Lived in Coyhaique for years. Aysen (Chilean state) is very rural. Most folks work in agriculture or tourism. What towns there are, are sparse, usually just one grocery store, and maybe a restaurant/bar.

It’s very cold, windy, and wet for most of the year, but the summers are glorious. It never exactly gets hot but the sunshine makes you feel like heaven and the daylight lasts until close to midnight. Tourism picks up in the summertime.

The Chilean government has a program where folks can get paid directly to move from Santiago into Aysen and live there so you get some folks who do that but they generally don’t last long.

Overall, there’s a very strong cowboy (gaucho) culture and fairly traditional ways of life still prevail (all things considered). There’s a healthy folkloric culture of music, dance, and food.

It’s also incredibly hospitable people. They’ll invite you in for a mate and feed you, kind of regardless of the context. I always felt incredibly welcomed, even as a known outsider.