Corralco

Is a ski centre located within the Malalcahuello National Reserve in the central-south of Chile 127 km (79 mi) from the city of Temuco . It consists of a 54 room hotel and ski centre with 29 runs and 4 lifts.   The location within the park is at the base of Volcano Lonquimay and close to the Parks Service (CONAF) eastern entrance to the Park,  13 km(8mi) from the Malalcahuello township.

Accommodation

Corralco Hotel offers 4 star level accommodation with a range of organised activities such as tours and trekking.  Sometimes, however, the Hotel is closed between seasons of winter and summer.

Fortunately there are many other options to choose from close to Corralco. The alternatives are mostly located between the township of Malalcahuello and the National Reserve. The accommodation options include cabins, lodge and hotel, the later being one alternative of lower range pricing. Cabins are the most abundant option and vary in price and quality. If you are looking for quality then try here: https://www.chilewild.com/chalets/. You can see a variety of other options at  http://www.malalcahuello.org

Things to do

Most of the available activities around Corralco and Malalcahuello involve nature. Apart from different dining experiences, thermal bathing and shopping for artesan products, most other activities involve nature-based experiences. There are many sightseeing opportunities, driving through the expansive valleys surrounded by forested mountains with their strange looking Monkey Puzzle trees.

Malalcahuello is between the Malalcahuello National Reserve and Conguillio National Park, both offering interesting trekking and walking options. Access to these places is easier if you have a car but local accommodations offer shuttle services and a couple of walks are accessible from the township.

A cycleway on a transformed railway line is also accessible from the town. It´s gentle gradient makes it ideal for family cycle outings. The total distance is 12 km one way, starting from the old train station, now library, and ending close to the Manzanar thermal baths.

Within 2km (1.5mi) from Malalcahuello there is an indoor thermal bathing centre. It´s situated in attractive parkland and includes a restaurant. The two other thermal bathing options in the area are both outdoor options, one with connected walking/horseriding trail to arrive.

Horseriding is another option as is canopy and paintball, good options for children. Along the main road there are a couple of 25m (82 ft) waterfalls that are easily accessible.

An attractive river passes through the valley, which is generally over-fished but is a nice place to visit to do birdwatching. A dirt road runs along the river and is a nice route for mountain biking. Mountain bikes can be rented at a few different places, some with electric power options and child seats/trailers.

For more information about accommodation and activities contact Chile Wild – Las Vertientes via email, telephone o whats app at https://www.chilewild.com/contact/

Recently a family told me of their distressing experience reserving a cabin in the south of Chile using a well known reservation website. After travelling all day, including a ferry car shuttle service, they arrived at their destination around 9pm only to find that the cabin did not exist.  They couldn’t find anywhere else to stay as they were all booked out, so they ended up going back the way they came some 4 hours more to arrive at a hotel in a larger city. Here are some tips to make sure that you don´t have an experience like theirs.

What I learnt from this story is that when you make a reservation it is important to ensure that there is communication with someone from the establishment. in this way, it is better to make the reservation with some anticipation, not the last minute. The communication may be via email, telephone or a chat service but if you don´t receive a reply within an appropriate time frame it should arouse suspicions.

Look at the reviews. On webpages of large online reservation agencies they usually have an evaluation system, some more reliable than others. Read the evaluations from other guests who have stayed at the establishment and see if you can find the establishment on more than one site.

The majority of cabins in Malalcahuello have a presence in social media where you can see photos and many are also registered on Google Maps.

The hope is that with a little investigation and communication you not only find that the cabin exists but that it suits your requirements and meets your expectations.

Services offered by cabins in Malalcahuello

There is a wide variety of cabins on offer for holiday rental in Malalcahuello. Apart fom the usual sheets, towels, soap and shampoo, many now offer hot tubs as the Chileans love them.  Some cabins offer off street parking, others, no. Particularly in the centro of the town there is not much space for off street parking and the streets are narrow making it difficult to park or drive.

If your visit is in winter, it´s important to ask about the type of insulation and heating in the cabin. Many cabins are not well insulated. Many are heated by a slow combustion stove some with the firewood provided, others charge for it or you may have to go looking for where to buy it from which may be difficult to find.

Some cabins offer additional services such as rental of ski equipment, bicycles or guided tours. Other services you may find include swimming pool, sauna, canopy or farm animals http://www.capretta.cl

The bottom line

• Make your reservation with sufficient time to do a little investigation about the place prior to booking
• Book your Malalcahuello cabin safely and securely here: https://www.chilewild.com