
Northern Chile
On my way north, I stop at the beautiful Elqui valley with its vineyards producing some of the best pisco in Chile. Pisco is a specialized form of brandy produced in Chile and Peru. Mixed with juices it is pretty tasty and can be bought widely across Chile. In the Elqui Valley, the desert is announcing itself. The valley floors, with irrigation, are fertile but the hillsides are dry and barren.