Here is Brendan Burke with his reliable 4x4 Chevrolet DMax double cabin pick up truck in the middle of nowhere....well, actually in the middle of chilean Atacama desert (driest desert in the world)

You have to be carefull when driving off road in the north of Chile. Eventhough you may rent a 4WD vehicle, you will get completely stuck if you get to close to a lake. Altiplanic lagoons look like their borders are very dry and with hard surface, but that's only what they look like ... because it is 100% mud covered by a mix of salt and dust. So, don't get to close to lake borders please.

Off road driving near Quebrada del Diablo, close to San Pedro de Atacama. Rental vehicle is a Suzuki Vitara 1.600cc 4x4 2 door jeep, ideal for two persons. Great car in order to have fun in north of Chile, and also quite economical driving

Jan Allen took this photo of rob smith and juanita. they rented a 4x4 pick up truck from budget car rental (Europcar from July 1st 2010) starting in calama city office