The

Quebrada

Botija

This valley is

located in the north

of Chile, between

Taltal and

Antofagasta, in the

coastal part of the

Atacama Desert.

This valley provides

access to the Botija

peak, culminating

at 1100 meters.

Mythic for the

Copiapoa

enthusiasts, it

shelters at least 5

species of this

genus, including 2

endemic ones.

The

Quebrada

Botija

The access to

the Quebrada

is from the

Road 1, which

is in fact a

track.

We meet the

first Copiapoa

on the beach.

The

Quebrada

Botija

A few

Copiapoa

atacamensis,

but relatively

few.

The

Quebrada

Botija

Mainly Copiapoa

ahremephiana.

This species can

only be found on

the beach and at

the entrance of the

valley.

The

Quebrada

Botija

At the entrance

of the valley,

they are hung

on the rock

walls.

The

Quebrada

Botija

Small plants are

not necessarily

young plants.

Some parts,

during difficult

times, may die,

leaving only a

few heads alive.

New ones may

be reformed…

or not.

The

Quebrada

Botija

An

exceptional

cristated

specimen.

The

Quebrada

Botija

The access to

the valley is

now a bad

track created

by diggers a

dozen years

ago.

The

Quebrada

Botija

When I said

a bad

track…

The

Quebrada

Botija

After the rains,

the valley can

be well

flowered.

Here are some

Alstroemeria.

The

Quebrada

Botija

In some

places,

there are

some

Eulychnia

iquiquensis

(or

taltalensis),

and some

Euphorbia

lactiflua

(backwards,

in the top

right

corner).

The

Quebrada

Botija

A venerable

Euphorbia

lactiflua

The

Quebrada

Botija

A bonsaï

Euphorbia

lactiflua, along

with an Eriosyce

paucicostata

(floccosa)….

And a tiny

Copiapoa

atacamensis

(probably).

The

Quebrada

Botija

Eriosyce

paucicostata

The

Quebrada

Botija

Some

Copiapoa

atacamensis….

Nice ones….

But skinny

ones compared

to those we will

see later.

The

Quebrada

Botija

Quickly, some

Copiapoa

decorticans

appear and

replace the

Copiapoa

ahremephiana,

beyond a small

area where they

live together.

The

Quebrada

Botija

Copiapoa

decorticans,

described in

2002, is

endemic to this

part of the

valley.

Closer to the

sea, there is

none.

Higher in the

valley, there is

none as well.

The

Quebrada

Botija

Its name

comes from its

tendency to dry

at the base of

the stem,

revealing the

sap conductor

wood.

The

Quebrada

Botija

During rainy

years, it flowers

quite well.

The

Quebrada

Botija

…. Which is a

tasty meal for

insects …

The

Quebrada

Botija

Around 300m

in altitude, the

valley oriented

to the east

splits in two

parts. One

going to the

north (picture),

and the other

one to the

south.

On the west

side, where

grows

Copiapoa

decorticans, it

is granit.

The

Quebrada

Botija

On the east

side, where the

ground is

black, grows

Copiapoa

solaris.

The

demarcation

line is only a

few meters

wide.

The

Quebrada

Botija

Copiapoa

solaris, some

are in good

health...

The

Quebrada

Botija

….but some

others suffered

over the

years… and

suffered from

the drought.

The

Quebrada

Botija

The east part

of the valley.

The one we will

take to climb to

the Botija peak.

The

Quebrada

Botija

Firstly, the track

raises slowly,

then gradually,

as the valley

narrows,

becomes

steeper and

steeper… but

nothing

insurmountable.

Around 700m

high, Senecio

Botijae.

An endemic

species again.

Backwards, a

Nolana, a

genus of wide

variety and

omnipresent in

Chile.

A Nolana

again.

One may even

find some

violets : Viola

polypoda.

Of course,

some Eriosyce

paucicostata.

Some are more

floccosa than

other ones.

Of course,

some

Copiapoa

atacamensis.

And of course,

some

Copiapoa

solaris.

Then we arrive

to the pass

separating the

Qda Botija from

the Qda Izcuña.

The fog

following us

from the

morning is

particularly

dense… But we

feel that the sun

is close.

There, at the

feet of the

rocks, stands a

rather difficult to

identify

Copiapoa.

It does not look

like Copiapoa

varispinata

which grows

lower in the Qda

Izcuna. Neither

to Copiapoa

humilis.

Rudolf Schulz

talks about

Copiapoa

paposoensis,

possibly…

Or maybe a

non yet

described

species…

It is now time to

begin climbing

the Botija peak,

stricly speaking,

walking amidst

Copiapoa

atacamensis

and solaris.

But it is worth

looking

backwards from

time to time…

The clusters of

Copiapoa

atacamensis

and solaris take

incredible

proportions.

A few Eulychnia

bring some

verticality in all

of these

cushions.

There are also

some Oxalis.

There are

obviously

several species.

But impossible

to find any

literature about

it.

Cumulopuntia

leucophaea,

formerly also

called

Cumulopuntia

sphaerica or

berteri (or

berteroi).

This species

is

omnipresent

in a big part

of Chile, but

is barely so

photogenic

…..

The Eriosyce

are free

flowering here,

while lower in

altitude we have

seen no flowers

at all.

The fog was

discreet during

our climbing,

but strongly

returns when

we arrive on the

ridge that leads

to the peak.

At the risk of

getting lost.

ut all at once :

clear blue sky !

And there…

Breathtaking

landscapes.

We could even

miss the cacti !

But what can

we see in the

background, at

the top of the

mountain?

It simply is the

Cerro Paranal,

and at its top

(2600m) the

European

Southern

Observatory

with the VLT,

around twenty

kilometers far.

But it would be

a pity not

having a look

to the cacti.

Here is a

beautiful

Copiapoa

solaris, along

with a small

Copiapoa

atacamensis

and

surrounded by

several Nolana.

Guess what !

Some

Copiapoa

solaris !

Copiapoa

solaris,

flowering….

But that is not

necessarily

why we like

them…

Copiapoa

atacamensis

flowering as

well

Copiapoa

atacamensis

and Eulychnia

(flowering) on

the left in the

background.

Copiapoa

atacamensis

…. a "young"

specimen….

Eulychnia

iquiquensis (or

whatever its

name is)

flowering.

Flowers which are a

tasty meal for

hummingbirds…

On the other hand,

they have probably

little else to eat…

The peak is

close, the slope

eases.

Eulychnia and

Copiapoa are

still there,

along with

other plants.

Note the little

white cushions.

These are

Cylindropuntia

tunicata (?).

The question

is, how this

north american

plant got lost in

this place?

One can also

find a few rare

but magnificent

Trichocereus

deserticola.

Finally the top !

1100m.

This was a nice

walk of around

twenty

kilometers

round trip from

the beach that

filled the entire

day.

Arrived to the

top, the only

option is to go

down.

This guanaco

shows us the

way.