El Vagón – Hidden Secret of El Valle del Elqui

(El vagón is Spanish for the passenger car of a train, or coach or carriage if you’re from the UK).

Someone came up with the brilliant idea of plonking a century old passenger car in the middle of a vineyard, filling it with antiques to create a turn-of-last-century ambience and renting it out only to one couple at a time.

And it works!

This little known hideaway that Ange discovered was my birthday treat (3 days of it as can only be expected when it comes to the celebration of my birthday) that happened on our road trip through the North of Chile last year.

El Vagón was designed with couples in mind who want a romantic retreat. In fact, this hidden gem has been used many a time as a private honeymoon getaway (no worries about paparazzi here) though only with a prior reservation.

Well this time we had our two kids tagging along with us but not to worry, there was a pull out mattress under the main bed where they could crash out, and it was still romantic.

The bedroom of El Vagón

Old style kitchen

The BBQ area beside El Vagón

Back entrance to El Vagón (door comes off the bedroom)

And there’s more…
When you stay at El Vagón, you have private access to their own swimming hole on the Rio Claro (river). It is down the hill (near the main entrance) and can be reached after a 15-minute walk. Once there, you will find crystal clear water which is bloody cold invigorating, a number of loungers to relax on and soak up some sun (or get some heat back in the body after the glacial water), and a large tree house for kids to fall out of.

On the way to the river you will see their open air restaurant, called El Quincho, which has its own small waterfall. It is an amazing place to visit in itself (photos to come). If you are not a guest at the house or the Vagón then you have to make a reservation. The chefs made an amazing kuchen/birthday cake with my favourite ingredients; sardines, avocado and raspberry jelly (just kidding – it was with different fruit I like).

Time for brekkie
On the topic of food, a country breakfast is included in the stay. Our favourite part was the pan amasado (homemade bread), homemade jam and local eggs (surely from unstressed chickens roaming around the vineyard having a ball eating fallen fermenting grapes).

Tip: The day before you leave, ask the lady to make some extra bread to take with you. You won’t regret it!

A view of the vineyard as seen from the BBQ area next to El Vagón

Get out and about
This place is a great base for visiting the surrounding towns and villages such as Paihuano, Montegrande (where Gabriela Mistral, Chile’s Nobel Prize winner, grew up), Pisco Elqui (you MUST have a Pisco Sour here) and a little further a field to Vicuña. Oh course if you are on a honeymoon it is likely that the furthest you’ll see is the wooden interior of the passenger car so I recommend GET OUT AND LOOK OUTSIDE THE BEDROOM. There is plenty of time for naughtiness once you get home… or if you like, other places for mischievousness in the valley (sorry, no more details).

There is something in the air
People that visit the Valle del Elqui say that there is something special in the air. No, it isn’t a bird or a plane or even superman. If it’s not a UFO (see random fact below) then it is the strong magnetic vibrations that have attracted countless new-age spiritualists, yogis (not the bear type but the flexible guys that get into those cool positions, oh, and are at peace with the universe), crystal seekers, hippies and other types of … (thinks hard)… open-minded people.

Random Fact 1: Did you know that Chile is one of the countries with the highest rates of UFO sightings in the world, many of them happen in this valley.

Feel it, Feel it!
If you are a writer, this place is a natural fountain of inspiration. Seriously, the universal vibes of awesome really flow throughout the valley.

Rob soaking up the universal juices of inspiration

Not only do they have the Vagón but you can also rent their entire house. It is another very impressive option if you have a bigger family or group though is not for all budgets. The owners were kind enough to allow us to view (and photograph) the inside the house. That of course will come in a future post.

Check out more information about Valle del Elqui and the website  about the El Vagón (in Spanish)

Would you like to put this on your list of places to stay?

Tagged as: Accommodation, Chile, Food, Photos, Pisco, Restaurants, River, Romantic, Tips, Train, Valle del Elqui