ATACAMA

Atacama

As the plane flies overhead, I can already taste the adventure. The uniquely beautiful landscapes seem to whisper: “Welcome to paradise!” Thus begins another trip with guaranteed success. Atacama Desert, here we come!

And without further ado, we arrived in San Pedro at night. With our bags checked in, we headed straight to the center in search of a restaurant. The place looked like something out of a movie, with straw and clay buildings in earthy tones that perfectly matched the desert scenery. All in such a peaceful atmosphere that it was impossible not to feel the history and culture pulsating around every corner. With our bellies full, finally after a full day of traveling, it was time to go back to the hotel and sleep.

With only a few days in this oasis, there’s no time to waste. Our first stop? The incredible Hidden Lagoons of Baltinache . Just imagine: turquoise and emerald lakes shining in the middle of an arid landscape. And the best part? Entering them is like turning into a human buoy. The concentration of salt is so high that sinking becomes an impossible mission. I remember that when I left, it felt like I had spent the entire afternoon in the most hardcore spa in the world, with my skin itching and that natural “exfoliant” covering everything. A gentle shower and it was all set for the next destination!

Laguna Chaxa

Speaking of breathtaking landscapes, we arrive at Laguna Chaxa , in the heart of the Salar. There, elegantly pink flamingos steal the show. These birds seem to dance on the horizon, balancing the nature of the place. It's almost as if they were posing for a postcard in real time.

Atacama is truly a place of extremes. Beauty, altitude, temperature and, of course, emotions. In the Valle de La Luna , with rock formations worthy of another planet, each step reveals something even more fascinating. And the sunset? It's simply magical. The dunes take on orange hues and the sky seems painted by divine hands.

Valle de la Luna

The Valle de La Muerte , with its shapes sculpted by millions of years of erosion, is so surreal that it's hard to believe that a Renaissance artist passed through there to put the finishing touches on it.

Valle de la Muerte

Geysers del Tatio

And since anyone in Atacama can't sleep on the job, we got up early to see the spectacular Geysers del Tatio . After an hour on the road – and a lot of anxiety! – we arrived. The freezing cold was compensated by the spectacle of enormous columns of steam rising from the ground, reaching 85ºC and up to 10 meters high. Of course, I didn't miss the chance to take a dip in one of the natural hot springs. The warm water, between 30 and 40 degrees, was the perfect hug to face the biting cold outside.

It wouldn't be fair to leave out the llamas, true divas of the desert. Known for their "don't touch me, don't touch me" temperament, they don't hesitate to spit on anyone who dares to invade their space. My husband had the misfortune of experiencing this, and I can assure you that it wasn't at all pleasant, especially because of the terrible smell.

Oh, and of course, how could we forget it? The Licancabur volcano, always majestic, imposing its presence as an eternal guardian of the desert. It is impossible to decide what is most phenomenal in this region. There, nature spares no effort. The desert is the portrait of the extraordinary.

Descarte ilegal de roupas Alto Hospício

However, during our stay, we discovered a dark side that the oasis is not worthy of. Imagine this same place covered in mountains of illegally discarded clothes, turning it into a huge landfill. How sad! This is the scenario in the Alto Hospicio region, where every year 59 thousand tons of discarded clothes arrive from countries such as the United States, Europe and Asia. Of these, around 40 thousand tons are not sold and end up abandoned in the desert. The true image of our culture of waste.

The fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world, second only to the oil industry. It contributes to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of the planet’s water waste – just to produce a single pair of jeans, it takes 7,500 liters of water. Can you believe these numbers? And that’s just the beginning. The washing and dyeing processes use chemicals that are devastating to ecosystems.

In the Atacama Desert, where most of the clothing ends up, most of it is made of polyester, a material that is not biodegradable, taking an impressive 200 years to decompose. During the process, microplastics are released that enter the atmosphere and contaminate marine and terrestrial fauna. As if that were not enough, much of this waste is burned illegally to reduce the mountains of accumulated clothing. The fires can last from two to ten days, releasing toxic smoke that seriously affects the health of local residents with cardiorespiratory problems and devastates the environment.

After 15 years of uninterrupted disposal, the clothing waste in Alto Hospicio occupies 300 hectares, the equivalent of 420 football fields. It is the symbol of the phenomenon known as Fast Fashion, or low-cost fashion, which encourages the unbridled consumption of almost disposable clothing. Today, consumption has increased by 60%, and most items are used for an incredibly short period of time. If nothing changes, the World Bank predicts that 3.4 billion tons of textile waste will be generated by 2050.

But all is not lost. Some inspiring initiatives have emerged to combat this scenario. EcoFibras, for example, manufactures thermal and acoustic insulation panels using textile waste, while Ecocitex transforms discarded clothing into clothing yarns, such as synthetic wool, which can be used to produce new items.

Additionally, several countries are passing laws that hold manufacturers financially responsible for the full life cycle of their products, meaning that brands will have to bear the environmental and social costs of their creations until their final disposal.

Paraphrasing the wise words of journalist André Trigueiro: let's use information to take action, the time to act is now. Every decision we make – from buying a piece of clothing to what we do with it when we no longer use it – can help reverse the crisis. The future of the planet is in our hands. Let's make conscious choices and give fashion a new meaning: that of sustainability, decent work for people in this sector and respect for the environment.