We have the whole day to explore the interesting surroundings of the fog oasis of Paposo, located just 30 miles north of Taltal. Along the coast, we will be impressed by the rugged cliffs and the obvious effect of the coastal mist on this seemingly barren landscape. Several Copiapoa species and varieties are found along the narrow coastal plain. We will climb the main road to visit the Paposo Nature Reserve. This is a very interesting habitat that is constantly covered by fog; the mist provides the vital moisture that sustains a large array of plants, all belonging to the 'lomas' vegetation---a plant community found only along the coastal deserts of Peru and northern Chile.

Large stands of the columnar cactus Eulychnia iquiquensis, plus the bromeliad Deuterocohnia chrysantha and a few species of the cactus Eriosyce, provide ample opportunities for the plant enthusiast. We hope to find Alstroemeria violacea, Palaua concinna, Schizanthus laetus, and Cleome chilensis, among many more species restricted to this fog oasis. The birding is also quite good here, and we hope to see the White-throated Tapaculo, Rufous-banded Miner, Gray-hooded Sierra Finch, and Common Diuca-Finch.

We will leave Taltal early to arrive in good time at another interesting fog oasis, Pan de Azúcar National Park. The setting of this reserve is superb, located immediately beside the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. This protected area holds more than 200 flowering plants, including a large number of unique cactus species such as Copiapoa cinerea and the striking Copiapoa columna-alba. We will take an interesting hike to the Mirador (viewpoint), studying cacti and plants like Euphorbia lactiflua, Bahia ambrosioides, Eulychnia saint-pieana, Fagonia chilensis, Mirabilis acutus, and Solanum heterantherum, among many others.

The South American Gray Fox and Guanaco (the wild ancestor of the Llama) are usually seen on the cliffs, along with a variety of songbirds, the American Kestrel, Variable Hawk, and Turkey Vulture. Later in the afternoon, we will drive south to Bahía Inglesa, a coastal resort and our base for the following two nights.

This morning we will drive south along the coastal road to the beautiful Llanos de Challe National Park. If the winter rains were sufficient to trigger the blooming, this park becomes a hotspot to see the myriad of Nolana, Cistanthe, and many other 'lomas' plants that cover the plains and hillsides, providing an unreal and incomparable scene. One of the highlights of the day will be our quest for one of the most charismatic flowers of the 'blooming desert,' the Lion's Claw (Leontochir ovallei), which grows in specific gullies along the coast.

We will see large stands of Copiapoa dealbata, which sometimes grow in massive, oversized clumps. The sandy terrain sustains many bulbs, perennials, and annuals, including Rhodophiala bagnoldii, Alstroemeria chrysantha, Argylia radiata, Heliotropium megalanthum, Cruckshanksia montiana, and Leucocoryne appendiculata. We will visit the coastal wetland of Carrizal Bajo, where we can enjoy watching several species of waterfowl, including the Black-necked and Coscoroba Swan, Chiloe Wigeon, Yellow-billed Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, and Red-gartered Coot.

During the morning, we will have time to explore the coast around Bahía Inglesa. There are several interesting species to see, such as Frankenia chilensis, Aristolochia chilensis, Nolana rupicola, and Tetragonia pedunculata. We might also find the impressive Chilean Iguana, which inhabits this rocky coast along with several other lizard species. We will take a short transfer to the Copiapó airport for our flight back to Santiago.