Location: Zapallar, Chile, South America (2 hours north of Santiago) View Map
Accommodations: House, 1 Bedroom, 1.5 Baths (Sleeps 2)
Zapallar is beautiful coastal town 2 hours north of Santiago and 1 hour north of Valpariso/Vina Del Mar, sitting on a breathtaking, rocky coast with the crystal clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. Popular opinion is that Zapallar is the most exclusive beach in Chile. This little resort town is the choice of Chile’s aristocracy, and for good reason. Nestled between the surrounding hills and the vast ocean, composed of mansions of stunning architectural beauty, this place has similarities to Santa Barbara in California and Positano in Italy. I cannot think of a more beautiful beach and bay.
One cannot picture Zapallar without picturing first that immaculate beach of clean, yellow sand. In summer, people abound; sunning, talking, playing paddleboard, braving the cold Humboldt current to frolic in the waves. The hardy swim out to a floating raft. A collage of colorful umbrellas protects those who have got too much sun, or want an afternoon nap. Brightly painted fishing boats bob up and down in the bay and dolphins play among them. A restaurant serving all the Chilean seafood and shellfish literally sits on the beach. In winter, the beach can be totally to yourself.
Life here is about strolling. Stroll around the bay that is free of autos, on a beautiful walkway, “the rambla”, your ears serenaded by the crashing waves and your eyes treated to the seaside landscape. Or stroll along the lushly landscaped streets of the town among the huge mansions overlooking the water. For sunset, stroll around the corner of the bay to Mar Bravo, for an unimpeded view of the sun setting into the ocean, usually accompanied by the chorus of the huge, magnificent waves crashing against the rocks just outside the bay. For the more energetic, a walk down the rocks 4 miles to the neighboring beach of Cachagua, passing more scenic coastline and an island of Chilean penguins.
We built a house in Zapallar in 2007, and we are offering it for rent to a couple. The house is beautiful. Everyone who has entered has been in awe of its space, light, and ambiance. The living quarters are upstairs where the views of the town, mountains and ocean are breathtaking. The tall ceilings and abundance of windows give the interior space an airy feeling. The house is full of light. The rich wooden floors, double paned windows and granite counter tops in the kitchen are reflective of the quality construction. The morning sun is captured in the dining room and breakfast deck. The setting sun reflects off the mountains as you sit on the main terrace overlooking the town, enjoying your Pisco Sour. A fire can be laid in the fireplace if you want to change the ambiance in the evening, although a pleasant temperature in the house makes usually makes it unnecessary. There is a full kitchen and one off-street parking place.
From the house, built in the pueblo, you can walk down to get bread and the paper in the morning. The beach is a pleasant 5 minute walk down, although the Positano nature of Zapallar makes it a 15-20 minute walk back up.
For winter, the house has no central heating. Zapallar is a fairly temperate climate, and with the home's thermal mass and dual-paned windows, the temperature in the house stays fairly constant. On those cold evenings though, a fire in the fireplace gets the upstairs toastly real quickly, and we have a portable propane heater for the downstairs bedrooms if necessary.
Although ours is a 3 bedroom house, we are only interested in renting to a couple. Because of the unfinished projects in the house, we do not think it is yet suitable for children. Also, we shut off our bedroom, leaving only our guest room with one double bed. We recognize the need in Zapallar for a rental for only two people, because the only other alternatives for a couple are staying at the one expensive hotel in town, renting a large house, or staying in a neighboring town. There is a one week minimum rental during teh summer months. And please, NO SMOKING in the house.
Zapallar is a unique place, and our home is a unique place to stay. I am sure a stay in Zapallar will be a highlight in any trip to Chile.
Keywords: House
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Parking Off Street
- Linens Provided
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- Double
- Kitchen
- Microwave
- Cooking Utensils
- Full Kitchen
- Refrigerator
- Outdoor Features
- Balcony
- Deck/Patio
- Outdoor Grill Charcoal
- View/Location
- Ocean View
- Mountain View
- Suitability
- Non Smoking Only
- Pets Not Allowed
- Children Not Allowed
- Activities
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Cycling
- Surfing
- Sight Seeing
- Horseback Riding
- Kayaking
- Snorkeling/Diving
Rate Details (In Chilean Pesos/USD)
High Season (December thru March, holidays)- .. CH$90000/night- one week minimum rental Low Season- .. CH$60000/night (3 night minimum- long-term winter rates are negociable) .. Additional CH$20000 cleaning cost for each rental period ..
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Map & Owner's Profile
Year Purchased: 2007
Why the Owner Chose ZapallarMaria grew up in Chile, spending her summers in Zapallar. Randy and Maria have been coming together since 1996. It was time for us to finally own a little piece of paradise.
The Unique Benefits at this HouseThe unique benefit of staying in our home is that you can stay within Zapallar without having to be in the one expensive hotel or renting a large home. And of course, you can cook your own meals rather than having to eat in a restaurant every meal.
Owner's Map of Zapallar
Randy is retired from the computer business, and Maria has been in fashion sales and teaching. Randy is a gringo who speaks only English, while Maria is Chilean and completely bilingual in English and Spanish. We own homes in beach communities of Santa Barbara,California, Maalaea,Maui, and Zapallar,Chile; we obviously like to follow the sun. We live to snorkel, bodysurf, and golf. Since 2003, we have been in travel mode, visiting such places in the USA as Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, New England and the Pacific Northwest, and going overseas to South America, Thailand, and Europe.
Property Photos
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- Our house
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- Living area
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- Dining and kitchen areas
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- Dining area
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- Kitchen
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- Living area from kitchen
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- Bedroom
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- Bathroom
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- Guest bathroom
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- View from the main deck
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- Breakfast/BBQ deck
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- Entry garden
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- Sunset from deck
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- Zapallar Beach
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- The bay of Zapallar (this view of the bay is not from the house)
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- Our house location within Zapallar
Traveler Reviews (1)
Zappallar Delight
Guest: Killer
(Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA)
Date of Stay: 10/31/11
Review Submitted: 11/29/11
We want to tell you what a wonderful time we had staying in your Zapallar home. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and were blown away by the scenery. We had fog in the morning and beautiful sunny afternoons and sunsets in the evening which we spent walking the beach and rocky shoreline. We loved the deck and the fireplace and the view of the ocean. It looks like your rental is by far the best option for visiting Zapallar even though you don’t have a helicopter pad. By the way, the information you provided about the house, the town, and activities nearby were very helpful.
Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+.
First (1) of (1). Write a Review
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #281184
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