Chilean Etiquette: The Do’s and Don’ts

Chileans are known to be very friendly and hospitable people. They will make you feel right at home. Their culture and customs are different from what you may be used to at home or from what you’ve experienced when travelling elsewhere. For that, we’ve compiled a list of some do’s and don’ts when it comes to Chilean Etiquette for when you are fortunate enough to make a trip down the the southern hemisphere.

Do:

• Make direct eye contact while having a conversation with someone you meet. Chilean’s are naturally affectionate people so don’t be taken aback when someone very close to you during a conversation. It’s just a sign that they are showing interest in what you are saying and are being friendly.

• Address people as Senor for men and Senora for women if you aren’t sure what their title is. Residents of Chile are usually addressed by their titles.

• At a meal, keep your hands above the table at all times, even when you have finished eating.

• Discussing families, children, easter island and history are considered good conversation topics.

Dont:

• Don’t bother to bargain for things in stores or street markets. It’s illegal to sell items without an issued receipt.

• Although certain hand gestures are common and come natural to you in conversation, many of them may be misinterpreted as being rude.

• Raising your right fist to head level is a Communist sign, avoid doing that hand gesture.

• Do not discuss politics with just anyone, preferably only friends. If the subject comes up, use caution.

When campers travel with Evolve Chile, our staff make be sure them feel at home and comfortable in a new environment that they may not be accustomed to. We make this transition as smooth as possible and to have open communication with campers by checking in on how they are doing on a day to day basis.