Unique Zapallar Home Rental for a Couple

Property description

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, the 'balsa'. 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 though, you often find the beach 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.

While there are seaside restaurants to enjoy a sunset pisco sour (the Chilean national drink), Zapallar is not a town to come to if you are looking for the disco and bar life.

We built Casa Vista-Zapallar in 2007. The house is unique, and 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 on breakfast deck. The setting sun reflects off the mountains as you sit on the main terrace overlooking the town, enjoying your Pisco Sour. Our rooftop terrace gives an even more panaramic vista of the town. 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 usually makes it unnecessary. While the cabinetry has not been completed, the kitchen is fully functional and equipped. There is one off-street parking place. There is no television, internet, or washer/dryer.

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 the hill, 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. We have a portable propane heater for the downstairs bedroom if needed. We cannot insure that the portable heater has propane in its tank, so it is the responsibility of the renter to refill the tank if necessary.

We are offering our house as a rental for couples. We recognize the need in Zapallar for a rental for only two people, because there are very few options in Zapallar within walking distance to the beach. During the off-season (Mar-Dec), when we rent to a couple, we shut off our master bedroom and rent the rest of the house, leaving our guest room with one double bed for renters. We are able to rent for two additional guests (up to 4) by including a small extra bedroom, at an additional cost. There is a 2 night minimum rental during this period (5-day minimum for March). During the summer months (Jan-Feb), we rent the house with both bedrooms available for up to 4 persons with a 14 day minimum rental period. At times during the summer, the owner(s) may be staying in the closed off master bedroom, which has it's own private entrance. They will not be using the rest of the house.

This multi-level home is unsuitable for people challenged by stairs. And please, NO SMOKING and NO PETS 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 for your trip to Chile.