17 Things You'll Learn On A Trip To Chile

After weeks of punishing hikes, wicked whale-watching, and putting away endless delicious food, this backpacker can tell you exactly what you'll learn in red hot Chile.

1. How to pack for desert, mountains, glaciers, jungles, and beaches

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You'll see them all on any backpacking adventure in Chile.

2. Chilean food is amazeballs

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Mussels, empanadas, ceviche, fillet steak barbeques... we just dribbled on our keyboard.

3. Wine-tasting is a national sport

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Casillero del Diablo! Pisco Sour! Carmenere! Every hour is wine o'clock in Chile.

4. Chile is really cheap (and its money is pretty)

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I mean, it;s not Asia cheap, but books things ahead and you'll save tonnes of money.

5. You'll become nocturnal to go stargazing

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There can be up to 18 hours of sunshine a day, followed by night skies you won't have seen at home.

6. The weather on Torres del Paine can beat you up

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The wind pounded my tent to bits, the rain soaked me through, and the sun gave me chronic sunburn. Totally worth it.

7. Valparaiso is Chile's answer to Banksy

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The Gold Rush filled this city with extravagance, and when it fell it became a centre for art and graffiti.

8. Banks don't always work

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My account offers free transactions abroad. It didn't work in Chile. Be warned.

9. General Pinochet was or wasn't a pretty evil dude

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It depends who you speak to. He improved general living standards, but thousands died along the way.

10. There's dolphins and seals and penguins, oh my!

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The Humboldt current rolls up from Antarctica, bringing all sorts of wildlife to Chile's coast.

11. You can visit the end of the world

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Silent forests, grizzled ranchland, seas of sheep, endless cemeteries. It's a strange place.

12. You can take a boat to Antarctica

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It's cold and expensive, mind.

13. You'll learn the difference between llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos

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It's weirdly important to know your camelids in Chile. Pay attention!

14. Men are paid to tuck you in on overnight bus trips

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Chile is 2,600 miles top to bottom. Take a comfy overnight bus journey and a maitre d' will tuck you under a snuggly blanket.

15. Chileno Spanish is a nightmare to learn

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Think you're good at Spanish? Think again. They talk at hyperspeed in Chile.

16. You can wait for hours at Chilean borders

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No foreign living matter (except you) can enter the country. Take that apple out of your pocket.

17. Easter Island!

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You have to fly from Chile, but it's worth it to see the beguiling moai stone heads. That's something off the bucket list.

Read the full article on Gapyear.com.