Travel Guide Chile Chico

The first inhabitants of the Chile Chico region were settlers who crossed the Argentine border to settle in this paradise. But the occupation of these territories displeased important landowners, who tried to dislodge them, with the support of the army, under the pretext that they had the title deeds. The settlers refused to recognize these titles, as they had been issued a land occupation permit in 1914 by the Land and Settlement Office of Punta Arenas, and they faced the army in 1917 in what would become known as the "Chilean War". The settlers managed to stay, but the town was not recognized until 1931. The arrival of many Belgian settler families in 1948 gave it a new lease of life. The population lived from mining and the production of fruit and vegetables until the 1980s. Today, however, the region's agriculture suffers from its geographical isolation, which implies rather high transport costs, accentuated even more by the monopoly situation of a few companies. A characteristic feature of the region is the great connivance that exists with Argentina's border neighbours. Here, the two peoples truly have the same culture, more regional than national. Mate is drunk in Chile Chico and, when the Hudson volcano erupted in 1991, help and aid came more quickly from Argentina than from Chile itself. Chile Chico is now populated by more than 5,000 people. It is a quiet and welcoming city, close to nature, the opportunity for swimming in the lake and a great breath of fresh air.