World Country Guide

Social Profile

Food & Drink
Santiago has many international restaurants; waiter service is usual. The evening will often include floor shows and dancing. Examples of typical national dishes are empanada (combination of meat, chicken or fish, with onions, eggs, raisins and olives inside a flour pastry), humitas (seasoned corn paste, wrapped in corn husks and boiled), cazuela de ave (soup with rice, vegetables, chicken and herbs), bife a lo pobre (steak with french fries, onions and eggs) and parrillada (selection of meat grilled over hot coals, often including delicacies such as intestines, udders and blood sausages). Seafood is good. Best known are the huge lobsters from Juan Fernndez Islands. Abalone, sea urchins, clams, prawns and giant choros (mussels) are also common.
Chile is famous for its wine. Pisco is a powerful liqueur distilled from grapes after wine pressing. Grapes are also used to make the sweet brown chicha as well as aguardiente, similar to brandy. Beer is drunk throughout the country.

Nightlife
While many restaurants and hotels offer entertainment, there are also a number of independent discos and nightclubs. Casinos: The Municipal Casino in Via del Mar offers large gambling salons, full cabaret and bote with Chile’s best dance bands. A casino operates in Gran Hotel in Puerto Varas between September and March. Arica also has a casino operating throughout the year with baccarat, roulette, black jack, a restaurant and late-night cabaret.

Shopping
Special purchases include textiles such as colourful handwoven ponchos, vicuna rugs and copper work. Chilean stones such as lapis lazuli, jade, amethyst, agate and onyx are all good buys. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 1000-2000, Sat 1000-1400. Large shopping malls are open daily 1000-2100.

Special Events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Chile in 2005; for detailed information contact SERNATUR (see Contact Addresses section):
Jan Folklore Festival, Angol; Festival of Classical Music, Valdivia; Jornadas Musicales de Villarrica, Villarrica; Festival del Huaso, Olme; International Folklore Festival, San Bernado; Feast Day of St Sebastian, Yumbel. Jan-Feb Semanas Musicales de Frutilar (wheat harvest celebrations), Trilla. Feb Festival Costumbrista, Castro; Festival de Jazz, Tongoy; Festival de la Cancin de Via del Mar; Derby Day, Via del Mar. Mar Los Andes International Fair. Apr Fiesta de Cuasimodo (traditional religious festival). Jul Fiesta de la Tirana. Sep Independence Day Celebrations, Rancagua. Oct Saint’s Day of St Francis of Assisi. Dec 26 La Fiesta Grande, Andacollo.

Note
Dates for special events in Chile change frequently.

Social Conventions
Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Most Chileans use a double surname and only the first part should be used in addressing them. Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting local people. It is very common to entertain at home and it is acceptable for invitees to give small presents as a token of thanks. Informal, conservative clothes are acceptable in most places but women should not wear shorts outside resort areas. Tipping: Restaurants and bars add 10 per cent to the bill. However, waiters will expect a 10 per cent cash tip in addition.