Casa Playa El Canelo, a holiday home a short walk from the beach
Casa Playa El Canelo is a holiday house in Algarrobo, in Chile's Valparaíso region, a few steps from El Canelo beach. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fireplace, an equipped kitchen, a garden and a barbecue. It suits families and friends who want the sea, but not anyone hoping for a quiet beach in summer.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published .
Updated
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Casa Playa El Canelo.
Where Casa Playa El Canelo is and how to get there
Casa Playa El Canelo is in Algarrobo, on the coast of the Valparaíso region, on Huinca street, a few steps from El Canelo beach. Its big advantage is that you can walk down to the sea.
The listing includes free private parking, which is a real plus at a beach destination where, according to several reviews, parking is hard to find in high season. It is also close to the Casa de Isla Negra, a good plan for a cultural afternoon.
What the house is like inside and out
The house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a living room that has a sofa bed, satellite TV and a fireplace. The kitchen is fully equipped, and the outdoor space is the best part: garden, furnished terrace, patio and barbecue area.
These are the listed facilities:
- Kitchen with oven, microwave, fridge and coffee maker.
- Fireplace and satellite TV in the living room.
- Free Wi-Fi.
- Free private parking.
- Garden, furnished terrace, patio and barbecue.
- Pets are allowed, according to several sources. Check with the host before booking.
With the space it has, I'd see it as better suited to families or groups of friends than to a couple looking for something intimate.
What Google reviews say
There is a nuance I'd rather explain plainly: Google's listing for this place has a high rating, 4.6 from thousands of reviews, but almost all of them talk about El Canelo beach, not the house. That's why I can't tell you how comfortable it is to stay in, or how clean, because there isn't reliable information on that.
What those reviews do say helps you understand the setting you'll be in:
- The scenery. The beach is described as very beautiful, with trees, wooden walkways that light up at night and lovely sunsets over turquoise water.
- For children. Several visitors recommend it for children to bathe, because beyond the waves close to the shore the water is calmer.
- Facilities. There are kiosks selling churros, empanadas, granizados and coffee, as well as toilets and showers that some describe as spotless.
- Safety. Security guards and carabineros are mentioned as present.
What to know before booking
Casa Playa El Canelo's drawbacks almost all come from the setting, and they concentrate in high season. Several reviews, including the harshest, agree on one thing: in summer the beach fills up enormously.
- Crowds. Those who went in summer describe little space, noise, street sellers and difficulty parking. Several advise going early in the morning.
- Waves. One person describes it as having big waves, and others note that the tide comes in and you have to keep moving.
- Beach rules. One visitor says you can't bring your own food and that you risk a fine (60 UTM, by their reckoning) if you don't buy from the local stalls. Check the current rules.
- Access. You have to walk a stretch, which can be hard for older people.
- Beach car park. According to several reviews it charges a fee, although the house has its own free parking.
My advice is to avoid the busiest days, or to take advantage of being a few steps away to go down first thing and return to the house when it fills up.
Who this holiday house suits
I would choose Casa Playa El Canelo for a family or a group of friends who want a base with a garden and barbecue, with the beach at hand and space to be together. The fireplace also suggests trips outside the summer season.
I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a quiet, empty beach in midsummer, or if you want reliable details about the state of the house, because the reviews available don't give them. Ask for photos and specific conditions before you pay anything.
What to do around Algarrobo
Around Algarrobo, the plan revolves around the sea and the coast. These are the things visitors mention, along with the house listing:
- Swimming and spending the day at El Canelo beach.
- Strolling along the wooden walkways and waiting for sunset.
- Climbing the hill for a walk or trying the canopy tours.
- Taking the classic banana boat ride.
- Visiting the Casa de Isla Negra.
With a house a few steps away and so many outdoor options, the hard part here isn't finding something to do, but picking the time of day to avoid the crowds.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.