Chile Tours & Holidays

With the Andes on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, Chile’s geographic isolation has resulted in a distinct national identity. About 95 per cent of Chileans share a mixture of European (predominantly Spanish) and indigenous ancestry. For many, being Chilean often means celebrating huaso (Chilean cowboy) culture, going to rodeos, dancing the cueca (Chile’s national dance performed in traditional huaso clothing), eating empanadas and drinking pisco. Spanish is the national language, though Chileans tend to speak fast, drop consonants and litter their speech with a healthy dose of chilenismos (Chilean slang).

Life is focused around the family, including extended members all frequently getting together to share food in good company. More than half of Chileans are Roman Catholics and there is a growing number, estimated at 25 per cent, of the population who are ‘unaffiliated’ – choosing not to identify with a religion. While many Chileans are traditional in their views, the younger generations are challenging cultural norms and politics is often a passionate topic for the youth of the country.

Chile is a land of quirky geographical characteristics, most noticeably its incredible length. Measuring in at over 4600km long, yet only 430km wide, Chile covers a massive geographic scale that includes a variety of unique landscapes as well as an impressive coastline. Straddled by the epic Andes, this gigantic mountain range acts as a natural border with Argentina in the east, while the Pacific Ocean - including the remote Chilean territory of Easter Island - forms Chile’s western coastline. The capital and largest city, Santiago, lies inland, roughly in the centre of the country. Further north, Chile shares a border with Peru and Bolivia, as well the largest section of the parched Atacama Desert, one of the world’s driest places. South of Santiago, Chile unfolds into the wilderness playground of Patagonia - a largely uninhabited, prehistoric landscape brimming with forests and enormous glaciers.

Fiesta de la Tirana

Each July, the quiet streets of La Tirana morph into a massive dance floor filled with masked performers acting out the ‘Dance of the Devils’. Blending indigenous culture with Catholic tradition, the festival is thought by some to honour the Virgin Mary, by others an indigenous warrior princess. Either way, the frenetic dancing, fireworks and tasty foods that make up Chile’s largest religious festival is a fascinating experience.

Festival de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest Festival)

Chile’s wine regions take it up a notch throughout March to April, when weekend-long festivals celebrating both the harvest and rural life. Think cowboys, country food and folk dancing. With so many wine regions it can be hard to know which festival to check out, though Curico Valley’s festival is the longest running and widely regarded as the biggest.

Fiestas Patrias (Independence Day)

Chile being a fiercely patriotic nation – and one that loves a good party – Fiestas Patrias is a big deal. Each September, flags are hung and the aroma of barbeque fills the air as people eat, drink, dance and celebrate. Look for a fonda (huge tent party) and join locals as they feast and dance into the wee hours of the morning.  

Tapati Rapa Nui (Easter Island Tapati Festival)

Get a glimpse of Easter Island’s vibrant Polynesian heritage at this spectacular two-week festival each February featuring dancing, chanting, carving competitions, body painting, a string figure (kai kai) contest and so much more.

The best time to visit depends largely on your chosen activities and destinations as Chile’s substantial length ensures that the climate is incredibly varied. Summer (December to March) is possibly the best time to visit Chile, as the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine and lakes region are reasonably warm. The trade off however, is that the Atacama Desert can be very hot during this time. Summer is also festival time, so it's a good chance to experience Chile’s unique culture. For the central and northern regions, autumn is a comfortable time to visit, however during this time it can be quite cold in the south, especially at night. Snow fall is common during winter (July to September) in the south of the country, so this is the ideal time for a skiing or snowboarding holiday.

Chilean cuisine is all about fresh, seasonal produce and simplicity. Potatoes, corn and quinoa are staple ingredients in many traditional dishes, such as pastel del choclo (corn pie) and humitas (corn pudding, wrapped in corn husks and steamed).

Chile’s extensive coastline provides a wide array of seafood and shellfish. Visit one of the country’s many marisquerias (fish restaurants) to try something different like picorocos (barnacles) or erizos (sea urchin). Most places serve fish simply grilled with a little seasoning. Ceviche is also a dietary mainstay along with a wide range of soups and stews that take advantage of all these glorious fruits from the sea.

Chileans also love their meat. Like in Brazil and Argentina, a leisurely asado (barbeque) is a cherished tradition. Held either in a backyard or a specially equipped park, an asado can stretch for hours and always features lots of grilled beef, pork, sausage, lamb and Chilean wine. If you don’t manage to snag an invitation to an asado from a local, head to a parrillada instead – a restaurant that serves the same grilled meats.

Must-try foods in Chile

1. Mote con huesillo

Dried peaches and husked wheat are stewed in a sugary syrup to create Chile’s favourite summertime treat. The perfect reward after a long day of exploring. 

2. Pastel de choclo

A hearty Andean pie of ground beef or chicken and vegetables, topped with pureed sweet corn is a local favourite. 

3. Cazuela

The perfect dish to warm your bones on a cold day, cazuela is a thin stew of chicken or beef with corn on the cob, potatoes, pumpkin and noodles. Do as the locals and drink the broth first.

1. Alpaca clothing

Sweaters, gloves, scarves and other items made from alpaca wool are a South American specialty. Both unique and practical, alpaca wool does a good job of blocking out high altitude chill.

2. Lapis lazuli jewellery

The Romans considered it an aphrodisiac, and Cleopatra was said to powder it for use as an eyeshadow. Lapis lazuli has quite a history, but these days the semiprecious indigo-blue stone is found only in Chile and Afghanistan. Cheaper here than lapis sold abroad, it is still a somewhat pricey purchase. The general rule of thumb is: the deeper the colour, the better the quality, and always shop at reputable stores to ensure you’re not sold a fake.

3. Mapuche silverware

Indigenous women of the Lake District traditionally wore handcrafted silver earrings, headdresses and other pieces of jewellery as a sign of wealth. Dramatic silver pieces are still made by Mapuche women in this region today.

4. Pisco

You might recognise the spirit made from grapes, known as pisco, from Peru but Chile shares the claim to as the biggest producer. The rivalry between the two countries that both make claims to the name have been going for centuries. 

Keep in mind that bargaining is not part of the Chilean culture, so prices are usually fixed, and most markets and street vendors deal only with cash. Stores are typically open between 10 am and 9 or 10 pm Monday through Friday. Many stores are only open during the morning on Saturdays and are closed Sundays, though these hours can vary in tourist areas. Shops in smaller cities also tend to close for lunch and take siesta between 1 and 5 pm.

Argentina or Chile?