Luxury Chile Tours

What is a gaucho?

Gauchos are sometimes thought of as the Latin American version of the North American cowboy. These colourful, nomadic horsemen flourished between the mid-18th and mid-19th-century and there are still some left today. While most visitors come to Patagonia to witness the glistening glaciers and waterfalls, hike the trails, and climb the challenging peaks of the Torres del Paine, it’s outside of the national parks that the authentic culture can be witnessed. The gauchos rule here, having developed exceptional horseback riding skills and unbreakable bonds with their horses, along with the ability to endure the weather extremes that include freezing winter temperatures. Many take tourists out riding. As they know the lay of the land arguably better than anyone else, heading out with one on a horseback riding excursion is sure to be unforgettable, for an authentic glimpse of the culture and the chance to discover some of the most enchanting sights on Earth.

Do I need to speak Spanish?

There’s nothing quite like experiencing other walks of life and different cultures first-hand while traveling, which means being able to communicate with the locals offers an undeniable advantage no matter where you go, including Chile. But if you don’t speak Spanish, you have nothing to fear. English is widely spoken in most tourist destinations, including Santiago, the Lake District, the Winelands, and beyond. Of course, the ability to speak the language will take you far and making an attempt is almost always appreciated by the locals, which means you shouldn’t underestimate the power of knowing even just a few phrases and words. Keep in mind that Chilean Spanish is spoken here, used to refer to the many distinct regional dialects spoken in different parts of the country, but you won’t be expected to know the difference. Simple phrases like “por favor” meaning please and “muchas gracias” for “thank you” are the same.

How do you get around Chile?

Chile has a good road network and Santiago has a metro network. Chile is a very long, narrow country so internal flights are very common.