The most intriguing linguistic minority is the 2000-plus speakers of Rapa Nui, the Polynesian language of most of Easter Island's population. Chile's cuisine reflects the country's topographical variety, and features seafood, beef, fresh fruit and vegetables. Chile's biggest standard meal is lomo a lo pobre - an enormous slab of beef topped with two fried eggs and buried in chips. The parillada , which will appall vegetarians and heart specialists, is a mixed grill including such delicacies as intestines, udders and blood sausages. Curanto , one of the nation's finest dishes, is an all-encompassing, hearty stew of fish, shellfish, chicken, pork, lamb, beef and potato.
Chilean wines are arguably South America's best.
A pisco sour is a popular drink which easily gets you piscoed - it's a grape brandy served with lemon juice, egg white and powdered sugar. A 90-day entry permit, renewable for another 90 days, is received on entering the country. When to Go Chile's geographical variety can make a visit rewarding in any season. Easter Island is cooler, slightly cheaper and much less crowded outside the summer months. Cascading waterfalls, sprawling glaciers, dense forests, and the chance to see Patagonian guanaco make it a truly awesome experience.