Talca is a city of 220,000 people (2017) in Central Chile. It is the capital of Talca Province and of Maule Region. Talca personifies the Chilean characteristics of being isolated, insular and very local. Most travellers from Santiago to the south pass right through and have no experience of Talca, a busy medium-sized city with cars, taxis, buses, bicycles and horse-drawn carts in the streets.