Chile

History & culture

In Pre-Colombian times, Chile was inhabited by a variety of peoples including the Aymara Indians in the north, Diaguita Indians in the mountains and the Auracarian Indians in the centre and south of the country.

During the 16^th century, part of the country was under conquest by the Inca Empire, until it was discovered and conquered by the Spanish Conquistadores later in the same century. The Declaration of Independence from Spain finally occurred in 1818.

The coup of 1973 resulted in the death of the constitutional President Salvador Allende and his replacement by military dictator Augusto Pinochet. Fifteen years later, Pinochet was rejected by voters in a referendum and the country returned to a democratic government in 1989.

The population is dominantly Latin mestizo, however the descendants of European settlers especially Germans and Yugoslavs, in the south, have kept the influence of their home countries' cultures, where there is still a frontier feel to the lifestyle.

Chile today is a peaceful and hospitable country with good roads and railways and, in spite of the distances involved, easy to get around. First-rate hotels, seafood cuisine and low-priced, delicious wines are the ingredients for a wonderful holiday.

Fiestas & Holidays

A variety of festivals take place throughout Chile. The most significant are the religious holidays of Easter and Christmas and several Fiestas Patrias celebrating the military coup of 1973, the Independence Day and Armed Forces Day, all of which take place in mid-September. Rodeos are also popular during the summer.

Some truly unique religious festivals take place in the Atacama Desert, the most notable of which is the festival of the Virgen del Carmen, near Iquique, on 15-16 July. Nearly 80,000 people come together and celebrate in a feast of colour, costumes and dances. The Carnival is celebrated in the Altiplano and Atacama the week before lent (near the end of February).

1 January: New Year.
March/April (variable): Good Friday, Easter
1 May: Labour Day.
21 May: Glory of the Navy.
June (variable): Corpus Christi.
29 June: Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
15 August: Ascension of the Virgin Mary.
1st Monday in September: Day of the National Reconciliation.
18 September: Independence Day.
19 September: Glories of the Army.
12 October: Discovery of America.
1 November: All Hallows.
8 December: Immaculate Conception.
25 December: Christmas Day.