Robert, Jennifer y sus hijos Tyler (16) y Madison (11)
"Hi there! We're the Johnson family from Denver, Colorado, and we just had the most amazing day at the Pica Oasis. As a family that loves outdoor adventures, we thought we'd seen it all, but this place blew our minds!
Coming from Colorado, we're used to mountains and snow, so experiencing a real desert oasis felt like stepping into a fairy tale. The contrast between the arid landscape and this lush, green paradise with natural hot springs was absolutely incredible.
Tyler, our teenager who usually has his nose in his phone, was actually excited to swim in the natural thermal pools and try the famous Pica lemons. Madison loved exploring the palm groves and couldn't believe that people have been living in this oasis for thousands of years. The whole family enjoyed the traditional lunch with local specialties - those empanadas were the best we've ever had!
We want to give a huge shout-out to Desert Wonders Chile from Iquique. Our tour coordinator María was fantastic - she not only arranged everything perfectly but also taught us about the local Atacameño culture and the sustainable farming techniques still used in the oasis. Her English was perfect, and she made sure we understood the ecological importance of these desert oases.
The company's attention to detail was impressive - they provided sun protection, arranged for a local guide to show us the ancient irrigation channels, and even included a visit to a local family's farm where we learned about traditional agriculture in the desert.
This was definitely one of the highlights of our South American adventure. The kids are already asking if we can come back next year!"
