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Day 1-3

Harness your curiosity.

We begin our expedition in the small coastal city of Valparaiso. Nicknamed “the Jewel of the Pacific”, this World Heritage Site is the perfect spot for an introduction to Chile’s language, culture and history. We brush up on our basic Spanish language skills as we explore the winding side streets and bustling markets of the colonial city. Valpo’s proximity to the Humboldt ocean current, home to an extraordinary abundance of marine life and a major factor in global weather patterns makes it an ideal setting for our discussions on global climate change. Recent reports suggest that powerful tidal energy along Chile’s coast has the potential to provide sustainable energy to the entire country. We visit a local coal factory on the edge of town and learn that even as Chile is promoting growth in clean renewable energy, the majority of the country’s power still comes from cheap and abundant coal.

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Day 4-7

An introduction to wind, solar, hydro and more.

In Santiago, we stop to visit the capital’s new Renewable Energy Center. Experts from Chile’s National Energy Commission give us an overview of Chile’s energy dilemmas as well as an introduction to promising renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar, hydro, bio-fuel and geothermal energy. We continue on to Cajon del Maipo, where we spend our days exploring magnificent surroundings and evenings around the fire discussing contemporary topics in Chilean politics and the energy economy. Venture into the highlands and ancient glacial valleys to gain an understanding of the way thousands of centuries of change impact the landscape. Early risers are treated to a spectacular sunrise over snowcapped mountains! Visit the controversial hydroelectric project in the Maipo Valley where engineers are diverting the river’s tributaries through forty miles of underground pipes to power two large electric turbines. Speak with environmental advocates who worry that while the power station is expected to produce over 500 megawatts of clean power, it may cause irreparable harm to the watershed and the valley, which is the primary source of drinking water for Santiago and the surrounding region. On the outskirts of Maipo, we visit the Farfana water treatment plant, the first and largest biogas installation in South America. The biogas plant uses the by-products of water treatment to replace 14 million cubic meters of natural gas each year.

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Day 8-12

Embark on an overnight horseback trek.

Heading north, stop in the Elqui Valley, said to be earth’s magnetic center, where breathtaking scenery slopes from the mountains into the ocean. The Elqui Valley is the perfect setting for our overnight horseback trek, leaving us feeling like true Chileans. Visit small scale solar centers, and learn about endeavors to harness the energy of sun. In rural areas, small scale solar projects can be used to run agricultural irrigation systems and provide power to families that live outside the reach of the electricity grid. Spend an evening peering through telescopes at the clearest atmosphere in the world. The clouds in the Elqui Valley only reach halfway up the mountain, stopping dust and light pollution from reaching the telescopes. On a moonless night, the starry skies are beyond compare. Take time to explore ocean side towns and visit the Parcque Eolica Canela wind farms along the coast. In addition to providing clean carbon free electricity, these windmill installations also provide important economic benefits to the community by providing construction, maintenance and other jobs to locals.

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Day 13-21

The debate doesn’t end here.

The Atacama Desert and the oasis town of San Pedro are our most northern destinations. The Atacama is the driest desert in the world, only occasionally taking on water from Pacific Ocean storms that leave huge salt deposits. Despite its dry surface, the Atacama features underground geothermal hot spots and soaring geysers, making it literally a hot spot for energy research. Geothermal facilities use underground hot springs to generate energy using traditional turbines. Geothermal, which produces less than one percent of global energy, is considered clean and renewable, but it too has detractors. Early attempts at harnessing this energy in the region have been plagued by problems, and locals that depend on tourism for their living worry that exploiting geothermal energy sources may rob them of an important source of tourism revenues. Learn about local efforts to increase energy efficiency and marvel at age old geological features, exposed by wind and sand over millions of years. Visit lagoons covered by flamingos taking refuge, take a dip in geothermal waters and relax while watching a stunning sunset at Valle de la Luna. Settle into the pace of the Atacama Desert and live like a local, working in remote Aymara communities on service endeavors. Our projects include organic agriculture work and educating local schoolchildren on environmental issues related to energy and local resources. Our final challenge before heading home is a breathtaking climb of an ancient volcano. Looking out over the desert fills us with awe and helps us reflect on the amazing experience behind us.