Camp Makemake is a traditional sleepaway summer camp with different programs for 6 to 17 year olds. It is coeducational and inclusive. 

​Camp Makemake is is a ten minute drive away from the village of Pelarco in the Maule region of Chile.  It is set on an organic blueberry farm. The 750 hectare farm also has cattle, blackberries and apples. 

If you are coming from Santiago, on a private air-conditioned bus from Santiago. The journey takes about 3 hours from the pick up and drop off point in La Reina. The bus and driver are fully certified and all security checks are in place. You will wear seat belts for the journey and camp counselors plus the driver and an assistant will be on the bus to make sure everyone is safe and happy. There is a toilet on the bus. You can also arrive by private car. 

You will sleep inside a large tent with other kids of the same age and gender as you. Siblings or friends can be kept together if requested.  Counselors sleep in separate tents next to the campers' tents. The tents are set up inside the grounds of the Makemake camp site. There is a large camp clubhouse on the site. The tents will be cleaned out each morning by the teams ready for morning inspection. The club house is fully equipped and extra blankets and bedding will be provided if necessary.  

If you get sick you will be cared for as if you were at home. Your counselors are teachers and many are also mothers. Your parents will be notified immediately and a doctor will visit you at the camp. We will get you home fast or look after you depending on the individual situation.

The camp is situated opposite the local medical posta. An exceptional paramedic who has had years and years of experience lives and works there. He can be at the site in two minutes in the very unlikely case of an emergency.

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Pelarco (5 mins away) also has a hospital with experienced doctors and Talca is a 40 minute drive away with a new hospital and various private clinics.

Your safety is our number one priority.

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We have strict  policies in place for all areas of camp. Your counselors are trained teachers with current first aid qualifications. A productive, safe and happy environment will be maintained at all times through the use of clear rules, high behavior expectations and regulations.

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We will ensure that you stay out of the sun during peak hours, cover up, use hats and regularly apply suncream. Swimming sessions will be carefully monitored. There are specific rules for the pool and a limited number of campers allowed in the pool at one time. You will wear a lifejacket during our visit to the lake. 

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You will supervised by an experienced adult at all times during your camp experience 

You will be so busy having fun you will probably have no time to miss home. But if you do, then you will be looked after by our counselors (many of who are also mothers) who understand , care and have many tricks up their sleeves to cheer you up.

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Being homesick is a natural step in your first experience away from home and from experience, we know that it only comes in small bouts usually at night or during chill out time. There will always be someone there to give you a hug and put a smile back on your face. 

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Check out our precamp worries page!

You will not be alone. Many of our campers,  feel nervous before camp starts. The activities and games we have planned on the first few days are all designed to make sure that you will get to know the other campers very quickly and will make friends fast. Before you know it you will have a whole camp full of friends. We will be there to help you with your new friendships and you will be assigned a special team that will always be there to back you up in all the activities we do.  Camp Makemake is all about community and you will be a special part of it.

No, at Camp Makemake no electronic devices are allowed! We want you to connect to nature not the internet. You will be too busy playing games, doing activities and hanging out with your new friends to use one anyway. 

Yes, we have some small sibling tents available  especially for this. If you want you can share with your brother or sister for the first night and then move to a large tent with children of your own age the next night.  Our recommendation, however, is to go straight to the large tent as there you will make friends with other children the same age as you quickly and the first night of camp is always very fun!  If your sibling is close in age to you  and the same sex then you will probably be placed in the same tent anyway.

All activities at Camp Makemake are in English. We will translate if necessary. If English is not your first language then it will be a perfect opportunity to be fully immersed in English. All the counselors speak both languages and you will probably find that many of the campers do too.  All levels of English are welcome!

No, while you are at camp you will not call your parents. The idea is to be independent for an entire week. This way you will have plenty of stories to share when you get home. If you are unwell or we think that it is important for you to call home, of course we will make this happen. Parents can call us and send you a message whenever they want and you can ask us to send your parents a message too. 

Click here to see the kit list. Please make sure you bring everything on the list.

Most of our campers are Chilean and come from all over Chile. We also  have a lot of international campers whose families are living in Chile too. Over the years, we have had campers from Australia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, South Africa, Venezuela, New Zealand, China, Canada, USA, Scotland, Peru, Singapore, Spain, India, South Korea, Portugal, France, Belgium, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Japan, Mexico, Finland, Iceland, Poland and Germany. Everyone is welcome! 

Going to summer camp for the first time can feel like a big step. Click here to check out our Pre-camp worries page.