7 Chile Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten Path in Patagonia, Mapuche Culture, and More with Steph Dyson

Zero To Travel Podcast

Jason Moore

Society & Culture, Business, Entrepreneurship, Places & Travel

4.6 • 866 Ratings

🗓️ 4 November 2025

⏱️ 94 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Want to explore volcanoes, wine valleys, remote wilderness, and vibrant indigenous cultures, all in one country? Why not make Chile your next adventure? Steph Dyson is a travel journalist, guidebook author, and founder of the website Worldly Adventurer. She has spent nearly a decade living and travelling across Latin America, including three years in Chile, and is the author of Moon Chile With Patagonia & Rapa Nui (Easter Island). In today’s episode, we explore Chile’s incredible geographic and cultural diversity through seven hidden‑gem destinations, with stories and advice for exploring them responsibly. Steph breaks down her favorite hidden corners of Chile, from wild Patagonia to volcano climbs, ancient mummies, and the vibrant island culture of Chiloé. You’ll hear tips for hitchhiking the Carretera Austral, visiting Indigenous communities with cultural respect, and building a flexible mid-range travel budget in Chile. We also talk about how to approach destinations more consciously as travelers, not just tourists. Plus, you're going to hear Part 2 of the Best in Travel Tech series! What’s the one hidden gem you’ve discovered in your travels (or want to discover) that changed how you think about a place? I'd love to hear about it, and I hope you’ll share by sending me an audio message. Tune In To Learn: How a burned-out teacher bought a one-way ticket to Bolivia and ended up building a new life across Latin America What makes the Carretera Austral a must‑visit, and why she recommends you hitchhike How Chile’s wine valleys offer cultural and culinary depth beyond the typical vineyard experience How the Mapuche people in the south of Chile maintain ancient traditions, and how travellers can engage respectfully How to choose when to travel in Patagonia to avoid crowds and still get wild‑land experiences How to climb a volcano near Pucón and what to expect (terrain, season, logistics) Why a remote island like Chiloé delivers cultural and natural surprises that few visit Advice for budget mid‑range travellers in Chile: transport, accommodation, local costs, and how to balance comfort with adventure And so much more Resources: Sign up for our FREE newsletter Get your Being Box Stephdyson.com Worldly Adventurer Moon Chile: With Patagonia & Rapa Nui Worldpackers Workaway Pangae App Meetup Want More? Top 7 Grand European Journeys With Lucas Peters Peru’s Hidden Gems, Why NOT to Hike the Inca Trail + Amazing (Less Crowded) Alternatives with Heather Jasper Building a Travel Lifestyle: Digital Nomadism, Slow Travel, Exploring Latin America with Kyle Cohenour Thanks To Our Sponsors Holafly - Get 10% off your annual Holafly eSIM with code “ZEROTOTRAVEL” Turkish Airlines Series - Listen to the podcast on Apple and Spotify Moon Travel Guides - Use code ‘ZERO’ for 20% off your order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:31.3	I think a lot of people overlook Chile. I think Argentina people here have heard a lot more about
0:37.3	or it's much better at promoting
0:39.1	itself, and that's Argentina all over. The Argentinians are very good at promoting themselves.
0:43.3	The Chileans are not. People have heard about Peru or Machu Picchu. I guess people have gone to
0:48.3	the Galapagos. I think people do hear about Patagonia. But what I love so much about Chile is that it's a place that doesn't
0:56.7	realize quite how incredible it is. That is today's guest, Steph Dyson. She is the author of
1:02.6	Moon Chile with Patagonia and Rapa Nui. You can check it out at moontravelguides.com.
1:07.6	You're going to hear the story behind how she went from a teaching career in England to moving to South America on a bit of a whim and eventually becoming an award-winning freelance travel journalist with an expertise in sustainability in Latin America.
1:20.5	And today, you're going to get to explore this region of the world by visiting her list of seven hidden gems, highlighting Chile's incredible geographic and cultural diversity,
1:31.7	including a visit to indigenous communities, maintaining centuries, old traditions,
1:37.4	where to find remote wilderness in Chilean Patagonia,
1:41.8	wine valleys, volcano summits, and much more, along with practical
1:45.4	tips for travelers looking to hitchhike or road trip the iconic Carretera Austral.
1:52.3	Plus, you're going to hear part two of our best in travel tech series and emphasis today
1:57.2	on practical technology recommendations that can lead you to rich real world experiences,
2:03.3	in-person connections, and new opportunities for meaningful cultural exchanges with locals.
	...

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