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Thirsty for adventure and new discoveries? Then Chile is the ideal place for you, because this long country on the Pacific coast of South America has a lot to offer with its many climate zones, its lush vegetation and its diverse population. Here we've summed up the most intriguing facts and figures for you. Be warned: you may well want to travel after reading this article!
On 18 and 19 September, Chileans celebrate the country's independence, declared on 18 September 1810 with the formation of an independent government. These public holidays have a very special significance thanks to the strong patriotic spirit in Chile, and they're also one of the few times in the year when the whole family comes together and relatives from different parts of the country reunite.
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For us Europeans, it's sometimes hard to imagine that you can whip up delicious dishes from maize. One of Chile's national dishes is “pastel de choclo”, a maize stew that also contains chicken, minced meat, a quarter of an egg and an olive. At first it sounds like a dubious combination, but freshly prepared, it's simply delicious! For a slightly simpler recipe, there are “humitas”, a steamed maize porridge that's then shaped into little parcels in maize leaves. Incidentally, these “humitas” are among the oldest dishes in South America.
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On the left, humitas (Wikipedia ©), on the right pastel de choclo (Julia Drefs ©).
Between 1848 and 1945, many Germans came to Chile in various waves of immigration and settled in the “little south”. Today, around 500,000 Chileans have German roots, but only about 30,000 still have German as their mother tongue. So it's not unusual, especially in this region, to be able to order delicious cakes in many cafés without knowing a word of Spanish for them.
Politically, Easter Island belongs to Chile. Geographically speaking, however, the most remote island in the world is already located in Polynesia. This also shows in the climate, which is tropical to subtropical there. The water temperature reaches up to 26 degrees, which is much more pleasant than on the Pacific coast of mainland Chile.
The city of Santiago is often compared to Europe's capitals, and Chile is generally described as more “European” than the rest of South America. But don't be fooled! Once you're in Chile, you'll quickly realise that certain South American clichés apply here too: the serenity of the people, the lack of punctuality (which is completely normal in South America), the folk music and the party culture make it clear that the country is very much part of the right continent.
Chileans are proud of their beautiful country and the breathtaking nature hidden within it. Over the years, this has led to the creation of more than 40 national parks, including one of the most famous in the world, Torres del Paine National Park, just waiting to be discovered by nature-loving travellers.
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Viewpoint of the Grey Glacier, Torres del Paine. Julia Drefs ©
A Chilean dish without “palta”, as Chileans call the avocado, is hard to imagine. Whether as a cream, a salad, a starter or simply plain and eaten with a spoon, Chileans enjoy their green gold in many ways. It's especially popular on a typical “completo”, as the hot dog is called in Chile. Well worth a try!
So many peculiarities packed into a single country! Chile is not only the longest country in the world, it also has the driest desert (the Atacama Desert) and is home to the “Ojos del Salado”, the highest volcano in the world (6,893 m). In the south of Chile, around Cape Horn, lies the largest ship graveyard in the world. It's estimated that more than 800 ships and 10,000 sailors have been wrecked there. Hard to believe? Not so much, if you consider the harshness of the climate in Patagonia. According to Chileans, they're also behind the best Pisco Sour and the most delicious empanadas in the world – whether Chilean in origin or not. The list of Chilean superlatives is a long one, but the best way to discover them is to visit the country yourself!
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Laguna Chaxa, Atacama Desert. Julia Drefs ©
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