Cambios

The Greater Patagonian Trail is located in South America in Chile and Argentina. These two countries are sometimes referred to as the “Southern Cone”. About 86% or six seventh of the current trail is located on Chilean territory and 14% or one seventh are is on Argentine soil.

People that are not familiar with this continent often mingle all their associations of Latin America into one scary-lovely medley. If they listen a news report about unrest in Venezuela it also stains their mental record of Chile and Argentina – “It’s next door! Or?”. And when they listen Chile; they instantly think that they must eat spicy food like the Mexicans – “Come on, it’s called Chile!”. But like any other continent – may be maybe with the exception of Antarctica – it’s a socially, politically and economically diverse continent with quite different nations.

If you are interested in hiking the GPT but you never have been to Chile or Argentina than start with getting a good understanding and knowledge of these two countries. I’m not attempting to provide a comprehensive introduction to the Chile and Argentina with the following paragraphs. I mainly focus on a few trail specific aspects that you probably do will not find in guide books.

Chile and Argentina are not developing countries like i.e. their common neighbor Bolivia. Chile and Argentina are very much like western countries but with a high inequality of wealth and income. Both countries are on a global scale reasonable reasonably stable and healthy democracies, Argentina may be with a bit more populism and corruption than Chile. Both countries have reasonable good working institutions i.e. a police that keeps most of the country reasonable safe. And both nations have their social struggles, economic challenges and political scandals like many others.

Chile and Argentina receive a lot of tourists and there is not much xenophobia. In contrast, Quite the opposide tourists are welcome and received with hospitality as long as they don’t pretend to belong to a superior race. After three centuries of colonization and two centuries with sometimes heavy outside interference people have a fine sense for any form arrogance. And if they sense it they will often not tell speak up (especially Chileans learned to swallow their objections during 17 years of a military dictatorship) but expect to receive reservation and poor service in turn. And that’s a pity because Argentines and Chileans are normal open and interested people that treat guests with honest geniality.

If you are a European or a North American tourist from outside of Latinamerica accept that you are called a “Gringo”. Sometimes this term is used for all foreigners regardless , in particular if you are from where they comeEurope or North America. In the Southern Cone this term has no negative intonation (unlike in Mexico and Central America). The label "Gringo" may only imply that his person is bit ignorant of the local customs what needs to be treated with leniency. Try to surprise your counterpart with with good Spanish skills and knowledge about his country!  If you are from the Far East, you will often be considered a “Chino” no matter if you are from China or actually from Japan or Korea or any other country of this region. And please, don’t take it as an offence if you are i.e. of Japanese origin and called a “Chino”. Your part of the world is simply too far away from Patagonia and only few know the complicated and conflictive history of a so distant place.  The same applies to all Turks and Arabs and other Middle Eastern nations may be up to Pakistan. In Chile they are often all labeled “Turcos” no matter from where they are exactly. If you are affected you may try to explain from which country you are exactly but don't get frustrated if these differences are irrelevant in a mountain hut in the Andes. Just enjoy that you are first seen as person that came from a distant place without being instantly classified by your nationality.  Only Israelis get distinct out of this Middle Eastern group of the "Turcos" because Israelis travel this region in large numbers. They are normally referred to as “Israelitas” and hardly ever as “Judíos” (Jews). When travelling Chile and Argentina I practically did not observe any anti-Semitism but occasional some annoyance with young Israelis. They travel after a long and tough military service, have typically a tight budget and try therefore to get as far as possible with the least amount of money necessary. They tend to break the rules more often (as many youngsters of this age tend to do), they often bargain for the lowest price (what is not common in this part of the world and sometimes perceived offensive) and they often travel in groups of their own without seeking much interaction with others. If you are an Israeli hiker on the GPT than please don't bargain for a discount if the asking price is reasonable. Take it or leave it, in particular if you are in an remote place along the route and a settler offers you some food or accommodation. I experienced these locals on the trail as generous and reasonable and haggling would be in most cases rude. Be a good ambassador of your nation and be generous where you are treated with generosity (all this applies obviously to all hikers).