Cabins in Malalcahuello
Malalcahuello, the town
If you are reading this blog, then you have heard of Malalcahuello, a small rural town in the central-south of Chile, 120km from the city of Temuco towards the Andes mountains. In the local pehuenche indigenous language, Malalcahuello means “horse corral”. You can still occasionally see horses passing through the main street, just as the grandmothers and grandfathers of the town describe their young lives in Malalcahuello. In their time, the people of the town were sustained by working in the forestry industry, cutting native forest trees and freighting them by steam train further afield for processing. When the timber cutting period finished, in the 1980´s, the town diminished into a sleepy backwater.
Around 2012, the town awoke and began growing again, this time from the base of ski toursim, encouraged by the reconstruction of Hotel and ski centre Corralco. In low season (early summer and autumn), there are many options for renting a mountain cabin in and around Malalcahuello but during the school holidays and ski season the population more than triples in size and finding something to rent can be complicated unless previously booked.
Do you need to book accommodation in advance in Malalcahuello?
The answer to this question depends on the season you are booking. In school holidays of February and July, it is necessary to book at least two weeks prior and probably more if you have specific needs to satisfy. During ski season, typically, people book from 8 months prior to one month prior. If you are a foreigner you can relax a little, knowing that Chileans on the whole, leave their reservations to the last minute.
How can I find a good holiday cabin?
Today the internet makes it fairly easy, however, it is more reliable to receive recommendations from friends. The internet sometimes doesn´t show the truth so it is always wise to ask a few questions directly to the owner/manager. The large internet-based booking agencies charge establishments a commision which some owners will reflect in the prices so it may be worth checking if the prices differ on their own webpage.
A good place to start looking for accommodation in Malalcahuello is the webpage of the local Tourism organisation . In Malalcahuello the variety of cabins is sufficient to provide something for everyone in terms of price and taste. Some are very basic and others well equipped and comfortable. Whether the cabin is well insulated and heated is a very important theme in the cooler months. Another important them, particularly in winter, is whether the cabin has a back-up energy supply if there is a cut to the electricity supply. Some cabins don´t have internet or operate on generators with limited energy supplies.
What is the best location?
The answer to this question is subjective. If a person is interested in thermal baths, proximity to local shops, the river or the plaza, then a cabin in the centre of the township will be the best choice. However, others are interested in a quiet rural setting or being close to the ski centre Corralco and Malalcahuello Reserve. Corralco ski centre is approximately 10km from the town of Malalcahuello, whilst the thermal baths are just 1-2km.
