Advice on potential Chile Travel

My old notes say, not my memory, Laguna Cejar, Altiplanic lagoons south of Lascar volcano...could be Menique & Miscanti around 13,000 ft elev. Also Chaxa . But I believe two days is enough to see it all. My suggestion is to check in San Pedro where the local tours go for the day. For whatever is worth, my observation is most people seldom need acclimatization....but do walk at slow pace at high elev. I hope this helps, a bit more.

Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for that. And if I have the time and energy, will definitely go visit them.. =)

Trip Report:

Easter Island - spent about 4 days there. Fortunately, due to the current political issue, I didn't have to pay any entrance fees to the park. Unfortunately, that meant that I couldn't enter the park before 7 and after 6. Also, the weather wasn't very co-operative. Some of the island's restaurants are extremely expensive. I had an absolutely tasteless mixed salad for more money than a very tasty, stomach filling, sandwich at Club Sandwich restaurant (which I would highly recommend).

San Pedro de Atacama - far too touristy for my taste. Every other shop on the main street seemed to be a tour company offering the same tour as two doors down.

Vehicle stuff:
I flew from Santiago to Antofasgata and then rented a 1-way 4x2 truck to get to San Pedro (truck return at Calama airport after trip). Even though there's only 1 gas station (at San Pedro) its more than enough. Even after driving all the way from Antofagasta to San Pedro and spending day driving around to see some nearby places, I was still only on half a gas tank.
Is 4x4 required? I went to moon valley, death valley road, el tatio geyers, and salar de tara. I would say that I could do the same trip in a regular car. A 4x4 wouldn't be needed.
High-ground clearance vehicle is definitely required if you want to drive through death valley road or to the salar de tara.

Santiago - stay the f away. i was there for 2 days to simply relax, but instead was robbed of all my valuables. all my pictures, camera gear, etc .. GONE. i spent most of my time in Santiago running to the embassy. I did have a tour of some part of Santiago at night in the back of the police car. I did see a police station on the tour, as well as a hospital.

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