Vacation Rentals by Owner

Best Volcano and Lake View in Pucon, Chile

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

I think this is the most beautiful place I've ever stayed. The views of the volcano, lake and mountains were magnificent. Even though the listing photos are great, the home and views are even better once there. The home is not only clean and well-maintained, it is in the center of a garden! The owners were very helpful with all my questions and concerns. I would highly recommend this property to anyone!! Nearby activities we enjoyed were the town of Pucon, ziplining the canopy (Busca Aventura), hiking up Volcan Villarrica, and relaxing in the nearby thermals.

Owner response:That's how we feel in our home, too. You were fabulous guests! Please come visit us again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

From Guestbook Daughter and 3 Y.O. Grandaughter

Guest: Maggie and Isabel, Santiago
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/18/12

In gratitude of karma, which led us to you, and to your beautiful abode, we leave our overflowing love and amazement here for you and those to come. The energy that you have created together is felt throughout your home, your land, and, more than anything, in our hearts. I know this is just the beginning of a beautiful, budding friendship. We hope to soon return to see, feel, and learn more. We'll be sure to send many more friends from Santiago so that they, too, can enjoy this beauty and love.

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Magnificent Home

Guest: Margaret L (mother), Atlanta, GA
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/18/12

What a magnificent home and space you have created, surrounded by the natural world of mountains, water, flowers-and a volcano. Pucon did prove to be the "adventure capital of Chile!" Every day was a new adventure- hiking the volcano, zip lining through the canopy, playing on the beach, soaking in the termas, and often ending the day up on the roof in the hot tub under the Southern Cross! Thank you for sharing with us.

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Incredible House and Surroundings

Guest: Clark L (father of family)., Atlanta, Georgia
Date of Stay: 02/12/12 Review Submitted: 02/18/12

What you and Bob have done here is to design something that is magnificent...a place that is part of the incredible surroundings. We have all been absolutely in awe of the views from each window. The sunlight, the stars, the rain, the clouds, the wonderful flowers, the mountains, the lake, the volcano have been awesome. Our family is ever more richly joined because of our time together here. Thank you for sharing what you have created.

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Dream in Ayün Mapü

Guest: Roberto (In Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Date of Stay: 01/26/12 Review Submitted: 02/19/12

Ayün Mapü is on top of a hill in the way to the volcano Villarrica. It is an important place to admire and enjoy the scenery. From there we had a 360 degrees view from where we saw on one side the Lake Villarrica and on the other side of the volcano. And the hillsides around the house were covered with vegetation, trees and flowers of different colors that harmonized the view. In every moment spent there we saw a beautiful and different landscape. Even the night changed there. The few lights around allowed the beauty of a starry night where our eyes were lost, accompanying the vastness of the sky. The house was very complete with plenty of space and comfort details. It was full of light and color that brightened our soul. A special place where each person can find the paradise of his dreams. Kindness, beauty, immensity: all that we found in Ayün Mapü. I recommend you visit it to feel what we enjoyed there.

Owner response:What fantastic guests you were and how fortunate we were to have met you! Your family truly deserves the description of "international ambassadors of goodwill." Roberto, you even fixed our light switch plate! What a delightful family you are! It gives us such pleasure to receive such wonderful feedback. We designed our home for ourselves and it has turned out to be a gift to so many people!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Everything was great!

Guest: Kris and Heather, Pennsylvania
Date of Stay: 12/29/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

You have such a lovely home and we are happy taht we had the opportunity to stay there.We did a lot of hiking. Perfect weather. Thanks again.

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Spectacular Home!

Guest: Joci, Karim, Zack, and Aleya from Maryland
Date of Stay: 12/19/11 Review Submitted: 01/07/12

Dear Judyth and Robert, Thank you so much for letting us stay in your spectacular home! We never stopped being in awe of the beauty and tranquility of this house, its views, and the setting. You are VERY fortunate! We loved meeting Chai, Oso, Dulce, and Salomon-our 20-year-old twins spent much time playing with them and acting like kids again! Hopefully we'll have the opportunity to return one day- the rafting hiking, thermal baths, horseback riding, volcano climb were amazing.Gracias!

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Heaven on Earth

Guest: This is an owner response.
Date of Stay: 11/06/11 Review Submitted: 11/19/11

We are thrilled, Claude, that your stay was so wonderful. It is difficult for us to find adequate words for us to describe or advertise our Pucon home. Breathtaking, tranquil, expansive, magical.... you just have to be here and experience it! We admire the gorgeous new flowers as they bloom, are awed by the volcano in its various majestic presentations, ooh and aah at the celestial sunsets and the vast, starry night sky as well as the mystical glow of the full moon on the lake. We are filled with gratitude at stewarding this remarkable property.

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A Beautiful Place to Stay in Chile

Guest: Claude (Ottawa, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 11/06/11 Review Submitted: 11/17/11

Our group stayed at this wonderful home for a week. Our high level of anitcipation before the trip was met and exceeded by our experience here. The house is new, clean and beautifully built. The views are stunning, with a lake in the front and a volcano looking out the back. The deck and hot tub are signature features that highlight the stay. We felt very at home. The on-site caretakers tended to our needs and showed us around the house when we arrived, but who ensured our privacy as well. Upon our request, they prepared a traditional Chilean dish for us one night for supper. They are very friendly. The grounds are spacious and well maintained and the house is relatively isolated, giving us plenty of room to relax. But it is only a 7-8 minute drive from from the town of Pucon, which has all the required basic amenities as well as a number of enjoyable restaurants. The house's location strikes a great balance between isolation and proximity to a populated area. Pucon is an hour and a half drive from Temuco, which is an hour flight south of Santiago. We spent the week soaking in natural hot springs, trekking up mountain trails and visiting volano tubes - all within easy driving distance from the house. We spent most nights in Pucon trying the different restaurants, which cater to any palet, but the local dishes are recommended. All the information and picutres posted on the website and used to describe the house was accurate. But the pictures cannot do the house and the scenery justice of course. The owner was very helpful in answering questions and genuinely interested in ensuring that we were comfortable and well taken care of. This property is definitely recommended as a great place to spend a memorable vacation.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Jose F.
Date of Stay: 02/17/11 Review Submitted: 03/08/11

Thanks for coordinating things to make our stay possible at your house on short notice! You have a lovely house and we sure had a great time and looking forward to be back to Pucón soon!! My mother was especially amazed of the extraordinary views from your house! We hear Pucón could be visited in summer as in winter, so we will plan to visit Pucón in ski season!

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Guest: Alison and Jeremy W., Santiago
Date of Stay: 02/02/11 Review Submitted: 02/08/11

We really enjoyed our stay in Pucón – your house was beautiful and we loved exploring the surroundings. There is so much to see that we will definitely need to come back and spend more time. The caretakers were wonderful – Nelson lit the pizza oven for us one day, set up the stove and hot tub and brought us a big bowl of raspberries. You can definitely include my comments on your website. I have a large network of friends and colleagues here in Santiago and will most definitely recommend your home in Pucón to them.

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Guest: Craig, Walter, Owen, Emry
Date of Stay: 01/01/11 Review Submitted: 01/13/11

Wow. What a fabulous place. The views of the lake and the volcano are astonishing. A perfect place to relax and soak up Pucon and environs.This was my first trip back to Pucon in 11 years and, although it has grown somewhat, the place is still fantastic. Our family had a wonderful time and even managed to squeeze in a reasonably large earthquake (7.1). Easy to smile about when no one was hurt (no damage at all). We discovered Termas Geometricas on the backside of the volcano on the road out of Conaripe--well worth the trip.

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Guest: Javier and Lori (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 02/16/10 Review Submitted: 02/16/10

Our stay at Gracias a La Vida was wonderful. It's hard to describe the beauty that we saw. Before we arrived, we read that the pictures of the house do not do it justice. We can also confirm that. There are very few places where you can stay and see a snowcapped volcano from your door step and see a vast lake from your patio. The house is very comfortable and open. The hot tub on the roof is a great reward after a long day. The caretakers are very welcoming and also respect your privacy. Gracias a La Vida is amazing! We highly recommend it.

Owner response:Dear Javier and Lori, You were the first guests to get married while staying in our home! What a blessing and celebration for you and for all of us. Congratulations!

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Guest: April P. (-)
Date of Stay: 01/29/10 Review Submitted: 01/29/10

What a wonderful place to spend a weeks vacation. Location is magical, views breath taking, furnishing colorful and comfortable. The kitchen is well equipped but bring your own salt and pepper! It is probably the BEST private house to stay, in the Pucon area. You won't be disappointed if you decide to stay here.

Owner response:We are SO sorry... our caretakers forgot to leave out the condiments. April wanted to omit the sentence but we couldn't figure out how to change it. No worries... won't happen again.

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Guest: April, Tim, Sean, Kieran, Peter UK, Australia, USA
Date of Stay: 12/23/09 Review Submitted: 01/13/11

Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful home. How did you manage to find such a fantastic spot with views of the lake & volcano? We love the use of colors and photos. We have really enjoyed exploring the local area, including canopy tour, rafting, & 4x4 driving. Our boys said it is their best vacation to date.

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Guest: B. and C. Allen
Date of Stay: 08/21/09 Review Submitted: 08/20/09

We stayed at Gracias a la Vida for a month. It was a wonderful experience for our family of four. My little boys loved to play outside, they loved the dogs, and they especially loved Raquel, the caretaker. The house is warm and comfortable and we did not want for anything. The linens were wonderful, after traveling around the world. The kitchen is well stocked with sharp knives and wonderful dishes. The view is absolutely amazing. The volcano. The lake. The volcano. The lake We enjoyed our stay so much in Pucon that we are moving there this fall. Thank you, Judyth and Bob, for sharing your wonderful house and all of your inside information. Our trip was a success!

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Guest: Kathleen and Stephen Parr
Date of Stay: 04/18/09 Review Submitted: 04/17/09

Please enter this on your guest comments: Our stay in Pucon was like a dream! This home is truly as beautiful as it gets, warmly and meticulously decorated with all of the amentities (roof-top hot tub, gourmet kitchen,etc) AND an extraordinary view to boot. We LOVED our 2-week stay at Gracias a La Vida. We got so familiar with our volcano that we decided we HAD to climb it....what an adventure!! We highly recommend this for any visitors. Pucon is a fabulous, little tourist town and you just don't get tired of walking its little streets, sitting in its cafes or dining at its many restaurants. Carlos and Raquel are always around to help with anything you might need, and the dogs are always happy to greet you! We stayed for two weeks in March and the weather was perfect almost the entire time! Thank you so much for sharing your Chilean home with us....

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Guest: Hal and Allison
Date of Stay: 04/11/09 Review Submitted: 04/10/09

"My wife and I spent 2 months traveling in Patagonia before coming to Pucon. We needed to relax and take a break. When we found Gracias a la Vida we knew it would be perfect. First of all, it is stunningly beautiful. The setting, with the lake in front and the snow-capped volcano behind, is incredible. The house is designed to compliment the natural beauty, inside and out. Secondly, the owners have provided everything you need to instantly feel at home. It is more than comfortable - it has luxury features that are not over-the-top, but simply encourage you to be still and use the precious time to restore one's soul. Give yourself this gift!"

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Guest: Elaine and Bret Telecsan
Date of Stay: 01/16/09 Review Submitted: 01/15/09

Hi Judyth, Please add to your guest comments: It's hard to describe the absolute wonder of this Chilean home. The views from the house of the beautiful lake and awesome volcano are breathtaking. The deck on the top of the house provided a relaxing way to start the day with breakfast and end the day with the splendor of the skies, including the Milky Way and other constellations, not to mention the shooting stars all while enjoying the jacuzzi. The house itself was truly a cultural experience and full of life and color. We had a BBQ several nights and thoroughly enjoyed the company of your gracious caretakers (and loved the dogs). Day trips to Pucon to wander around the town and adventure trips zip lining and rafting were enjoyed by all. If the occasion presents itself again, I would stay at this wonderful home away from home in a heart beat. Thank you for letting us share your home and make many wonderful memories in Gracias a La Vida!!

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Guest: Elizabeth Ritchey (-)
Date of Stay: 01/07/09 Review Submitted: 01/07/09

We spent Christmas at Gracias a La Vida for 2008 and had a wonderful time. The house is beautiful, with gorgeous views of the lake and volcano(especially at sunset from the rooftop hot tub). The property manager was incredibly helpful. The peace is wonderfully balanced with the proximity to town. We use vrbo regularly and this is one of the best places we have ever stayed, can't recommend it enough : )

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Guest: PB
Date of Stay: 04/08/08 Review Submitted: 04/07/08

Our vacation to “Gracias a la Vida” was a Chilean adventure beginning with your stunning home. Its appreciable architecture is jaw dropping inside and out. The location of the property has almost make-believe scenery. It’s quiet, very private, a little off the beaten path with absolutely unobstructed, magnificent views. It’s a very special hide-away. Not only did we find your home enchanting, but also we found that “peaceful place to be in life”. We left Pucon with new friends, lots of adventure under our belts, an enriched spirit and definitely the need to follow through with more Spanish lessons for our return one day.

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Guest: M Family
Date of Stay: 01/03/08 Review Submitted: 01/02/08

Thank you so much for having us in your lovely home! We so enjoyed having access to town while feeling miles away from our busy lives. It was easy to have a restful, restorative vacation surrounding by the lake, the volcano, and your beautiful art work. We wish you many happy years in this lovely place!"

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Guest: G. Family, Manchester, MA
Date of Stay: 01/03/07 Review Submitted: 01/02/07

It has been completely spectacular. What an honor to initiate this guestbook! We have reveled in this beautiful place, enjoying every aspect of your thoughtfully-designed home and the environs of Pucon. Thank you x 10 to the sixth! ...Carlos and Raquel have been so helpful. "Perhaps this is the house I lived in when neither I nor earth existed, when all was moon or stone or darkness, when still light was unborn. I want to tell you how much I loved your Chilean home. I don't want to seem melodramatic, but meditating on the pillows by the open front window was a truly sacred experience. The air there is somehow different - maybe it's just that it's clean, and so quiet. Wonderful. Thank you. We got climb to the volcano and visit forests and rivers. The weather was perfect.

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