It’s an old travel cliché: Americans go to Paris and eat at McDonald’s.
While this is an unfair stereotype, it’s not unheard of for visitors in a foreign country to spend so much time with other like-minded vacationers at top tourist destinations that they never uncover the more underground, local attractions.
It’s hardly a traveler’s fault—how can a culturally curious tourist find genuine local experiences in a world of sanitized tourist traps?
Look no further! Here are ten exclusive cultural experiences that offer the opportunity to interact with locals and learn firsthand about their country and customs.
Santiago, Chile
The capital of Chile is a bustling modern metropolis framed by the towering Andes. With its 19th century neoclassical architecture, elegant parks and colonial plazas, it’s a dream destination for anyone headed to South America.
To really dig into local Santiguan culture, enjoy the three Ds (dinner, dining and drinks) with a local guide. Start your night with tapas and pisco sours, followed by stops at two traditional “picadas” (bars) where you can chat with locals and soak up the sounds of bolero and tango music.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hundreds of thousands of tourists will be flocking to Brazil in the next four years for the World Cup and the Olympics. While they’ll be lured by the siren song of fútbol and sport, it would be a shame to miss out on one of the cornerstones of Brazilian culture: the samba. Sure, you could hit a samba performance and call it a night, but why not embrace a dose of Brazilian enthusiasm and take a class instead? Learn to swivel your hips with a one hour dance class at a Copacabana samba school and then hit the streets for a night of revelry in Rio’s famous dance clubs!
Marrakech, Morocco
Marrakech’s ancient red walls and bustling souks offer a totally immersive cultural experience in and of themselves. But sometimes, to really get to know a country, you need to get a little messy. In this case, we’re talking about a kitchen mess. A half-day cooking lesson with a local Moroccan chef means six hours’ worth of culinary adventure – such as learning to use local herbs, spices, oils and traditional conical cooking pots to make spicy tagines. Add in a little wine, and you have the makings of a perfect cultural culinary experience.
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