waterfall surrounded by tacky touristic type stalls, a bit run down but nevertheless a beautiful place. We stop and take in the views before heading a couple of kilometres further up the Rio Laja to a lovely little campsite right next to its own waterfall which was lovely, quiet and needed exploring.

Tents pitched with your own table and outdoor powerpoint, well indoor socket outdoors. No one seems to mind here 240 v wiring strung for metres amongst the trees, wrapped around branches before being nailed to a post. However it works fine in charging my I pad ready for the next blog. It's a lovely sunny day, a good opportunity to do some washing and get it dried. Having washed the tilleys, which are holding up well, we head off through a side gate into the woods and out onto the top of the waterfall. It is a series of cracks, pools and mini waterfalls. We find a likely spot right next to the edge and decide to go for a swim. Pretty cold but really refreshing we sit under a small waterfall before it enters a pool before racing over the main section and thundering about one hundred feet to the small valley below. This seems to be the norm now, find freezing cold water and get in it. A lovely afternoon spent relaxing, this is such hard work !!

1. Salto del Laga
2. Concho at the falls
3. Various scenes of the structure of the falls
4. Ditto
5. Yours truly in a natural pool right at the fall edge
6. Getting in is tough but once there very refreshing
7. Me n Geoff
8. Another attempt
9. Towards the campsite
10. From the campsite.

After this relaxing camp we head to Santiago via two vineyards for wine tasting, for those who wanted. I am waiting until Mendoza for a full day of tasting. Until Santiago
Adios

Tony x