Introduction
The Hotel Antumalal is a nostalgic, boutique hotel, which is also a family business. The origins date back to 1938 when Guillermo and Catalina Pollack - Rindler, from Prague, emigrated to Chile to escape the War.
The History
It was then, in 1944, with the opening of a tea salon beside Lake Villarrica, when the seeds were sown for the Antumalal Hotel. Catalina Pollak, along with her mother Davita, set about creating delicious cakes and tarts based upon traditional recipes from their homeland that were sold at the tea salon. People came to visit this beautiful spot and enjoy their tea accompanied home-made cakes.
The name Antumalal originates from the Mapuche language and means “sun set”, of which, on a clear day, there is a beautiful one over the lake.
Financing
One day, as fate would have it, the then President of Chile, Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, came to have tea at the salon. Guillermo, not one to shy away from an opportunity, approached the president and asked if it would be possible to receive a loan from the state to build a hotel on this 5 -hectare spot, only 2km from Pucon village.
The president helped Guillermo through the Chilean State office called Corfo, the department that helps finance entrepreneurial projects. This, therefore, was when the Antumalal hotel project was initiated.
Design
The architect, Jorge Elton, in line with the 1940’s style of Bauhaus together with Frank Lloyd Wright, created the plans for the hotel. However, one thing that Guillermo insisted upon was that the building had to be strong, just in case a volcanic eruption resulted in rocks and stones falling down onto the roof. Therefore, in view of this possibility the hotel was built with an extra strong, reenforced roof.
Construction took five years to complete and the hotel, with landscaped gardens, was open for business in 1950.
VIP Guests
At this time, access to Pucon was not particularly easy. The road from Villarrica was rough and unpaved. Pucon was not particularly developed and the people who frequented the area for “down time” were often fishermen. However, over time, more and more people discovered both the charm and beauty of the Pucon location as well as the, at that time, best hotel in the area - the Antumalal. It is not surprising that many celebrities of the day, especially in the 60’s came to stay at the hotel. On the wall, to the right of the entrance lobby, there are wonderful pictures of a past era of high-profile guests such as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Neil Armstong, James Stewart, Barry Goldwater and Isabel Allende.
In 2010 a modern spa was added to the property, embedded, skilfully into the hill side, comprising of a sauna and a half indoor / outdoor pool with the indoor part enjoying a wide, open, log fireplace.
The hotel is small, offering 12 guest rooms from which there is either a lovely view to the flower-rich gardens and / or to the lake, plus 3 suites, 3 independent chalets and 1 small, independent house. Total capacity is for 55 guests.
Today the property is still managed by a Pollack, Rony Pollack to be precise – Guillermo’s daughter.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The most significant claim to fame for this hotel is that back in 1968, when Queen Elizabeth II was touring South America, Her Majesty came and stayed at Antumalal along with her husband Prince Phillip.
They were not alone, accompanied by an entourage of staff and advisors, the Queen also acted as an arbitrator between Chile and Argentina over a border dispute, and a meeting about this issue was held here at Antumalal. To this day there is a wonderful black and white picture on the wall of the entrance lobby of Her Majesty standing beside Prince Phillip on the terrace looking down to the lake. It has been said that the Queen has mentioned to more than one Chilean Ambassador to the UK that she has very fond memories of her stay at Antumalal.
There is one cabin named “the Royal Suite” and this is where the Queen stayed. We are not sure if they have changed the sheets since!
About
Apart from the visit by Her Majesty the Queen of England back in the sixties, the hotel is a relic from that period in time. From the moment you walk in and glance to the right, the style of furniture, the lamp stands, and overall look, create an impression that you have walked right into the sixties period.
This feeling, together with the design of the hotel with large, angled floor to ceiling windows and exterior stonework on a robust-looking building also combine to give the feeling that this could easily be a James Bond 1960’s movie set - the HQ of Spectre, for example. For those who love this kind of nostalgia, this “Retro” hotel should fit the bill.
The location is wonderful. Set on its own hillside, away from the busy main road, surrounded by woods and looking down onto spectacular green, flowered gardens, beyond which is a slice of Lake Villarrica, is a dream set up. And then there is the view from the terrace down to the lake and the Pucon Peninsula opposite, beyond which is the high, limestone, forested mountains in the distance that provide, quite simply, a “World Class” view.
On the other side, to the west, is the view to almost the entire lake, whereupon on a summers evening there are spectacular sun sets to admire as the sun goes down, reflecting off the lake water.
There are only 12 guest rooms in the main building at Antumalal. And, in line with its desire to keep its sixties heritage, rooms are simple, but comfortable. Some may say that even though rooms have been upgraded to a good level, that they are slightly on the rustic side, but that goes hand in hand with the overall style of the property. Bathrooms are, however, modern.
The restaurant enjoys a fine view to Lake Villarrica, with an adjacent exterior terrace, which is ideal for “sun downers”, and has got a reputation for providing very good food.
In the grounds there is a sauna and half indoor / outdoor pool, steps down to a private beach and some walking trails in the grounds.
For nostalgia, quiet and tradition, Antumalal is a good place to be based during your stay in the Pucon Area.
Where is The Hotel Antumalal
The entrance to the grounds is located 2km on the left, prior to entering Pucon, coming from Villarrica.
Click on map for larger image
The Rooms
The Centro Ocio offers 11 guest suites. Each is enjoying an interior finish of wood on the walls and ceiling, combined with warm, soft lighting to create a cosy atmosphere, and on the exterior also covered in natural wood.
A few of the suites have private deck areas from where occupants can enjoy a view of the fiord and Castro city.
Room Details
- 12 Guest Rooms (capacity 2 people in each)
- Configuration: Queen or Twin Beds.
- Area: 30 m2.
- Each with a fireplace and views to the gardens and / or lake.
1 Superior Suite (Capacity 2 People)
- Configuration: King Bed. Option for 2 extra beds in the living room area.
- Area: 60m2.
- Fireplace, small living room and library, views to the lake and gardens.
1 Family Lake Suite (Capacity 4 people)
- Configuration: Matrimonial bed, plus one room with 2 beds.
- Area: 60m2
- Main room with lake view, and fireplace, smaller room with window only, no specific view.
- Bathroom is not en-suite, but in the connecting hallway.
1 Family Garden Suite (Capacity 4 people)
- Configuration: Matrimonial bed, plus one room with 2 beds.
- Area: 60m2
- Both rooms with lake and garden view.
- Bathroom is accessible via the matrimonial room.
1 Lake Chalet (Capacity for 4 people)
- Configuration: 1 Queen bedroom, one room with 2 beds,
- Area: 70m2
- Living room, fireplace, kitchen, and dining room. Private terrace.
- Parking 50mts from the chalet.
- Access via 200mts of stone-built pathway.
1 Royal Chalet (Capacity 5 people)
- Configuration: Matrimonial room with en-suite bathroom. Another room with 2 beds. Both rooms with lake view. Single bedroom without view.
- Area 80m2
- Living room, dining room, private terrace, fireplace and with great views to the lake.
1 Forest Chalet (Capacity 6 people)
- Configuration: Matrimonial room with en-suite bathroom and lake view. Two rooms each with twin beds. Extra bathroom.
- Area: 110m2.
- Fireplace, kitchen, living and dining room, private terrace.
- Car parking outside the front door.
1 Lake House (Capacity 6 people)
- Configuration: Matrimonial room with King bed, matrimonial room with a queen bed and another room with two beds.
- Area: 115m2.
- Two bathrooms, fireplace, living and dining room, kitchen and private terrace.
- Access is via a stone pathway of 200mts, and car parking is 50mts from the house.
We will include this hotel as part of your itinerary if requested to do so or if required for a logistical reason, or if it suits your itinerary budget.
If you're interested in this hotel, please don't hesitate contacting us or fill out our enquiry form below.
Nothing specifically relating to this hotel at this time – however, depending on the rest of your itinerary, as long as we are arranging it, we may well be able to include an offer connected to this hotel.
What we can offer always depends on the content of your itinerary, so please, get in touch.
If you're interested in this hotel, please don't hesitate contacting us or fill out our enquiry form below.
