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Created and shaped past an intoxicating fusion of indigenous and foreign influences, the modern culture of South America is inarguably one of the continent'south all-time assets. Aside from astonishing natural delights like the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon Rainforest, and Iguazu Falls, it'southward the continent's fascinating cultures and all their combined histories that entice millions of visitors every year.

Given the fact that South America boasts overwhelmingly Spanish ancestry and that a 'vein of similarities' traverses the entire continent, some may mistakenly believe that, culturally, the continent is quite homogenous. Nothing could exist further from the truth. No matter what the 'textbooks' say, visiting Argentina and Republic of bolivia brand for two wildly different travel experiences.

Guiding you on your culturally enlightening journey through the culture of South America, we aim to highlight not just the similarities among countries just, perhaps more chiefly, the stark distinctions that make each 1 unique, fascinating and enticing in its own right.

Peruvian dancers in Cusco. Photograph: Shutterstock

A Pace Back in Time – How South American Culture Evolved

History has ensured that there are many cultural similarities between all modern-day Due south American nations, considering the continent was conquered by two neighbouring European empires at around the same time.

When the Castilian and Portuguese landed on the Due south American continent and began their colonial takeover in the 1500s, every region was inhabited by an indigenous culture.  Although these cultures were impressively advanced and showcased quite circuitous societal and agronomical systems, their firepower was no match for the heavily-armed Europeans. Within only a century, South America'southward indigenous cultures were about entirely wiped out.

Interesting Fact: All upwardly, the total death cost of native Americans at the hands of colonialists is believed to take numbered over 55 meg. Astonishingly, a recent written report suggests that the mass extermination of native American, and the resulting abandonment of over 56 1000000 hectares of farming country, may well accept caused our planet's Little Ice Age of the 16^th-century.

Bolivia – Isla del Sol on the Titicaca lake – legendary Inca creation site and the birthplace of the lord's day. Photo: Shutterstock

Despite the fact that merely 10% of South America'southward indigenous cultures survived the initial century of colonisation, their widespread and eclectic legacies remain to this day. From the spectacular Mayan pyramids in the n to the startling mud-cities of the Chimu and magnificent Incan citadels in the centre, not to mention the fascinating prehistoric cave-paintings of southern Patagonia, South America's aboriginal cultures yet shine through and add an amazing infusion of ancient history on every tour.

Machu Picchu (Peru, Southa America), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo: Shutterstock

For the modern-day traveller, the civilization of South America is enthralling and a huge reason for taking the trip in the first identify. This incredible mix of indigenous and European cultures, the unmistakable fusion of languages, cuisine, community and traditions: all of it creates a truly rewarding experience.

Performers participate in the Great Parade of Carnaval, Barranquilla, Colombia. Photograph: Shutterstock

To better sympathise the civilization of Southward America, it'southward important to take some time to research the specifics of every country y'all wish to visit or ensure yous take enough of expertly guided excursions when yous arrive. Even a site every bit famous and well documented as Machu Picchu can be brought to life by the right guide, especially when you follow the ancient footsteps along the Inca Trail for a few days. Taking guided tours, whether for just a 24-hour interval or several weeks, will ensure you become and so much more from your feel, particularly when dealing with a cultural site or festival.

Hither'southward a quick cultural lowdown on the well-nigh-visited South American destinations:

• The Culture of Peru
• The Culture of Republic of chile
• The Culture of Republic of ecuador
• The Civilization of Brazil
• The Culture of Argentina

South American Food Civilisation

Traditional South American food is i of the areas where the 'same but different' essence of the continent is at its most obvious. There's a commonality among nations hither in terms of ingredients (equally one would expect) given that farming traditions have e'er been widely shared among regions, although it's the nuanced differences in their evolution that render them distinct.

Corn, potatoes, tomatoes, avocadoes, plantain, chillies, capsicums, pulses (like beans and lentils) and an abundance of exotic fruits are the base of operations of just nigh all Southward American cuisines and have been for thousands of years. When information technology comes to fresh produce, this continent is unrivalled. Then many of us forget that whilst the Spanish introduced widespread animal husbandry to South America and meat like beef, pork and chicken to all its cuisines, information technology took an affluence of fresh produce back to the homeland. Europe, before the conquest of South America, boasted a rather banal and uninteresting diet made primarily of bread, olives and meat – almost all of the major fresh produce we consume today originates from Southward America, most of them from the loftier Andes. The most celebrated superfoods in the world? Yep, they come from South America too.

Freshly squeezed juice in Sucre, Bolivia. Photo: Shutterstock

How strange cultures influenced local cuisine

Due south America's major cultural and culinary influences have been European, African (through slavery), and Asian, the latter most noticeably from Nippon and China and most pronounced in Peru and Brazil. In these ii nations, the foreign influence has helped create side-branches of local cuisines, known as Nikkei (Latino + Japanese) and Chifa (local + Chinese) respectively.

Lima is a fantastic place to sample the best chifa in the country.

Chifa food in Lima, Republic of peru. Photo: Shutterstock

The crazy number of empanada 'versions' institute all over the continent is only a simple example of the kind of subtle culinary differences you'll run across when you travel through South America. Almost every nation regards the empanada as their national dish although each one is prepared differently, either by using different ingredients (sultanas in Chile and olives in Argentine republic) or by traditionally baking or frying them. The distinctions may seem irrelevant but, to astute gourmands, can exist profound.

Traditional broiled Argentine empanadas. Photograph: Shutterstock

In the northern Caribbean regions of Brazil and Colombia, you'll discover that coconut milk is used quite a lot – it was imported from Africa during the get-go three hundred years of colonisation (and slavery) and has remained a staple in the local cuisines, although it failed to take hold elsewhere. Y'all'll notice an abundance of Chinese-fashion stir-fries in Peru and a passion for Italian pasta and pizza in Argentina – all of these are examples of the kind of cultural influences that take shaped the eclectic S American cuisines.

Colombia'due south beautiful Cartagena is a fantastic cultural destination, its Afro-Caribbean vibe making information technology a uniquely colourful identify to visit. There are many reasons to include information technology on your South America tour, the urban center's delicious array of traditional coconut sweets surely amid the virtually important!

Contrasted traditional sweets from Cartagena de Indias. Photo: Shutterstock

Find the most iconic delicacies to try in our guide to South American Food and, for a more detailed overview of the main cuisines in South America, see:

• The Cuisine of Peru
• The Cuisine of Chile
• The Cuisine of Argentine republic
• The Cuisine of Brazil
• The Cuisine of Ecuador

The most memorable cultural highlights in South America

Culture vultures will be happy to know that immersive local experiences are a part of everyday life when travelling in Southward America. Whilst you can certainly plan your trip to coincide with one of the continent'due south grandest cultural festivals, there are also simpler means to soak up the civilisation of whichever region you happen to exist visiting.

Some of the most rewarding experiences, truth be told, are the seemingly mundane. Here are just a few of our favourite cultural experiences we love including in S America tours:

Tango dinner and show in Buenos Aires

The sheer thought of a 'dinner and dance evidence' may make y'all think this is a touristy gimmicky but, in one case you spend a day in Buenos Aires, you'll empathize that tango dancing is an inherent part of local Argentinian culture. Why go to a show if you tin can see people dancing tango on every other street corner? Because at the urban center'southward best tango joints you go to savour local culinary specialities and see some of the urban center'southward very best dancers in the one, totally unforgettable evening. This style, you get a 2-in-1 cultural experience that is second to none.

Tango Porteno – a Tango Show, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photograph: Shutterstock

Overnight homestay on Lake Titicaca

Homestays are a fabulous way to become a gustation of local life and culture in a relatively sanitised environment, no matter how 'undeveloped' a place may exist. Life in the islands of Lake Titicaca may be basic simply it is as well immensely fascinating to outsiders. Natives hither accept maintained their lifestyle as if the last thousand years hadn't even passed. Well, you know they have because they organise superb tourist homestays, complete with a nighttime of dancing in costume (at high distance, beware!) drinking warm beer and soaking upwards the splendours of the dramatic landscapes. We tin organise a diverseness of homestays all over the continent but these are amidst the well-nigh revered past all.

Young shepherds on Isla Amantani, Lake Titicaca, Peru. Photo: Shutterstock

Visit a local community in the Amazon Rainforest

Local Amazonian communities accept been making the news headlines for all the incorrect reasons lately and showing our back up, by organising visits, is a silver lining if ever there was one. Cultural experiences in the Amazon are immensely fascinating for outsiders, as they finally get to experience what life is like in 1 of the world'southward most spellbinding yet also inhospitable landscapes. It'due south a whole dissimilar world, out hither, and getting a glimpse of this most ancient way of life in South America is actually a once-in-a-lifetime feel. Providing a pocket-size income through tourism is besides a wonderful way to aid keep these indigenous tribes living and thriving in their ancestral home.

Local children playing in the Amazon, Brazil. Photograph: Shutterstock

Spend a twenty-four hour period (or 2) in a traditional Argentinian estancia

The Argentinian Pampas is the habitation of the famous gaucho, the toughest and well-nigh resilient horseman there ever was. Here, you can spend a twenty-four hour period (or more) in a working subcontract (estancia), enjoying some horseback riding or hiking, and feasting on a traditional asado BBQ, the well-nigh iconic speciality of Argentinian cuisine. Estancia (or hacienda) stays are exceptional ways to explore the backcountry of the southern regions (most famously offered in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Bolivia) and to really soak up the essence of life in the S American outback. Here, long-held farming traditions take created a civilization that'south utterly unique. Many old farmhouses have been opened to the public and offer distinct cultural experiences you simply won't detect anywhere else.

Gaucho with a herd of sheep in Patagonia. Photo: Shutterstock

Desire to add some seriously unforgettable cultural experience son your next tour of South America ? Talk to us today and allow usa assistance yous program a comprehensive itinerary that soaks up the best aspects of the culture of South America, as well as its historical and natural wonders.

Writer: Laura Pattara

"Laura Pattara is a mod nomad who's been vagabonding around the globe, non-cease, for the by xv years. She's tour-guided overland trips through Southward America and Africa, travelled independently through the Center East and has completed a six-year motorbike trip from Europe to Commonwealth of australia. What ticks her fancy most? Animal encounters in remote wilderness, authentic experiences off the beaten trail and spectacular Autumn colours in Patagonia."

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