Casa Wilson

Breakfast and a glass of wine by the fireplace turned into a gathering where guests swapped stories. Samuel created such a warm spirit in this wonderful old house that being among strangers felt like being with friends. It was a special weekend in Zapallar, thank you, Samuel. Casa Wilson felt like a cozy, amazing Hostel 3.0, and I’m still struggling to find the right words for the experience.

This place has the feel of a little town museum, with real character and history. We stayed a couple of nights and spent late evenings over wine with Samuel Moreno, his charming wife, and friends. We later met those friends in Santiago the following week. Samuel and the staff were fabulous. If you’re after beautiful surroundings, engaging people, and a rich sense of history, you’ll love it. The place isn’t suited to anyone expecting on-demand 4-5 star hotel service.

At night, you can hear the ocean and catch the sunsets, which alone make a stay worthwhile. The bed was super comfortable, the shower was wonderful, breakfast was excellent, and the boutique body soap smelled great. The host was friendly and excellent, too, all for an amazing price. This century-old historic building was brought over from Germany, and it’s the best accommodation I found on the Chilean coast.

The owner arranged a last-minute boat trip to see penguins and shared advice on local walking trails. That personal help is something you don’t get from a holiday rental or corporate hotel. We stayed here as a family of four during a two-week trip around Chile, traveling from Europe, and took two rooms with breakfast. The house is beautiful and welcoming, and the owner is kind and friendly. It’s a short stroll to the beach and just two steps from one of Chile’s best restaurants. There’s enough modern equipment to stay connected, though the place feels like stepping into a forgotten world. We visited in early autumn and had the best sleep of our holiday, with only the ocean audible at night. Maybe there’s more ambient noise in summer.