Question 1

What does 'off-grid' mean?

Accepted Answer

• Off-grid living means living autonomously without relying on the public electricity grid and other public utilities. To varying degrees, off-grid living incorporates clean and sustainable energy production, growing your own food, and sourcing your own resources. 
• Staying in our off-grid cabin is an invitation to experience this self-sufficient lifestyle. The cabin is powered by solar energy, water comes from a spring on our property, and firewood for heating comes from trees that have fallen on our land. 
• All of this means that electricity, water, and heat must be used as efficiently and effectively as possible, simply because they are finite resources. 
• The cabin requires a certain degree of self-sufficiency and knowledge, as it is an unconventional system. However, while some may find it a little difficult to get used to, you'll find it's not so hard and, in fact, can be a lot of fun!

Question 2

What should I know about off-grid water consumption?

Accepted Answer

• Our water comes from a spring on our property. The water is pumped into storage tanks and then flows to the taps. Like all off-grid resources, water is limited, so it's best to use it consciously. Showers and washing dishes are great opportunities to conserve water! 
• We regularly test the water to ensure it's 100% safe to drink, and we're always amazed by its purity! We personally love drinking this pure water, which literally comes straight from the mountain soil.

Question 3

What type of electricity does the cabin have? What electronic devices can I bring? What happens if the cabin loses power?

Accepted Answer

• The cabin operates on standard Chilean voltage (220V/50Hz). If you have any questions about the compatibility of your devices, please let us know and we will be happy to help. 
• The cabin supports a maximum power consumption of 2000 Watts. Therefore, we ask that you limit the use of your devices to: laptops, cell phone chargers, tablets, and Bluetooth speakers to avoid depleting the solar batteries. 
• If the cabin's power consumption exceeds the capacity of the solar batteries, the cabin will run out of power. We recommend being conservative with electricity use, turning off lights when not needed and being mindful of your electrical outlet usage. Summer provides more energy than other seasons, so consumption may be higher during this time. 
• If we have many cloudy days during the winter season, the cabin may run out of power. For these extreme cases, we have an electric generator that can be used to recharge the batteries and your devices.

Question 4

Do I need a vehicle to get there?

Accepted Answer

The drive from the town of Lonquimay to the cabin takes 15 minutes but is unpaved, and conditions can vary depending on the season. Please feel free to ask us about the current road conditions before your stay, and we'll be sure to help you determine if your vehicle can make it. 
If your vehicle cannot make the drive, we can pick you up and drop you off in town at the beginning and end of your stay (using our vehicle or a snowmobile, depending on road conditions). 
Once on the trail, and if there has been heavy snowfall, you may need to park a short distance away and walk/ski to the cabin. We will transport your luggage to the cabin by snowmobile. 
That said, we recommend coming in a 4x4 vehicle, as it will make exploring the beautiful and remote areas much easier and safer. Most of the roads to the must-see spots are unpaved.

Question 5

Can I bring my dog?

Accepted Answer

We love dogs! However, we have a dog who gets very nervous when there are other dogs he doesn't know around, so unfortunately we can't have pets.

Question 6

Other Useful Information

Accepted Answer

• All our bathroom and cleaning products are biodegradable and compatible with our system. Please only use the products we provide (shampoo, conditioner, soap, dish soap) to avoid disrupting the bacteria that filter the septic system. 
• If needed, we can teach you how to light the wood-burning stove and maintain the fire to keep the cabin warm (it took us a while to learn!). 
• Feel free to explore our entire property. On the 6.5 hectares, you'll find many species of native trees, birds, and endemic wildlife. Get up close to the ancient araucaria tree; you might find mushrooms, flowers, and insects, as well as plenty of secluded spots for meditation, yoga, or reading.

Welcome to Cabaña del Monte!

The Rental Includes: