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We decided to visit the beautiful Isla Damas off of Chile, but let me first explain a little bit about how tours to this island are arranged. Some kind of transportation is required to get you to the small port of Caleta Los Choros, about 120 km north of La Serena. There, local fishermen in Los Choros ferry tourists out from the port, cruise around Isla Choros, and then dock at Isla Damas, where people are allowed ashore.

We were quite excited to be getting on a boat heading out to Isla Damas. And with regards to the weather, it was better late than early. While the morning had been quite gray and overcast, the sun had since broken through the clouds.

Before moving on to Isla Damas, we were treated with a few more documentary-perfect natural moments: A juvenile sea lion jumped in the water to chase the boat (only to receive a harsh barking scolding from its mother), we pulled into a natural archway bound by many hundreds of boobies and containing many hundreds of a local type of rock bass, and we saw a jelly fish cruising alongside a bed of kelp.

The wildlife of Isla Choros was matched in splendor by starkness of Isla Damas. People are allowed in small numbers onto the island of Isla Damas (to restrict these numbers is the reason that you must register with CONAF - the park service - before heading out on a boat). So we pulled up to the pier in perhaps the most beautiful setting that I'd ever seen. The waters , rimmed by a crystalline white beach, were fairly shallow, with remarkable clarity, and in the afternoon sun, reflected a brilliant blue.

We got off the boat, dropped our life vests, and followed Victor and the group around for a quick tour of the island. Despite its tropical-looking waters around it, the island itself is quite desolate. Even when up in the mountains just east of Vicuna, we didn't see nearly as many different types of cactus (maybe our eyes were too narrowly focused on the rocky road...).

A hike to the highest point on the island, which is also home to the lighthouse, gave us another spectacular 360 degrees of views.

Fully satisfied after an incredible day of socializing, scenery, and sun, we drove back to La Serena.

Still quite full of delicious seafood from lunch, we opted for a light dinner from a nearby cafe. And still full of amazing sea sights from the afternoon, we decided to skip a trip up to the mountain observatories and instead enjoy a relaxing night.

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