The identity of Futaleufu has been influenced by the Patagonian Culture, developed by the first inhabitants who moved to these southern lands at the beginning of the 20th Century.

The establishment of the first people in the Valley of the Futaleufu started during the early 1900. These were Chilean people who found their way through Argentina. Most of them coming from Chile’s IX Region and they developed their culture in this isolated territories.

During decades the only contact these people had was with the neighboring communities in Argentina. With them they established comercial relatioships in a very basic way: Simply exchanging products they had for those they needed. It was not rare at all to use the Argentinean currency to buy flour, oil, “mate” and sugar for the basic feeding needs.

This close relationship with Argentina left a deep influence in the ways of the people of Futaleufu noticeable in the way they dress and use the language. Interesting is also to see the babequed lambed prepared in the same way as their neighbors do it, together with toasted flour and the always present “mate” (a kind of herbal tea usually drunk from small contaainer with a metal straw) All this can still be experienced here.

The dressing style of the Argentinean “Gaucho” (man on a horse) has benn until today common to the settlers of the Futaleufu valley: a bonnet, bandana around the neck, scar around the waist over the belt, the riding chaps and boots.