Continuing with our ‘Latin Routes Guide to…’, we now focus on the incredible country of Chile. Vast deserts, stunning mountain ranges and beautiful cities waiting to be explored – these are all great reasons to book yourself a trip.
If you’ve already realised what wonders Chile has to offer, then you’ll perhaps be wondering what to expect from the locals – whether it be the food, currency or certain secret handshakes that will make your Chilean holiday a breeze, Latin Routes is here to help.
The first thing to consider is, of course, the food. Unless you’re planning on booking an extra seat on the plane to transport vast quantities of pasta and tea, you’re most likely going to encounter some Chilean delicacies you may not have tried before. Much like its neighbour Argentina, Chileans have a penchant for anything meaty. Asado is widespread in both Northern and Central regions of Chile and families will often have their own giant grill or open fire in their back gardens. Asado is a method of cooking large slabs of beef or steak over an open fire. This, combined with the high quality of the meat itself, gives a rich smoky flavour unlike anything else in the world (certainly topping those cremated sausages you once cooked in your back garden).
Although the word ‘vegetarian’ isn’t bandied around particularly often in South American countries, there are a number of tasty meat-free options in Chile, including Ensalada de Quinoa. This is a type of salad made up quinoa and a mix of other vegetables, native to the Northern regions of Chile. Prepared right, it can turn stone-cold carnivores into salad-worshipping eco warriors in a matter of seconds. As an additional note, be warned that Chileans tend to eat lunch as their main meal (often an elaborate, three-course affair) and dinner usually comprises of traditional tea and small snacks such as cakes and biscuits.
Furthermore, although Chile is noted for its wine production, locals are far less inclined than the British to drink it themselves. A small glass of wine or beer with dinner is fairly common, but drinking to get drunk is an anomaly in almost all regions except much bigger cities such as Santiago (and even there it’s frowned upon).
Latin Routes are always happy to have a chat about cultural quirks and finer points of etiquette, so please Contact Us if you have any questions.
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Join us next week for Part 2 of Latin Routes Guide to Chile…
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