LUXURY TOURS & BESPOKE VACATIONS IN CHILE

Chilean music blends indigenous, Spanish and African influences. The cueca, Chile’s national dance, involves vibrant movements that symbolise the courtship of a rooster and hen. Chilean folk music, particularly from the Andean region, features instruments such as the charango and pan flute. Meanwhile, contemporary cumbia, rock and electronica shape Chile’s modern soundscape. You might encounter the distinctive kultrún, a ceremonial drum of the Mapuche culture, or the resonant trutruca, a long trumpet-like wind instrument made from cane and a cow horn. Some of the most famous artists from Chile include Víctor Jara, Mon Laferte and Gepe.

From the Andes to the Pacific, Chile offers a rich tradition of craftsmanship, with indigenous art at its heart. We recommend seeking out pieces by the Mapuche people, renowned for their symbolism and artistry. Their intricate silverwork, such as the distinctive trapelacucha breastplates and chagüay earrings, often features motifs reflecting their cosmology and connection to nature. Their beautifully woven textiles, created on traditional looms, range from ponchos to blankets, with geometric patterns passed down through generations.

Beyond indigenous designs, look for luxuriously soft alpaca textiles, often crafted by hand, and pieces crafted from lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone primarily sourced from the Coquimbo Region.

To take a taste of Chile home, consider a fine bottle from one of its esteemed vineyards – perhaps a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or the country’s signature Carmenère. And for mixing Pisco Sours at home, an authentic bottle of pisco, Chile’s distinctive grape brandy, is essential.

Chilean literature offers a lens into the country’s complex history and cultural landscape. A few essential reads:

– Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda’s Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair are classics. To better understand the man behind the words, you can visit Pablo Neruda’s three houses in Chile, where he once lived and loved – La Chascona in Santiago, La Sebastiana in Valparaíso, and Isla Negra on the coast.

– Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits is a cornerstone of Chilean magical realism.

– Alejandro Zambra’s Ways of Going Home captures the introspective, often fractured voice of contemporary Chilean fiction, exploring themes of memory, childhood, and the personal echoes of collective trauma.