This special place in Santa Barbara provides its guests with an experience beyond offering a place to rest.
Have you thought about combining your work experience with an entrepreneurial idea? In Hispanos Emprendedores we tell you about the experience of Carmen Castro who bet on this formula for the creation of El Castillo Ancestral Refuge.
After 15 years as a social worker and in the real estate business Carmen felt the need to change course. With 57 years in tow, children looking for their own life and his widowhood, he found a place full of magic that allows him to earn an income.
She says that when she decided to start her life alone, she constantly settled in her country house, “this place caught me. I had to go back, it was a pain, I feel like it's the place where I have to be ”.
But one day an acquaintance found out that he had this property and asked him to rent it for a vacation with his family, who had two children with multiple sclerosis and the 160-year-old house provided them with the necessary comfort to move around with their wheelchairs.
Then other people asked him the same thing, “some years I rented it during vacation periods, but since I like to share I said how I am not going to share a place that makes me so happy so that others can have this peace and tranquility that I feel , I live and I thank life and the universe. That was about three years ago ”.
The success of the refuge has been gradual and there is more and more interest from people to visit it because Carmen takes into account the needs of the guests and gives them the plus of being able to carry out complementary activities.
“My coming to the countryside from the capital to the countryside was my turning point in life, I fulfilled as a mother in terms of the formation of children and I had to find a new path for myself, that would make me happy, that would be found with all that I am. Therefore I came to the field, in this space; a place that I could also make profitable in a loving and generous way, opening the doors of my house ”, and he chose to professionalize this turn of his life.
Value added
Carmen's spiritual connection and love for human beings led her to formalize her dream of making the refuge a meeting place, “a spiritual vein where I invite people and propose a place of tranquility, harmony and reconnection with myself. ”.
It offers accommodation with breakfast, but also visitors can bring their own food and prepare it at the refuge, giving them the opportunity to do tourism at affordable prices.
Her training as a social worker, complementary therapies, in neurolinguistic programming, Gestald and management of reiki energy release techniques gives her the opportunity to provide spiritual and meditation tools to guests, which differentiates the refuge from others.
“I propose these therapies if you want to take them, that is my vocation, so here I do a mix. I am not offering a 5-star hotel, but a natural paradise with all the stars in the sky. Make your vacation moment unforgettable, that is my proposal ”.
Activities
El Castillo Ancestral Refuge is located in the foothills of the eighth region, in the commune of Santa Bárbara, between Villucura and San Lorenzo, a region that has many natural and historical attractions.
“They have wonderful things here, apart from being beautiful and energetic, this place was historically very relevant. Here the independence of Chile was fought, less than a kilometer away from my house is the strong Prince Carlos that was ordered to be built precisely by Prince Carlos because this sector was a step towards Argentina. They strategically created this fort, ”Carmen told us.
The Duqueco River passes through the refuge and there are also two cemeteries, which are tourist attractions in the area.
"The tourism that I want to offer is always focused on reconnecting with oneself, for people to come to breathe fresh air, feel this peace, with being you will feel it. The annex that I offer is that I teach people who do not know how to meditate, I propose that we do group meditations, I teach them conscious breathing, things that they can when they leave here with certain tools that they did not have before. It is sowing a little happiness for others ”.
Carmen highlights that she has a personalized service because she lives in the refuge and personally takes tourists to interact with the peasant world, to accompany her to the garden or to pick up the animals in the afternoons. They can use the kitchen and if they are not offered traditional Chilean recipes.
It can accommodate up to eight people, it is a service focused on family groups and friends, "that is very intimate", especially in this time of pandemic.
“We do not use masks, there has been no case of Covid-19. The houses are very distant from each other. And we hope that the people who come will be responsible, we are implementing certain protocols such as the mask at check in, we take their temperature, we put gel on their hands and nebulize with quaternary ammonium to disinfect ”.
Entrepreneurship in tourism
Carmen confesses that undertaking in the tourism sector has led her to enjoy a beautiful and exciting world because she likes to interact with people.
The biggest challenge that has been presented is not knowing how to handle digital marketing to promote your business, and it has also required constant preparation because tourism has many codes.
“Santa Barbara tourism entrepreneurs are very simple and noble people, who value love for the land and the spirit of brotherhood. The challenge is to learn every day ”. He admits that his main fear was the fear of undertaking, "of not giving the service that you think the other wants."
Open up to alliances
He also thinks that entrepreneurs should be open to making alliances to boost the business. “With the pandemic, people have reinvented themselves, there are much more businesses and services. I invite all entrepreneurs to lose their fear, to dare because the universe really supports and everything flows. It is only daring ”.
Carmen decided to undertake tourism because it is related to her way of seeing life as a social worker, she likes to help others, which she does with complementary therapies.
"I think that both are perfect, so that was my way of giving a service by sharing what I have in my hands. I felt that it was what I could contribute to the world, tourism is the new mining, today people are seeking retirement, getting away, even more so with the pandemic ”.
Contacts
Facebook: El Castillo Ancestral Refuge
Instagram: @refugioelcastillo
Whatsapp: + 56 9 3386 0782
