A Frenchwoman and a German – together in Guanaqueros

Going to the countryside!

This adventure begins in 2019, when we decided to change the concrete and fast-paced city life, for the calm and open spaces that life in rural areas offers.

The beginnings: a house and dry bushes:

When we arrived at Guanaqueros, the land had only one house built on the plot area, which had been almost entirely stripped of vegetation.

A few eucalyptus trees, a few guayacanes and two litres survived

The back part of the land did conserve vestiges of xerophytic vegetation characteristic of the area, in combination with a rocky terrain bordering an old creek.

From vacation home to main house

Initially, while we lived in Santiago, the house was used during the holydays either by us , or rented to guests. When we moved, it became our main home, and, contemplating the potential of the land given the tranquility, the beauty of the sunsets and the surrounding nature, we decided to build eight cabins, to start a lodging project for people who, like us, are looking for tranquility and reconnection with nature.

If you are considering a giving a new turn to your life, Ocho Aguilas may be the opportunity you are looking for.

Without haste but without pause

The process has been progressive but non-stop. The initial setbacks in selecting species to create green areas, gave way to a more structured process, where resistant species were planted to create an oasis for native fauna, mainly birds, to later initiate a reforestation project exclusively with species native to the IV region.

Wooden cabins built on site

The cabins were built on site, after several months of study to achieve the best distribution and guarantee the maximum possible comfort for the guests, as well as the best views of the surrounding landscapes.

As its name indicates, Ocho Águilas is a self-sustainable project: all leftovers from any process are reinserted into the ecosystem that is being created:

Pruning waste is used in combination with the compost produced by vermiculture to nourish the soil.

The leftovers from the construction of the cabins have been used to make furniture, decks and birdhouses (a plus for the birds, which are becoming more and more abundant!).

We have created a space of peace and tranquility – the complex can accommodate up to 26 overnight guests

The complex, fenced by a palisade, welcomes closed groups, families or companies. The maximum capacity is 26 overnight guests.

The layout of the cabins is the perfect combination of relaxation and privacy, where each unit has its own terrace where you can have breakfast if you are planning to wake up late.

The general design incorporates relaxation areas and large spaces that invite to be visited to discover “secret hideaways”, where you can settle down to read a book, contemplate nature; decks that can be used to practice yoga or meditation, or to recharge energies in the quartz bed, climb the lookout tower to enjoy a 360º view of the surrounding areas, including the Guanaqueros hill.

All these options add up to materialize the Ocho Aguilas motto: ” Disconnecting from routine and stress”.

Tribute to the Diaguitas – this region is theirs!

As a tribute to one of the ancestral cultures of the area, we replicated, with the help of Ricardo Romario, a local artist, motifs of Inca-Diaguita inspiration, different in each of the doors of the cabins; based on ceramic vestiges found in the various excavations that have been carried out in the village, and that Ricardo has also captured in sections of the “Caleta la Safá”, the work of his father, known as “El Loco Careo”.

The internal decoration of the cabins is simple, but there is always an allegory to nature, either in the colors used, or in the motifs of the sheets, that relate to the vegetation that grows after the rain.

In the facilities, wood is used to create a harmonious whole with the patronal house, which was the first construction, as we have already mentioned.

Reforestation with plants native to the region

To contribute to the preservation of the environment and trying to recreate the original vegetation of the area we decided to create a reforestation area with native bushes, in the area of the land that from the beginning remained unaltered: where a second litre dominates the view complementing the one that is closer to the cabins.

In this area we have planted Quillay trees, Aromos, Capers, Molles.

And to have variety, according to the approaches of syntropic agriculture; one or another fruit tree: papaya, tangerine, and almond trees; apart from a variety of cactus that we recovered from debris found on the road to Tongoy.

A project that progresses according to one’s inspiration

As time goes by, and without a master plan, details have been incorporated as inspiration has guided us. The idea is to enjoy the process of creating something new each time. This is only possible when the mind is calm. Each thing in its own time.

We believe we have embarked on a good path, the plants are growing strong and the cacti have already started to show their first buds.

A relaxed spirit is able to discover new things, is our case, a new hobby: Night sky photography (astrophotography).

We are located in an area with little light pollution, which means that living in Ocho Aguilas, whether on a visit or permanently, can be transformed into an experience of observing the stars with the naked eye, or be inspired by a beautiful starry sky and experiment with astrophotography, for which the lighting of the plot is kept to the minimum necessary to not interfere with the night sky views.