Looking for a Unique Airbnb Stay? Visit Aurora Austral Husky Farm and Try Dog Sledding with a World Champion Musher

By Sarah Arksey
Associate Writer

High in the mountains of central Chile sits Aurora Austral– a husky farm owned by expert German sledder Konrad Jakob, who has traveled the world with his pack of prize-winning dogs.

Travelers can get a glimpse into the lives of professional dog-sledders– and, of course, play with adorable Husky puppies– by booking a stay in one of the farm’s on-site cabins.

Aurora Austral in Araucanía

We arrived by rental car from Santiago as part of a larger road trip, a journey that takes roughly 7 hours. However, a much closer city with a major airport is Temuco– the journey from here to Aurora Austral will take roughly 1.5 hours.

Aurora Austral lies in the middle of Chile’s Araucanía region. Araucanía quickly became one of Chile’s most important agricultural areas when it was incorporated into the country in the 1880s following the colonization of Mapuche land, earning the nickname “granary of Chile” thanks to its lush, temperate landscapes. Today, the Mapuche make up roughly one-third of the population, more than any other region in Chile.

Though this region sounds– and is– quite mild in terms of weather, it overlaps with the northern end of a more well-known region– Patagonia.

One can find rich snowy landscapes in Araucanía, especially inland in the mountains– the highest peak in Araucanía is over 10,000 feet! Aurora Austral means the Southern hemisphere’s equivalent to Aurora Borealis– aka the Southern Lights.

So, when’s the best time to visit? I made the trip in late November 2022, which– south of the equator– means balmy, mild late spring.

Snow or no snow, the dogs run year-round to stay on top of their game, and we were able to join Konrad as he led a pack of dogs on a run around the grassy acreage, pulling us behind in a wheeled dog sled.

Visitors in the winter are able to select from several mushing tours of various lengths– including the epic 7-day Andes Crossing which leaves you in charge of your own husky team!

For those seeking full-fledged adventure, the winter months (July to September) may be the best time to visit– though the farm is absolutely worth a stop year-round!

Visitors seeking an overnight stay can choose from one of four on-site cabins, each with their own kitchen, bathroom and comfortable beds.

These are bookable through Airbnb or directly through the Aurora Austral Husky Farm website.

An Inside Look at Professional Dog Sledding

After our summertime trek, we sat down with Konrad and his partner Emmeline for coffee and a chat about their experience in the sled dog world.

We also had the opportunity to play with the husky puppies– this is mandatory, as human interaction is integral to their development!

As a pup resembling a small, furry yellow lab napped in my arms, Konrad explained that modern sled dogs are often a mix between Siberian Husky and various breeds of hunting dogs– in this case, a German Shorthair Pointer. This mix is called a Eurohound.

Originally from Germany, Konrad has been running sled dogs for over 20 years and moved to Chile in 2006. His prized sled dogs–  both Eurohounds– are Resi and Eris, a duo who have led many of his runs to win awards all over the world.

It was always Konrad’s dream to run sled dogs–  “To feel their excitement when they are running is contagious,” he says. “They are just amazingly great animals.”

So, what made Konrad select Chile as the home base for him and his dogs?

“Chile is a great country with lots of possibilities and things to develop,” he says. “Huge amount of untouched nature, but yet very developed, with friendly and helpful people.”

We had a chance to view some of Konrad’s extensive collection of medals and trophies in a gallery just in front of the husky quarters.

When asked about the level of difficulty involved in travelling internationally with a team of sleddogs, Konrad reported that it’s surprisingly easy.

The dogs are raised from puppies to recognize their crate as a safe space, where they’ll be transported within the cargo hold. Once a sled dog has mastered that, a ten-hour flight is just another stretch of napping in their crate– possibly more comfortable than what their human counterparts are experiencing!

When asked what the most rewarding part of his unique occupation is, Konrad said: “Well, one could say that winning races– which we do a lot– is the favorite part,” but his all-around favorite moments are simply being out on the trail– “Alone with my dogs, in the winter nature wonderland, and just enjoying running with them for hours.”

He also cherishes the time he spends sharing this experience with others– “Most people have no idea what dogs can do, and they leave as a different person after they visited us.”

Explore Nearby Attractions

The nearest city is roughly 19 km away– Villarica, a charming mountain town that sits upon the lake of the same name. At roughly 50,000 people, the town is large enough to satisfy any need that should arise during your stay.

I highly recommend picking up some barbeque essentials to take back to Aurora Austral– the cabins are outfitted with grills on each patio! Lago Villarica is a great stop for a swim, or rent a catamaran and spend the day on the water.

Nearby Villarica National Park– the crown jewel of which is the towering Villarica volcano– is another great stop for hiking lovers.

Another great stop lies about a one 1 hour drive away– the Termas Geometricas, a cluster of 17 aguas calientes (hot springs). A jagged red boardwalk juts through the complex, making for some great photos!

Huilo Huilo Ecological Park is roughly an hour’s drive south towards Puerto Montt, and is a perfect stop for nature lovers– the park boasts

many hiking trails (whimsically referred to as “portals”). There are many choices for an overnight stay within the park– I stayed at Hotel Nothofagus, a surreal hotel straight out of a fairytale.

Additional otherwordly options include Hotel Montana Magica– covered with grass and appearing to be carved from the hillside, straight out of Lord of the Rings– and Hotel Reina Fungi, which is built to look like a giant mushroom.

All hotels are part of the same complex, meaning no matter which one you choose, you’ll have access to restaurants, the spa, and add-on excursions like white water kayaking.

Animal lovers should watch out for an overall rare– but relatively common in Huilo Huilo– Pudu, otherwise known as the world’s smallest deer.